Neighborhoods, culture & station routes
Ehime — choose your neighborhood
Compare Dogo’s bathhouse and literary heritage, Uchiko’s wax merchants’ town and Ozu’s riverside architecture.
Before choosing a date
The main Uchikoza theatre is closed for conservation, with reopening planned for spring 2029. The backstage display is a separate visit.
From 2024-09-02 · Reopening: spring 2029 planned, exact date unconfirmed · reconfirm
Dogo Onsen Honkan closes for cleaning on December 1, 2026; Asuka-no-Yu and Tsubaki-no-Yu close on December 2.
2026-12-01 / 2026-12-02
JR Matsuyama Station · before you set off
These are route patterns, not live itineraries. Check service destinations and operating days before departure. Walking times apply only to the named station-to-venue segment, not the whole district.
Matsuyama & Dogo
Bathhouse heritage and Shiki’s literature
Dogo Onsen Honkan closes for cleaning on December 1, 2026; Asuka-no-Yu and Tsubaki-no-Yu close on December 2.
2026-12-01 / 2026-12-02
What to enjoy
Pair Dogo’s historic bathhouse setting with the Shiki Museum to explore Masaoka Shiki’s life and literary reforms, not just the hot springs.
Museums & what to learn
Permanent venues, not festival dates. Displays and programs can change.
The Shiki Museum
Explore Shiki’s manuscripts, letters and historical context to understand Matsuyama’s literary heritage. Many displays involve reading.
Getting there: Matsuyama & Dogo · route 1
Take a Dogo Onsen-bound tram from JR Matsuyama Station. Walk approximately 5 minutes from Dogo Onsen stop to the Shiki Museum. JR Matsuyama and Matsuyama-shi are different stations.
Getting there: Matsuyama & Dogo · route 2
Walk approximately 3–5 minutes from Dogo Onsen tram stop to the Honkan bathhouse.
Official sources & current conditions
Checked 2026-10-31. Routes are examples, not live journey results.Uchiko & Yokaichi-Gokoku
A merchant town shaped by wax
The main Uchikoza theatre is closed for conservation, with reopening planned for spring 2029. The backstage display is a separate visit.
From 2024-09-02 · Reopening: spring 2029 planned, exact date unconfirmed · reconfirm
What to enjoy
Explore decorated merchant houses and the Kamihaga Residence to understand how wax production shaped the town. The main Uchikoza theatre is closed for conservation.
Museums & what to learn
Permanent venues, not festival dates. Displays and programs can change.
Kamihaga Residence and Wax Museum
Learn how Japan wax was made and how production, trade and domestic life shared the same merchant estate.
Getting there: Uchiko & Yokaichi-Gokoku · route 1
Take the Uwakai limited express from JR Matsuyama to Uchiko, then walk approximately 20 minutes to the Kamihaga Residence. Check limited-express ticket requirements separately.
Official sources & current conditions
Checked 2026-10-31. Routes are examples, not live journey results.Ozu & Garyu Sanso
Traditional architecture above the Hiji River
What to enjoy
Explore Garyu Sanso’s buildings and garden in their riverside setting—a different architectural experience from Dogo’s bathhouse town or Uchiko’s industrial heritage.
Museums & what to learn
Permanent venues, not festival dates. Displays and programs can change.
Garyu Sanso
Explore traditional architectural details and the relationship between buildings, garden and river scenery.
Getting there: Ozu & Garyu Sanso · route 1
Take a train from JR Matsuyama serving Iyo-Ozu, then walk approximately 25 minutes to Garyu Sanso. Check local versus limited-express service and ticket conditions.
Official sources & current conditions
Checked 2026-10-31. Routes are examples, not live journey results.