What Makes Matsuyama Worth Visiting?

Matsuyama offers the perfect blend of tradition, history, and slow-paced charm. It’s a compact yet culturally rich city where you can stroll between a historic castle, one of Japan’s oldest hot springs, and literary landmarks—all within a short tram ride.
Here’s what makes Matsuyama truly special:

• 🏯 Matsuyama Castle: One of only 12 original castles left in Japan, perched high above the city.
• ♨️ Dogo Onsen: A 1,000-year-old hot spring experience just a short ride away.
• 📚 Botchan Connections: The setting of Natsume Soseki’s famous novel adds a literary layer to the town.
• 🚋 Streetcar City: Easy-to-use trams connect major sights, giving visitors a retro travel experience.

Is Matsuyama Castle Original?

Yes—Matsuyama Castle is one of Japan’s twelve remaining original castles, known as genzon tenshu (現存天守). While many Japanese castles were rebuilt in modern materials, the main keep of Matsuyama Castle was reconstructed in 1854 using traditional wooden architecture, and has remained intact ever since.
Originally constructed in 1603 by feudal lord Kato Yoshiaki, the castle has endured fires, war, and natural disasters. Today, you can walk through the same wooden interiors, steep staircases, and stone corridors that samurai once used over 150 years ago. In addition to the central keep, many of the gates, turrets, and stone walls from the Edo period also survive, making the entire mountaintop compound a rare and valuable historical site.

How to Reach Matsuyama Castle

Matsuyama Castle sits atop Mount Katsuyama, but getting there is easier than you might expect. Visitors can choose between a relaxing ride or a scenic hike:

Ropeway & Lift (Recommended)

• From Okaido Station (on the Iyotetsu streetcar line), it’s a 5-minute walk to the Ropeway Station.
• The ropeway or chair lift takes you halfway up the mountain.
• From there, it’s about a 10-minute uphill walk to reach the main keep.

👉 The ropeway runs every 10 minutes, and the chair lift operates continuously.
👉 Combo tickets for round-trip rides and castle entry are available at the base station.

Hiking Route

Feeling adventurous? You can also hike up the well-marked trails from the base of the mountain.

• Takes about 20–30 minutes depending on pace.
• Great way to enjoy the natural setting and stone walls.

Castle Highlights & Viewpoints

Once you reach the top, you’ll find that Matsuyama Castle is more than just a single tower—it’s a full-fledged fortress with multiple attractions:

Main Keep (Tenshu)

The three-story wooden keep offers 360° panoramic views of Matsuyama city, the Seto Inland Sea, and even distant mountain ranges on clear days. Inside, you’ll see:

• Samurai weapons and armor displays
• Wooden floors, steep staircases, and original construction
• A rooftop observation deck with open air access

Inner Compound & Walls

• Wander through massive stone walls and gates preserved from the Edo period.
• Several turrets (yagura) are still intact and accessible.

Viewpoints

• Best view is from the top of the main keep, but the courtyard below offers equally scenic photo spots—especially in spring with cherry blossoms or autumn with colorful leaves.

Visit to Matsuyama Castle

I visited Matsuyama Castle on a sunny spring morning, taking the ropeway up from Okaido. The ride was short but scenic—you get a great view of the town and castle walls rising through the trees.

Once I reached the top, I was surprised by how much of the castle remains: real wooden gates, steep steps, even old turret buildings. Inside the main keep, I climbed all the way to the top floor where the windows opened to sweeping views of the city and the Seto Inland Sea.

The stairs were steeper than I expected, but I loved the creaking floorboards and the cool shadows inside. There were samurai helmets and armor on display, and a staff member explained that some of the beams were original.

After exploring, I sat on a bench near the courtyard, sipping a bottle of mikan juice I’d bought from a stall. Sakura petals were floating in the breeze. It was the kind of moment that makes you pause and smile for no reason.

Q&A – Matsuyama Castle Tips

What is the Shimanami Kaido?

The Shimanami Kaido is a scenic 70-kilometer cycling route that connects Onomichi (Hiroshima Prefecture) with Imabari (Ehime Prefecture) via a series of six islands across the Seto Inland Sea. What makes this route unique is its dedicated cycling path, which runs alongside a series of majestic bridges—each one offering breathtaking views of the sea, ships, and scattered islands. Cyclists can enjoy quiet coastal roads, citrus orchards, beaches, and local culture at a slow, enjoyable pace.
There are rental bike stations throughout the route, and you can start or finish on any island—making it beginner-friendly and flexible. Whether you ride the entire route in one day or spread it out over two with an overnight stay, it’s one of the best ways to explore Japan off the beaten path.

Highlights Along the Shimanami Kaido

Cycling the Shimanami Kaido isn’t just about the ride—it’s about what you’ll discover along the way. Each island offers its own charm, from local food to hidden temples and sea views.

How Long Does It Take to Complete the Shimanami Kaido?

🚴‍♂️ 1-Day Ride:

　If you’re fit and plan minimal stops, you can complete the full 70 km in 6–8 hours. This is ideal if you just want to enjoy the ride itself.

🚴‍♀️ 2-Day Ride:

　For a more relaxed pace, break up the trip with an overnight stay on one of the islands, like Omishima or Ikuchijima. This lets you enjoy local attractions, hot springs, and seaside dinners.

Partial Rides:

　You don’t have to ride the entire route! Many travelers bike just the first few islands from Onomichi and return by ferry or bus.

Most cyclists complete the Shimanami Kaido in one or two days, depending on their pace and how often they stop. There are bike rental shops that allow one-way returns, so you don’t need to cycle back to your starting point.

Our Experience on the Shimanami Kaido

Day1

I took the Shinkansen from Shin-Yokohama around 8.30 am and arrived in Onomichi around noon (with one train switch in Fukuyama). Before starting a tour of Onomichi city, I tasted the local ramen from Onomichi (尾道ラーメン) which broth is made with small fish with an added taste of soy sauce. It has a mild flavor and it was really delicious.

Since the Middle Ages, the city of Onomichi has prospered as a port and because of its wealth, many temples have been built in the city. Today, Onomichi City is known as a temple city. So I visited the major temples: Senkoji (千光寺), Taisanji (大山寺), Jodoji (浄土時), and Saikokuji (西國寺). Each temple is not very large but they are all well maintained. The views from each temple of the inland sea are magnificent.

In the evening, we tried oysters: Hiroshima Prefecture is known for its oyster farming. It was delicious.

Day2

Let the cycling begin! We took the ferry to Mukaishima Island around 10 am. You can of course get on the ferry with your bike. We crossed Mukaishima and passed by beaches. We were very surprised by the clarity of the seawater in this area. Arriving at Innoshima Island, we climbed Shiratakiyama Mountain and enjoyed the 360-degree panorama from the top.

As the weather was nice, the sea reflected the blue color of the sky and it was really pleasant. It was quite tiring to climb more than 200 meters, but it was worth it to go up to see this beautiful landscape. After a lunch break at a local restaurant on Innoshima Island, we went on our way to the final destination of the day, Omishima Island! In Iguchijima, we passed in front of the Kosanji temple (unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit it) and laid down for a bit on Setoda Sun Set Beach.

Arriving at Omishima Island, before sunset, we went to visit the Oyamazumi shrine. It is a sober sanctuary and the 2600 years old camphor tree is imposing. We arrived at the hotel around 4 pm. We spent the night in a hotel for cyclists called WAKKA. In this hotel, you can bring your bicycle into the room and hang it on the wall. It is located at the edge of the sea and there is a great view of Tatara -Ohashi Bridge and the place is pleasant and beautiful.

Day3

We woke up at sunrise. After breakfast, we left around 9 am to the direction of Tatara-Ohashi bridge because as an exception we could climb to the top of the bridge pier (normally it is closed to the public). We really had an amazing view from the top. While passing by the island of Hakata, we arrived at the last island before Imabari.

As I wanted to see the Kurushima Strait from the observatory, we made the effort to go up the 308m high mountain by bike. It was tiring but the splendid view of the observatory made us forget the tiredness. Before crossing the Kurushima Kaikyo Ohashi bridge, we took a short break at the foot of the bridge. The Tatara Kaikyo Ohashi Bridge is about 4km long. This day there was no wind and we could cross it within about 20 minutes.

We arrived at Imari station around 3 pm, and we returned the bikes. To relieve our tiredness, we decided to go to the spa Dogo Onsen, about 40 min by train. After 2 days of travel by bike, it felt like paradise to take a bath in the onsen hot springs.

How to Access the Shimanami Kaido

Getting to the Shimanami Kaido is easy from either side—Onomichi (Hiroshima) or Imabari (Ehime). Most travelers begin in Onomichi, especially if coming from Hiroshima or Osaka.

From Hiroshima / Osaka to Onomichi

• From Hiroshima Station:
  Take the JR Sanyo Line to Onomichi Station (approx. 90 min) 　Or take the Shinkansen to Shin-Onomichi Station + bus/taxi to the city center
• From Osaka:
  Shinkansen to Fukuyama Station → JR Sanyo Line to Onomichi

From Tokyo

• Fly to Hiroshima Airport, then take a bus/train to Onomichi
• Or take the Shinkansen to Fukuyama, transfer to JR Sanyo Line

Bike Rental & Returns

• Bike rental shops are available at Onomichi Port, JR stations, and even hotels
• Most allow one-way rental: pick up in Onomichi, return in Imabari (or vice versa)
• E-bikes available, especially recommended for casual riders

Q&A – Shimanami Kaido Cycling Tips