Take a selfie in Uchiko, Ehime! Tour the beautiful countryside where culture blossoms

Ai Nishimura

Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.

A hall of entertainment with over 100 years of history that continues to entertain people. The Uchikoza Theater

Uchiko is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ehime Prefecture.
Here, beautiful streets lined with houses that tell the story of Uchiko's glorious history remain. In 1982, it was designated as an "Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings," ahead of the rest of the country, and also won the "Urban Landscape Grand Prize" selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. A road stretching for about 2 kilometers contains many important cultural properties.

Located on the outskirts of Uchiko town is the Uchikoza Theatre, which is used for plays, productions, concerts and more.
Built in 1916 (Taisho 5) by local volunteers, it has entertained locals as an entertainment theater for over 100 years. At the time, playhouses found all over the country were closing one after another. However, Uchikoza continued to survive, albeit in a different form, and has been restored and preserved, and continues to hold performances as an active playhouse.
The building's value has now been recognized and it has been designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

With its impressive entrance, including the drum tower that can be seen from far away and the temple-style karahafu roof, it reigns as a living witness to the history of Uchiko's prosperity.
The facility is an extraordinary space with an amber-colored coffered ceiling, box seats separating the audience, and signs from the time, which draw you into a world of its own. You can also see the mechanisms on stage, backstage, and the abyss below the stage.
Overcoming threats of demolition throughout its long history, Uchikoza has come to be loved by many as a cultural facility and a hall of entertainment. It is definitely worth a visit as it is one of the precious places that supports traditional performing arts.

Uchikoza

Walking around Uchiko, the town of hospitality

If you walk from Uchikoza through Honmachi Street and along the old road, you will be greeted by a beautiful landscape of luxurious mansions with their eaves and namako walls, built from the end of the Edo period through to the Taisho period.
This town prospered through raw silk and wood wax. The homes of wealthy merchants and townhouses from that time have been preserved, and combine with the natural surroundings to form a unique and quaint landscape.

Along with various stores and facilities, the town still retains the lifestyle of its residents, and you may be greeted as you walk along. In Ehime, where the "Shikoku Pilgrimage" is well established, heartwarming interactions with local people and heart-warming exchanges are common. You can feel the warm hospitality of the town from the nods, smiles in conversation, and flowers and ornamental plants displayed in front of the houses.

The building with the most luxurious and elegant architectural style is the Honjoga Residence, which prospered greatly through its wood wax production.
The lavishly constructed building, which has an anecdote that a merchant from Sakai, Osaka, was surprised that a town in the mountains of Ehime was prospering so much, remains today and is still in use as a residence. With its namako wall sleeves, plaster plasterwork with wavy patterns, and intricate plasterwork on the gegyo (fish traps) attached to the roof, the building has a gorgeous appearance and you'll easily spot it if you're walking around.
Although you can only see the exterior, it is still well worth a visit and you can clearly feel the love for the local area that has been carefully preserved. The garden is free to visit, so it is definitely a place worth stopping by.

In addition to the buildings designated as cultural assets, the streets are lined with restaurants, souvenir shops, and accommodations, and there are many other points of interest to see. The unified road makes it a worthwhile destination to visit.
You can learn about the town at museums and townscape preservation centers that use old houses, and admission is free. You can learn about Uchiko's history and culture while immersing yourself in the charm of the warm old houses.
Uchiko is a place where you can feel the atmosphere of Japan's precious landscapes and nature. With its relaxed and calm atmosphere, you will surely think, "I'm glad I came to Uchiko!"

Streetscape of Uchiko Town

Yokaichi Gokoku Town Preservation Center

This is Uchiko's "sunny spot." "Uchiko Hare" is a homely place where people from all over the world gather.

Uchiko Hare is a guesthouse and cafe/bar that opened five years ago as an affordable place to stay in the historic town.
Even if you don't stay the night, you can stop by for a meal or a break, and it's open at night, so it's a welcome presence in town.
The owner, Mr. Yamauchi, moved to Uchiko town from Kanagawa prefecture as a member of the local revitalization cooperation team. He has been living here for nine years. He opened the guesthouse to create a place where people could gather in the town.

I stopped in for lunch today.
I chose a keema curry made with Uchiko's brand pork "Uchiko Pork," soybeans from Seiyo City, and Ehime's miso "barley miso" as a secret ingredient. It was a rich, full-bodied curry with a Japanese flavor that was easy to eat.
For drinks, try the sour ale made with Iyokan oranges from Matsuyama City's brewery "DD4D BREWING." DD4D and Yamauchi developed a craft beer using Kuromoji and green yuzu from Uchiko Town. Sales began in November 2022.

The guesthouse is equipped with dormitories as well as private rooms. You can relax in the spacious shared space. Most of the guests are solo travelers or people on a pilgrimage, and many people just drop in.
Many people find out about Uchikobare for the first time when they come here, and Yamauchi says that it is an opportunity for people to learn about the good things about Uchiko. He also plans tours organized by Uchikobare that are closely tied to the local area, hoping that this will lead to a flow of people into the town and then to the surrounding areas.
Not only does it have a relaxing atmosphere, but it also has a selection of stylish goods and souvenirs, so we recommend just popping in and checking it out.
Why not visit Yamauchi, who is constantly unearthing new local resources in Uchiko and the surrounding area, and discover even more of the charm of Uchiko, a town filled with interesting people, events, and things?

Old-style Guest House & Bar Uchiko Hare

Learn about the culture of Uchiko, one of Japan's leading wood wax producing areas that has attracted worldwide attention at the Wood Wax Museum Kamiyogatei and Omori Japanese Candle Shop

Uchiko's history and prosperity lie in the production of wood wax, which is deeply rooted in the area.
From the end of the Edo period through the Meiji era, Uchiko boasted being the largest producer of wood wax in Japan, and the white wax made from wood wax was of such high quality that it was exported around the world even back then.

Japan wax is extracted from the fruit of the hazel tree. Hazel is a plant of the Anacardiaceae family, and the fruit is harvested in the winter when the leaves have fallen. The process is roughly divided into the steps of crushing the fruit into powder, steaming the powder, and squeezing the steamed powder. The raw wax is used in candles and sumo wrestlers' hair oil, while the white wax is used in stationery and cosmetics. These steps are explained in detail at the Japan Wax Museum Kamihagatei.
The Kamiyoshiga family is a branch of the Honyoshiga family and its vast grounds cover 4,300m2. This is because it was used as a workshop for drying wood wax in the sun, and it also symbolizes the prosperity of the Kamiyoshiga family.
The mansion is a two-story wooden structure, and you can enjoy the guest room and the well-maintained garden that can be seen from there. Flowers and plants are arranged here and there in the building as a sign of hospitality, and the tranquility is soothing to the soul.
This facility allows visitors to experience the history of Uchiko, which transcends time and speaks to the present day, as well as the elegance of the homes of wealthy merchants of the time.

Another place we visited to experience wood wax was Omori Japanese Candle Shop.
There used to be around 10 Japanese candle shops here, but now this is the only one left, the only one in Shikoku, and the traditional candle-making method, "Kigake method," has been passed down for seven generations.
The kikake method is a style in which wax is applied to each wick by hand, and then shaped by rolling it around in the hand. Since ancient times, compared to the general casting method, the kikake method has been considered more valuable due to the warm feel and shape created by the craftsman's handiwork, as well as the respect for the special technique. Even today, many people are fascinated by the craftsman's masterful skills and beautiful flames.
The wick is made of Japanese paper, rush grass, and raw silk, and is wound thicker than the wicks of candles that we are familiar with. Wood wax has a characteristic that allows it to be handled at a relatively low melting point of around 50 degrees, so the wax can be wrapped directly around the wick by hand. The time it takes for the wax to harden and the temperature of the wax vary depending on the humidity and temperature, so it is said that it takes 10 years of training to become a candle craftsman.

Japanese candles made with wood wax are becoming increasingly popular because they are all made from natural materials. The Japanese candles made here in Uchiko have a soft yellow color that makes use of the color of the wax without any painting.
Japanese candles do not drip wax when lit, and do not stain the candlestick. In addition, because they burn brightly, you can feel the flame flickering more, and recently they have become more common in homes as interior decorations or for relaxing moments. Interest in traditional crafts is also on the rise, and Japanese candles are also popular products among the younger generation.
Visitors to Uchiko often purchase Japanese candles at the store. These handmade Japanese candles have become very rare, so be sure to make a souvenir from Uchiko.

Wood Wax Museum Kamiyoga Residence

Omori Japanese Candle Shop

"Zum Schwarzen Kailer" where you can enjoy the combination of Uchiko's local specialties and German cuisine

As you continue your historical stroll along the road, you will see the German flag at the very back.
Don't be fooled into thinking, "German food all the way to Uchiko?"
Zum Schwarzen Kailer is a rare restaurant where you can enjoy German home cooking, which is rare even nationwide.

The owner, Derksen Jens, is originally from West Germany and cooks dishes based on his mother's recipes, so this is a restaurant where you can enjoy the local flavors that were on the dinner table every day.
First, we toast with Kailer beer, which is hard to find in Japan! It is served in a large mug, giving you a taste of the German atmosphere.
The Caprese appetizer we ordered was all about the delicious cheese. The mozzarella from Daigo Cheese Factory in Uchiko is made from raw milk from grass-fed cows and has a creamy flavor. It is richly fragrant, with plenty of herbs used in the German style.
The recommended extra-large sausage is made from Uchiko pork and is full of gravy. It goes well with beer.
Wiener Schnitzel, a well-known German and Austrian dish, is usually made by pounding veal into thin cutlets and eating it simply with salt. However, it seems that it is made at home with reasonably priced pork, and in restaurants, pork schnitzel is served with a mellow sauce made with herbs and paprika. It feels like German cuisine made with Uchiko ingredients is unique to this area.

Jens came to Japan 15 years ago and had a surprising encounter in Saitama with his wife, who is from Ozu City, next to Uchiko. While working at a German restaurant in Shiga Prefecture, he met an employee of Uchiko Town Hall, and through this connection, he decided to move to Ehime, where his wife is also from. It was these encounters with people and their drive that led the couple to Uchiko, where they eventually opened this restaurant.
The couple has plenty to talk about, including stories of a husband who loves video games, a wife who used to be a backpacker, and an international marriage. The couple and delicious food are sure to add to your fun evening in Uchiko.

Zum Schwarzen Keiler