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TOPColumn on MatsuyamaMitsuhama, Matsuyama: A Picturesque Itinerary Devised by College Students

2025.03.2526

Mitsuhama, Matsuyama: A Picturesque Itinerary Devised by College Students

Takahama, Mitsuhama

Mitsuhama, Matsuyama: A Picturesque Itinerary Devised by College Students

Mitsuhama has a history as Matsuyama’s gateway to the sea. Strolls through the district’s alleyways reveal old merchant houses and retro-style buildings remaining here and there still today, standing as vivid vestiges of the bustling days of yore. Relatively compact in size, the area can be traversed on foot and is dotted with photogenic places, making it an ideal destination for groups of female travelers among others. Here, we will present a sightseeing plan that introduces visitors to a nice selection of nostalgia-tinged scenic locations around Mitsuhama.

* This feature was created based on ideas conceived by students of Matsuyama Shinonome College as part of a workshop in a “Matsuyama Studies” class.

Index

Retro-Style Architecture Symbolic of Mitsuhama

Old Hamada Clinic

This historic site serves as the stepping-off point of the itinerary highlighting the good old days of this port district. Built in 1923 and operated as a women’s health clinic until the early 1970s, the Old Hamada Clinic opened as a tenant building in 2016 after a couple years of renovation work that started in 2014. While the exterior is said to have been influenced by Western architectural styles, the main building, in fact, features a style purely Japanese. The structure offers visitors a glimpse of what was in vogue at the time of its construction. Currently, a number of tenants make use of the building, including a confectionery, a tea salon, and an antique shop. Beyond the photogenic air of the site, visitors can enjoy a leisurely break with a cup of tea and shopping opportunities as well.

 

旧濱田医院

旧濱田医院旧濱田医院
旧濱田医院
Old Hamada Clinic

Address: 2-2-20 Sumiyoshi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Phone: 080-4154-3696
Business hours & closures: Varies depending on tenant (Check sources such as the Old Hamada Clinic website)
HP：https://mitsu-hamada.com/
Instagram：@q.hamadaiin

A Bakery/Variety Shop Bursting with American Taste!

TOYS BREAD FACTORY

As you walk toward the port from the Old Hamada Clinic along National Route 437, the playful exterior of TOYS BREAD FACTORY will come into view—and the inside of the shop doesn’t disappoint with its similarly fun-filled displays that make visitors feel as if they’ve come to a theme park. With tasty treats and an enjoyable atmosphere, the bakery is an experience in and of itself, offering a unique selection of breads and other baked goods that will bring a smile to your face and make great souvenirs for friends and family as well. Be sure not to miss the American variety goods either.

TOYS BREAD FACTORYTOYS BREAD FACTORY
TOYS BREAD FACTORYTOYS BREAD FACTORY
TOYS BREAD FACTORY

Address: 3-6-22 Mitsu, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Phone: 089-953-3618
Business hours: 9:00 until sold out
Closed: Sunday through Tuesday (plus special holidays & temporary closures)
Instagram：@toysbreadfactory

Nostalgia-Inducing Ferry with a 500-Year History

Mitsu Ferry

Board the Mitsu Ferry, which has a history dating all the way back to the Muromachi Period, to reach the Minatoyama area on the other side of the river from Mitsuhama. Actually classified as a municipal route, the water shuttle operates year-round, and fares are free of charge. While the trip is short, with just about 80 m from shore to shore, the ride on the small vessel, which is modeled after a wooden ship of the earlier-20th-century Taishō/Shōwa eras, is thoroughly enjoyable. Coupled with the nostalgia-inducing harbor scenery, the experience will make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time a bit.

三津の渡し三津の渡し
Mitsu Ferry

Address: 1-11 jisaki, Mitsu Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture (Mitsu side)
Phone: 089-951-2149 (Matsuyama Harbor Office)
Service hours: 7:00–19:00 (Operates year-round on an as-needed basis); Year-round (Service may be suspended in case of inclement weather)
Related link:https://en.matsuyama-sightseeing.com/spot/3-6/

A Mitsuhama-Born Specialty with Kezuri-ko Dried Fish Powder & Chikuwa Fish Cake Ingredients

Mitsuhamayaki

Strolling around Mitsuhama, banners advertising “Mitsuhamayaki” will seem to be everywhere. It’s no wonder that since the days of old this hearty dish has been—and remains today—a favorite of locals with its mouth-watering ingredients that include kezuri-ko (dried fish powder) and pink-and-white chikuwa (tube-shaped fish cake), with seasoned soba or udon noodles mixed in as well. Aromas of savory sauce and beef tallow wafting from the griddle are sure to stimulate the appetites of passersby. When feeling famished after a long day on foot, let this unique port-district soul food specialty satisfy you.

Mitsuhamayaki

Related link: https://en.matsuyama-sightseeing.com/topics/9-2/

A Setting of Gentle Seas to Soothe & Calm the Mind

Baishinji Buena Vista

Heading along the national highway from Minatoyama toward Takahama, you will find a small alleyway leading to the seashore, and at the end of the lane, the Baishinji Buena Vista café. As the name suggests—meaning “Nice View” in Spanish—Buena Vista offers stunning scenic views of the gentle waters of the Seto Inland Sea spreading out before visitors’ eyes. The area’s appearance in television dramas and anime programs has brought visitors even from overseas in recent years. Savor some confections or a smoothie on your visit as you gaze out at the sea, and you will feel as if you have been transported into a movie yourself. A stylish swing set up beneath the café, which features a stilted high-floor construction, provides a great setting for a commemorative photo to round out the day with as the sun begins to descend toward the sea.

梅津寺　ブエナビスタ

梅津寺　ブエナビスタ梅津寺　ブエナビスタ
梅津寺　ブエナビスタ
Baishinji Buena Vista

Address: 1329 Baishinji-machi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
Phone: 089-995-8525
Business hours: 11:30–17:00
Closed: Thursdays
Instagram：@buenavista_baishinji

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