Continuing from Shikoku Spring Itinerary Day 1 - 3: Kagawa, Tokushima & Ehime

Day 4: Ehime (Matsuyama City)

RIDE | Getting around Matsuyama

Spend the day exploring Matsuyama via the easy-to-use tram system, which connects major sights around the city. Buses and short walks also make it simple to move between attractions at a relaxed pace.

Matsuyama Castle

EXPLORE | Castles, shopping streets & evening blossoms

Start at Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan’s most impressive hilltop castles. Take the ropeway or lift to the top for panoramic spring views of the city, cherry blossoms, and the distant Seto Inland Sea (weather permitting).

Next, stroll through Okaido and Gintengai, two connected arcades lined with local shops, snack stalls, and smaller specialty stores. Unlike heavily tourist-focused areas, these streets offer an easy way to browse everyday Matsuyama flavors and souvenirs.

In the evening, visit Dogo Park (Yuzuki Castle Ruins), where the cherry blossoms are beautifully illuminated after sunset to evoke a calm and idyllic spring atmosphere.

Mikan juice (above) and mikan tap (below). Photo credit: Ehime Prefectural Tourism & Local Products Association

SEASONAL DELIGHT | Castle sakura & mikan treats

Enjoy the cherry blossoms around Matsuyama Castle and try some of Ehime’s famous mikan products, such as juice, daifuku, etc. The prefecture is also known for its citrus production with a playful local saying that you can get mikan juice from any tap in the city. Some shops and hotels even have mikan taps – juice dispensers designed to look like water faucets – which you can also find at places such as Matsuyama Airport, the Ehime Tourism and Products Museum, and a few spots around town.

Day 5: Home Sweet Home

RIDE | To Matsuyama Airport or Osaka

Ready to head home? From Dogo Onsen, take the Airport Limousine Bus to Matsuyama Airport – a convenient 55-minute ride that brings you directly to the departure terminal, where you can also enjoy some last-minute shopping.

Alternatively, you can return to Osaka by rail – take a tram to Matsuyama Station, ride the Limited Express Shiokaze to Okayama, then transfer to the Sanyo Shinkansen for a smooth trip to Shin-Osaka.

Towel Museum

Extension 1: Ehime (Imabari & Shimanami Kaido)

For travelers planning to stay longer in Ehime, you may take the Shiokaze Limited Express train to Imabari Station (about 30 minutes). Rent a car to explore the city and return it on the same day, then take the train back to Matsuyama City.

Just a 25-minute drive from Imabari Station is the Towel Museum, a unique space dedicated to one of Japan’s most renowned towel brands. Learn how these towels are designed and produced, browse beautifully crafted textiles, and pick up soft, high-quality souvenirs to bring home. The museum also features many Insta-worthy spots, along with towel art exhibitions showcasing famous artists and anime characters, making it a fun place to explore and enjoy.

Next, head to Chikamiyama Observatory for sweeping views of the Shimanami Kaido, including the impressive Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge. This spot is especially stunning during the sakura season, with gentle blossoms framing the Seto Inland Sea.

For those who are interested in cycling, you may rent a bicycle around Sunrise Itoyama and have a short cycling tour from Itoyama to Kurushima via Shimanami Kaido Cycling Route, which takes around 1 hour per way.

Nikobuchi, known as Niyodo Blue

Extension 2: Kochi (Niyodo Blue & Kochi City)

Another option for those with extra days is to extend your journey to Kochi. Drive about 2.5 hours from Matsuyama to the Niyodo River area, where Nikobuchi – known as Niyodo Blue – offers a stunning turquoise pool surrounded by quiet forest. Nearby, Nagoya Chinka Bridge offers tranquil riverside views, especially beautiful when cherry blossoms frame the clear water in spring.

Stop by QRAUD Tosawashi Kogeimura near Nagoya Chinka Bridge to make your own Tosa washi postcard – a simple, hands-on craft to bring home. Continue to Kochi City for a mix of markets, crafts, and seaside scenery. Explore the lively Hirome Market for local snacks and yuzu-flavored products, visit Kochi Castle – one of Japan’s few original wooden castles – and end your day with a walk along Katsurahama Beach on the Pacific coast.

Bonito Tataki

Kochi’s seasonal flavors include bonito tataki, yuzu sweets, and other local specialties – a delicious way to experience another side of Shikoku.

As you wrap up your trip across Shikoku, may its gardens, valleys, and warm spring flavors inspire A Japan For You.