2025 Saijo Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

#springwander Mt. Ishizuchi is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan in Ehime Prefecture, which has been familiar as a mountain of mountain faith since ancient times. Along with Mt. Fuji, Hakusan, Tateyama, and Oyama, it is counted as one of the seven sacred mountains in Japan. At the top of Mt. Yayama, in the middle of the slope, and at the foot of the mountain, there is a shrine with Mt. Ishizuchi as a sacred mountain, and the head office of the Ishizuchi Shrine at the foot of the mountain, the Okumiya Summit Shrine at the top of the mountain, the Achievement Shrine on the middle of the slope, and the Tsuchikoya Harubaiden are called "Ishizuchi Shrine".

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Maegami-ji Temple, 64th Temple of the 88 Shikoku Pilgrimage Maegami-ji Temple was built by the imperial wish of Emperor Kanmu, and is the 64th temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage (^^). It was the head temple of the sacred mountain, Mt. Ishizuchi, until the Shinto-Buddhist separation policy! The grounds are large, and the Daishi-do, Goma-do, Yakushi-do, and Hon-do are scattered throughout. Currently, it is the head temple of the Ishizuchi school of Shingon Buddhism, and is visited by many worshippers as the main training center of Shugendo (^^) Please go and check it out (^ ^)!! ! ! [Location] 1426 Sunouchi-ko, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture [Parking] Free parking available #0 yen trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Shikoku 88 Temples, Temple No. 63, Mikkyo Mountain Taizoin, Kichijoji Among the Shikoku pilgrimage sites, Kichijoji is the only temple with Bishamonten as its principal image, and its origins can be traced back to this time (^^) It is said that Kobo Daishi made a pilgrimage around this region during the Kōnin era, when he found a single cypress tree emitting light and felt that the area was filled with spiritual energy ^ ^ He carved a statue of Bishamonten as his principal image from this sacred tree, and then carved and enshrined statues of Kisshoten and Zenshi Doji as attendants, and built a temple to pray for relief from poverty. [Location] 1048 Himi Otsu, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture 793-0072 #0 Yen Trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime] Koenji Temple, the 61st of the 88 Sacred Temples of Shikoku The one and only temple that enshrines Koyasu Daishi (Kobo Daishi holding a baby) due to auspicious origins (^ ^) Kobo Daishi is said to have left secret methods for safe childbirth, child-rearing, substitutes, and women's enlightenment at the temple. This is why Koenji Temple is called "Koyasu's Kobo Daishi" (^^) And it is said that Koenji Temple was founded by Prince Shotoku (574-622) to pray for the peace of mind of the 31st Emperor Yomei's illness. [Location] 19 Minamikawa-ko, Komatsu-cho, Saijo-shi, Ehime Prefecture, 799-1102 #0 yen trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] 60th temple of the 88 sacred places of Shikoku, Mount Ishizuchi, Fukuchi-in, Yokomine-ji Temple (^^) 60th temple of the 88 sacred places of Shikoku, Mount Ishizuchi, Fukuchi-in, Yokomine-ji Temple (^^) The temple is built in the style of a shrine, and the main image is a seated statue of Dainichi Nyorai made by Kobo Daishi (^^) It also enshrines a bronze statue of Zao Gongen from the Heian period, both of which are designated as important cultural properties by the prefecture (^^) [Location] 2253 Ishizuchi-ko, Komatsu-cho, Saijo-shi, Ehime Prefecture, 799-1112 [Access] From Iyo Komatsu Interchange, drive on National Route 11 towards Saijo City, pass Himi intersection and turn right onto Prefectural Route 142, then turn right at the Yokomine Trailhead bus stop. Head towards the mountain and it will be right in front of you. #0 Yen Trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A hot spring inn boasting a spectacular view! ♨️(^^) A hot spring inn boasting a spectacular view of the Ishizuchi mountain range, the highest peak in western Japan, and the beautiful islands of the Seto Inland Sea. You can enjoy the water drawn from Hontani Onsen, which is known as one of the "Three Hot Springs of Iyo" along with Dogo and Donkawa Onsen (^ ^) There is also a campsite and a swimming beach, so both adults and children can enjoy it! (^^) The most popular season is summer vacation (^^) You're sure to have fun! Please come and visit (^^) [Hotel name] Kyuka Mura Setouchi Toyo [Location] 7-179 Kawarazu Otsu, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture #0 yen trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Sky Road Leading to Mt. Ishizuchi, the Highest Peak in Western Japan🚗 A town road stretching for about 27km in length with Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in Western Japan, in the background (^^) The route that runs along the ridge at an altitude of 1,300m to 1,700m is popular as a driving course with a spectacular view that leads to the sky! The road is closed for the winter from late November to early April. In addition, although the road is all paved, it is a single lane and will be crowded during Golden Week and the autumn foliage season, so please be careful when driving (^^) #0 Yen Trip February 2025

📍Binke-mori The summit of Binke-mori, which exudes a stately presence, is a gentle plain, and is covered with magnificent bamboo grass. There are clusters of fir and hemlock trees, and the skeletal forest creates a particularly beautiful landscape, and the natural beauty is worthy of being called the panoramic platform of Shikoku. The summit has two peaks, Meyama and Oyama, and the views are outstanding. In particular, Mt. Ishizuchi can be seen in all its majestic beauty. It takes about an hour to reach the summit from the trailhead at Binke-mori parking lot, and the views are outstanding, so it is a popular mountain for beginners. An refuge hut and toilets were completed at the end of 2017, and are available for use along with the nearby campsite. #0yentripFebruary2025

🇯🇵【Ehime Prefecture】In a place like this! Ishizuchi Shrine Chugu Jyojusha⛩️(^ ^) Ishizuchi Shrine is a shrine that worships Mt. Ishizuchi, one of the seven sacred mountains of Japan, as its sacred mountain (the mountain where the gods rest). The four shrines, the summit shrine at the top, the Jyojusha shrine and Tsuchigoya Yohaiden shrine at the middle (7th station), and the main shrine located near the JR and national highway, are collectively called Ishizuchi Shrine (^^) It is located about 20 minutes walk from the Ishizuchi Mountain Ropeway at the middle (7th station) of Mt. Ishizuchi! It serves religious ceremonies and events, offers prayers for general climbers, and is an important base for climbing the sacred mountain Mt. Ishizuchi along with the Tsuchigoya Yohaiden shrine (^^) #0 yen trip February 2025

📍Hoshigamori, Yokomine-ji Temple's inner sanctuary If you climb another 500m from the temple grounds, you will reach Hoshigamori, a remote worship site on the west side of Mt. Ishizuchi. It takes a little time, but the unassuming torii gates blend in with the surroundings, and you can enjoy a wonderful view that values ​​the atmosphere. Also, I felt that the photos including the torii gates would be interesting to take home as souvenirs. Yokomine-ji Temple, the 60th temple of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, is highly regarded for its well-preserved old roads and the pilgrimage culture itself, including marker stones, Jizo statues, and pilgrim graves. It is a spot where you can enjoy the old road (Yokomine-ji Road) to Hoshigamori. #0 Yen Travel February 2025

📍Autumn leaves on Mt. Ishizuchi The leaves on Mt. Ishizuchi start to change color from the summit in early October, around the summit around the 10th, around Jojusha Shrine from mid-October to around the 20th, and on Nishinokawasuji from late October to mid-November. Mt. Ishizuchi is the highest peak in western Japan, boasting an elevation of 1,982 meters, and is one of Japan's 100 famous mountains. On a clear day, you can see the Seto Inland Sea from the summit, as well as the mountains of the Chugoku region and Kyushu in the distance. The best time to see the autumn leaves is around October near the summit, and the colors gradually move to the foothills. From Kumakogen Town, you can use the Ishizuchi Skyline mountain road to access the Tsuchigoya hut at an elevation of 1,492 meters while enjoying the autumn leaves. The feeling of accomplishment from climbing and the spectacular view of the autumn leaves at the same time are the real pleasures of a high-altitude mountain. From the hut, even beginners can climb to the summit in relative safety, and the area near the summit is a spectacular spot to view the red leaves of autumn. #0yentravelFebruary2025

📍Kanehisa Pond Also known as Ikenouchi Pond, it is located at the foot of a mountain in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, facing the Seto Inland Sea. It is a reservoir built in 1791 for irrigation purposes, and with a storage capacity of 460,000 tons, it is the largest reservoir in the Saijo area. There are parking lots and promenades around it, and it has a great view of the Ishizuchi mountain range, and in spring people come to enjoy cherry blossoms and strolls. It may be a hidden gem that many people don't know about yet. Currently, it is managed by the Dozen Plain Land Improvement District, and is effectively used as a regulating pond for the Omogo Dam. #0yentripFebruary2025

📍Ishizuchi Mountain Range The Ishizuchi mountain range is centered around Mt. Ishizuchi and has over a dozen mountains with an elevation of 1,700m or more, stretching over 50km from east to west. The mountains of Shikoku are mainly divided into the Tsurugi Mountains in the east and the Ishizuchi Mountains in the west, and the Ishizuchi Mountains are led by Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan, and reach Ninomori, Dogamori, Aotakiyama, and Kuromori Pass in the west. From Kuromori Pass, it forms a mountain range that is high in the east and low in the west, passing through the Saraga Mountain Range and the Izushi Mountains to the Sada Misaki Peninsula. This mountain range, which has nearly 20 mountains over 1,500m, forms the backbone of the Shikoku Mountain Range and is also one of the most representative mountains in western Japan. #0yentravelFebruary2025

📍Nishiyama Koryuji Temple During the autumn foliage season, the temple is known as "Nishiyama Koryuji Temple of Maple Leaves" because of the stunning scenery that blends in with the surrounding mountains. In spring, the Somei-Yoshino and weeping cherry trees bloom in full glory, and many photographers gather here during the autumn foliage and cherry blossom seasons. The temple also has many cultural assets, such as the main hall and bronze bell, and the historic building blends in with nature while exuding a dignified presence. The best time to see the autumn leaves at Nishiyama Koryuji Temple is from mid-November to early December. #Free hotel stay

📍Ushiro no Shomen Dare Established in 1985, this cafe, along with the adjacent karaoke shop run by the owner's father, has long been a popular place of relaxation for locals. It has now become an essential stop for visitors to Saijo City. The recommended menu at Ushiro no Shomen Dare is the "Saijo Teppan Napolitan" (1,580 yen, tax excluded) #Free hotel stay

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Let's go to the famous Ishizuchi Shrine⛩️ This shrine is built at a high position, as if it were looking out over the world, with the sacred mountain Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan, as its sacred mountain. The four shrines, "Okunomiya/Chojosha", "Nakamiya/Jojusha", "Tsuchigoya Yohaiden", and "Kuchinomiya/Honsha", are collectively called Ishizuchi Shrine, and welcome visitors with a solemn atmosphere. In addition, various Shinto ceremonies such as the "Oyama-kairi Grand Festival" and the "Setsubun Festival/Hoshi-matsuri Prayer Festival" are held, and you can experience the atmosphere of Ishizuchi Shrine's main shrine through these ceremonies as well. [Location] 797 Nishida-ko, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, 793-8555 #Free hotel stay

[Ehime Prefecture] Impressive Torii ⛩️ Mishima Shrine ⛩️ ^ ^ An ancient shrine that was enshrined by the provincial governor Kono Iyonokami Ochi no Sukune Tamaoki and Tamazumi as the general guardian deity of Idego by imperial order in the 5th year of the Wadou era (712) of Emperor Genmei (^^)(^^) Nearby is Koenji Temple, the 61st temple of the 88 sacred places of Shikoku (^^) I think it's best to visit them as a set (^^)! Please go and check it out (^^)! [Location] 2234 Shinyashiki-ko, Komatsu-cho, Saijo City [Access] About a 15-minute walk from Iyo-Komatsu Station on the JR Yosan Line. [Parking] 10 spaces available. #0yentripJanuary2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A dining bar that's like a stylish cafe (^^) Every single dish is delicious! The appetizer plate is stylish (^^) The cod roe pasta and duck are recommended (^^) Please come and visit us (^^)(^^)!! ! ! ! ! [Store name] Waltz&de [Location] 679-12 Omachi, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] About 9 minutes on foot from the Iyo-Saijo Station exit About 57 minutes on foot from the Ishizuchiyama Station exit [Business hours] 18:00-1:00 [Closed] Tuesday #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Roadside station! Komatsu Oasis! (^ ^) A roadside station at the foot of Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in Western Japan! Komatsu Oasis! OASIS MARKET, which offers fresh vegetables and souvenirs grown with the most abundant water in Shikoku, as well as special products from Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, is popular (^^) In addition to the "Visitor Center" where you can collect mountain information, tourist information, and road information as a base facility for outdoor activities, we have also developed a "Climbing Facility" where you can experience full-scale rope climbing at a height of about 6m (^^) At the "Montbell Store" operated by Montbell, a comprehensive outdoor brand, you can find a wide variety of outdoor products! (^ ^) #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] The most delicious katsudon in Japan! A restaurant that has a line! A long-established katsudon restaurant! (^^) A katsudon specialty restaurant that is popular among locals, and there is often a line! (^^) A must-visit restaurant for katsudon lovers (^^) There is always a line during seasons such as Golden Week! Many customers come from outside the prefecture! The katsudon has just the right thickness of meat, and is accented with fragrant green seaweed! The cheese katsudon is recommended! It's super delicious (^^)! If you like cheese, you should definitely try it (^^) [Location] 1-9 Honmachi, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A restaurant with the most delicious seafood! Marutomo Fisheries Fresh Fish Market has a wide variety of fresh seafood (^ ^) The seafood bowls are especially popular! There are tables, private rooms, and tatami rooms, so it's safe for families with children (^^) The store also sells takeaway sashimi and delicacies, so you can enjoy shopping at the market while you wait! (^^) Please try the fresh fish (^^) You'll definitely be satisfied (^^) There will be long wait times during Golden Week and public holidays! Please come and visit us ^ ^ [Location] 456-5 Hinoguchi, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture #0 Yen Trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Enjoy grape picking 🍇 in the great outdoors (^^) Let's go to Yamasa Farm! (^^) Enjoy grapes in the great outdoors of Tanbara! Enjoy fresh fruits in a relaxing environment! In August and September, you can enjoy grape picking "all-you-can-eat and direct sales" (^^) There are many types of grapes (^^) Shine Muscat! The undisputed king of grapes! Both the texture and aroma are excellent. When fully ripe and slightly yellowish, the sugar content can exceed 20 degrees (^^) And when it comes to grapes, Pione! (^^) Although it has lost the absolute king position to Shine Muscat, it is a popular variety with excellent taste and size (^^) #FritabiWinter

One of Japan's Seven Spirit Mountains, it has been a well-known object of mountain worship since ancient times. Mt. Misen has the highest peak in western Japan, Mt. Tengu-dake, and the Ishizuchi Shrine. Together with the Minami-japonese mountains, they are collectively called Mt. Ishizuchi. There are two hiking trails: the Dokobo Route, which is about 4.6 kilometers long and follows the ridge from Dokobo in Kumakogen Town, and the route that takes the Ishizuchi Mountain Cableway from Saijo City. You can choose the one based on your hiking experience. In addition, the hiking trail of Ishizuchi Mountain also has a chain field where people use chains to climb vertical cliffs, which is rare in the country. There are also many detours that do not pass through the chain course, so you can choose different routes according to your physical strength. When you reach the top of the mountain, you can see the Seto Inland Sea and Tosa Bay in the distance. When the weather is clear, you can also see the Chugoku Mountains and Kyushu Mountains in the distance. You can enjoy an indescribable sense of accomplishment and beautiful scenery. #ChristmasDestinations2024

Mt. Ishizuchi straddles Saijo City and Kumakogen Town in Ehime Prefecture. Its main peak, Mt. Tengu, is the highest peak in Western Japan and is one of the 100 famous mountains in Japan. Mt. Ishizuchi is also known as the spot where the earliest autumn leaves change color in Shikoku. Mt. Ishizuchi is a sacred mountain where mountain priests once came to train. Therefore, the mountain trail has four nearly vertical chain sections with a total length of about 240m, and the highest peak, Mt. Tengu, is a sheer cliff with almost no chain sections at all!! It was the most thrilling mountain climbing experience I've ever had! *Please note that there are detours around the chain sections, so don't worry. Also, the vast majority of people don't climb Mt. Tengu. The observation deck is at the summit of Mt. Misen, which is opposite Mt. Tengu, but when we arrived, it was covered in thick fog, and we waited for over 40 minutes in the freezing cold until the fog cleared... When the fog cleared, cheers rang out from all around! While having lunch on the rocks at the summit of Mt. Tengu, we looked down and saw the rare Brocken phenomenon, where a rainbow ring appears around your shadow! It was a fall foliage climbing experience that gave me a thrill and excitement like never before. Photo on Oct 11 2022 Mt. Ishizuchi-san is a 1,982m high (6,503 ft) mountain on the border of Saijō city and Kumakōgen-cho town in Ehime prefecture, Japan. This mountain is one of the Japan 100 best mountains and the highest one in Western Japan and the Shikoku region, and the fall foliage is the earliest to come to the Shikoku. Mt. Ishizuchi has been worshiped as the spiritual and important object for Shugendo like a mixture of Shintoism and Buddhism. There are 4 heavy iron chains leading up to the summit on the almost sudden vertical drop( at the same time ready for the detour like a step). Mt. Tengu-dake, which is the highest peak of Ishizuchi mountains, is too dangerous to climb up to the peak without chains as well as ropes. It's so thrilling and exciting trekking Anyway! #tripdomestictravel #Ehimeprefecture #autumnleaves #mountainclimbing #greatview #100famousmountainsinjapan

🇯🇵 [Ehime] Rinrin Park! Let's go see Nishikigoi! Nishikigoi in the garden! You can enjoy a leisurely meal while looking at the garden from the restaurant, and the souvenir shop has a wide selection of Shikoku souvenirs such as mandarin oranges, pilgrimage supplies, and more. Many buses stop here from far away when visiting the 88 sacred sites of Shikoku (^^) Please come and visit us! ^ ^ [Location] 50 Akiho-ko, Komatsu-cho, Saijo-shi, Ehime 799-1107 [Business hours] 8:30-19:30 (open all year round) *Shop (souvenir shop) is open from 8:30-18:30 #Domestic travel trip #Ehime trip #Ehime sightseeing #Rinrin Park #Nishikigoi

#0yentripautumn Mt. Ishizuchi 📍81 Nishinokawa Shimodani-ko, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, 793-0215 ​​(Ishizuchi Mountain Ropeway, Shimodani Station at the base of the mountain) I climbed Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan, at 1,982m above sea level⛰️ You can take the ropeway to the trailhead🚡 At first, it was foggy and I was worried about what to do, but the autumn leaves were beautiful at the summit, and I was even able to see the sea of ​​clouds☁️ I was so tired that I was very moved✨ There are three chain sections on the mountain path, but there are also detours, so if you are not confident, don't push yourself and take the detour! Of course I did! lol It seems that there are a lot of climbers every year during the autumn leaves season! The ropeway has a set time, so check in advance and make sure you get there in time! If you can't make it in time, there are inns where you can stay🙆 It was very tiring because I don't usually exercise, but there were many small children and energetic seniors! If you're confident in your physical strength, give it a go ⛰️

#100 Ways to Travel DAY 27: Walking tour in Dongyu city Today is a rest day during the pilgrimage. I visited the big supermarkets, DAISO department stores, second-hand goods stores, SERIA ten-yen stores and bookstores in the city, and shared with you the local delicacies I tasted during my trip to Shikoku. Riding a bicycle to pilgrimage every day will consume at least 2,000 calories, so it is also important to replenish calories at any time. Convenience stores are definitely good partners for pilgrimage. 7-11, Family Mart and Lawson can be found everywhere. Breakfast or lunch can be easily solved according to the itinerary. Sometimes I will go to some local restaurants on the roadside to try new things. Almost all the people eating there are locals. The meals are rich and cheap. For lunch, there will be "daily set meal" or "commercial set meal", which only costs a few hundred yen. The daily meal budget of ¥3,000 is more than enough. The first chain restaurant to recommend is すき家, which is open 24 hours a day. There must be a branch near the station, and there are also value-for-money sets during breakfast time. Shikoku's udon is also very famous. You can often see "味自慢" うどん屋, which is also a local affordable delicacy! Accommodation: Hotel Trend Saijo, Saijo City Today's cycling distance: 0 km Cumulative cycling mileage: 1597 km #Japan #FourCountries #Shikoku Pilgrimage #Shikoku Pilgrimage #Seto Inland Sea #Tokushima #Awa Spiritual Field #Kochi #Tosa Sacred Ground #Ehime #Sanuki Sacred Ground #Kagawa #Iyo Sacred Ground #BicycleTravel #Two people walking together #Kobodashi #Namo Master Universal Illumination Vajra #Shikoku Pilgrimage 88 #Gohenro #Shimanami Kaido #Shodoshima #Setonaikai National Park #Don't ask me how much the trip costs #Ask yourself how many years of youth you have left #japan #tokushima #kochi #ehime #takematsu

DAY 26: On the 23rd day of the official start of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, the 'Ehime Bodhi Dojo' was successfully completed, and half of the extra 20 temples were also completed. As the saying goes, 'A journey of a hundred miles is half done at ninety.' There are things I would never have done before, but now I am challenging my limits. After completing the nearly 1,000-kilometer pilgrimage of the Camino de Santiago and the Road to the End of the World in Spain last year (2023), impulsiveness is no longer a mindset but a driving force to keep moving forward. Faith makes one braver, more humble, and more loving. This is what Kobo Daishi taught me on this pilgrimage journey. Knowing that you have so much is the true beginning of wealth. Visiting Sacred Sites: ◎ 60th Yokomineji Temple (Difficult) Elevation 750 meters, six hours of hiking up and down, Inari Torii ◎ 61st Ko-onji Temple Modern architecture, enshrines the deity of safe childbirth and child-rearing ◎ 62nd Hojuji Temple ◎ 63rd Kichijoji Temple, Achievement Stone ◎ 64th Maegamiji Temple Accommodation: Hotel Trend Saijo, Saijo City Today's cycling distance: 41 kilometers Total cycling distance: 1,597 kilometers