Matsuyama—A Thousand-Year Love Song in the Heart of Shikoku

Dogo Onsen, a lingering affection through the ages 💧 Matsuyama Castle, quietly guarding the glorious years of the past 🏯 Coastal scenery, unfolding a natural scroll 🌊 Cultural exhibition halls, igniting the flames of civilization ☀️ 📍Detailed Address Matsuyama City is located in the central part of Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku Island, Japan. It is nestled between mountains and the sea, facing the Iyo灘 to the north and surrounded by mountains. Its unique geographical location endows it with charming mountain and sea scenery. 🚘Transportation Guide ✈️Airplane: Matsuyama Airport is the city's gateway. There are direct flights from major Japanese cities such as Tokyo Haneda Airport and Osaka Itami Airport, with a flight time of approximately 1.5–2.5 hrs. Tourists departing from China can first arrive at hub cities such as Tokyo or Osaka and then transfer to Matsuyama. 🚅Train: Matsuyama is easily accessible by JR Shikoku Railway. The "Limited Express Train" offers beautiful scenery and faster speeds. For example, departing from Takamatsu, you can enjoy the rural scenery of Shikoku along the way. In addition, there are special themed trains, such as the cute "Anpanman Train," which adds fun to the journey. 🚌Bus: Bus routes are extensive and convenient for traveling to both city attractions and surrounding towns. Some buses also offer one-day passes, usually priced around JPY 1,000–1,500, allowing unlimited rides, which is very cost-effective. 🚖Taxi: Taxi stands are available at airports, stations, and other locations. Taxi fares in Japan are relatively high, with a starting fare of approximately JPY 660–710/2 km. The fare increases incrementally for each subsequent distance traveled. A 20% surcharge applies for late-night rides. 🍽Food Recommendations 🍲Sea Bream Rice: Ehime Prefecture's signature dish, made with freshly caught local sea bream and soft glutinous rice. There are various ways to enjoy it, such as sashimi, dipping in soy sauce, adding soup to the rice, or wrapping it with raw egg and rice, catering to different tastes. Recommended restaurants include "Matsuyama Taimeshi Akiyoshi," which often has long queues, but the taste is definitely worth the wait, with branches in Matsuyama Castle and Dogo; "Ganso Uwajima Taimeshi" is equally famous, also with branches in Matsuyama Castle and Dogo; "Taimeshi Maki" is located opposite Matsuyama Station, where you can enjoy fresh and delicious sea bream rice without queuing, and there's even a triple-size option for those with a big appetite. 🍲Ehime Local Cuisine: Highly local and cost-effective, allowing you to savor the authentic local flavors. For example, "localcuisinekadoya," in addition to sea bream rice, also offers maru sushi, small fish, and Satsuma rice, which are worth trying. 🍲Eel Rice: "Unagi Ogura" is quite famous. The grilled eel and beef here are both delicious. There are also special snacks such as eel rice balls, eel omelets, and grilled eel liver. 🍲Faucet Ehime Juice: Ehime is known as the "Orange Kingdom," with an annual orange production of up to 200,000 tons and over 40 varieties. At "Iori Honten," you can choose a juice set with three varieties, and the orange mosaic background is perfect for taking photos; "Ehime no Shokutaku 1970" offers a wide variety of oranges, which you can select and pay for at the counter; "10factory," although without a faucet, has a dazzling array of orange products and allows you to bottle the juice to take away, with sets of three or six cups available. 🍲Various Desserts: The daifuku at "Kiri no Mori Kashikobo" has an excellent texture and is served with green tea, complementing each other perfectly; the milk cheesecake at "Dogo Milk Cheesecake" is not to be missed, especially the orange flavor, which looks realistic and contains a whole fresh orange; the bear-shaped egg waffles at "Okaki Dokoro Terakoyahonpo" are adorable and recommended with orange ice cream for a rich taste. 📸Must-See Attractions 🎬Matsuyama Castle: One of the only 12 remaining castle towers in Japan, with a long history. You can choose to take the single-person cable car up the mountain. Once at the top, the magnificent scenery of the Seto Inland Sea and the panoramic view of Matsuyama's ancient city unfold before your eyes, making you feel as if you've traveled back in time. 🎬Dogo Onsen: With a 3,000-year history, it is one of Japan's three oldest hot springs and the inspiration for the bathhouse in Hayao Miyazaki's animated film "Spirited Away." The Dogo Onsen Honkan is the first public bathhouse in Japan to be listed as a National Important Cultural Property. The wooden architecture inside is simple and elegant, the corridors are as intricate as a maze, and the drum is beaten three times a day (morning, noon, and evening), creating a sense of ritual. There are also historical temples such as Ishite-ji and Hoon-ji nearby, as well as rows of souvenir shops worth visiting. 🎬Shimonada Station: Known as the beautiful unmanned station closest to the sea, it looks like something out of an anime, full of dreamy colors. Taking photos here while waiting for the train to pass slowly creates stunning pictures in every frame. 🎬Ehime Prefectural Museum of Art: The museum houses a large collection of artworks, covering various fields from traditional Japanese painting to modern art. Art lovers can feast their eyes here and experience the charm of art. 🏠Recommended Nearby Attractions 📍Baishinji Station: Not only can you enjoy the beautiful seaside scenery, but there are also various foods and drinks made with mikan oranges. Enjoying the food while admiring the sea view is also a great photo opportunity. 📍Ishite-ji Temple: Located near Dogo Onsen, it is a historic ancient temple with simple and elegant architecture. The temple environment is quiet and peaceful, and strolling through it allows you to feel the strong Buddhist atmosphere. ✨Travel Experience ✅In Matsuyama, during the daytime, you can shuttle between ancient castles and temples, touching the heavy traces of history; you can also soak in the warm hot springs, relax, and enjoy a pleasant time. ✅In the evening, go to a lively izakaya, taste the local cuisine, have a drink, and experience the vibrant atmosphere. ✅Whether you're chasing the dreamlike scenes from anime or exploring hidden culinary treasures, Matsuyama can satisfy all your expectations for a trip to Japan, leaving you with warm and unforgettable memories.