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.
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The last town is on the outskirts of Matsuyama City. We headed to the seaside town of Mitsuhama, which is about a 20-minute train ride from the center of Matsuyama. Mitsuhama was an important port for the Matsuyama Domain's shipping and sea protection. The town is lined with mansions built in the Edo period, and you can feel the history. The local specialty, Mitsuhamayaki, can be eaten in a restaurant that looks like a private home, which is very interesting. After visiting the prefectural office and Bansuiso, we also went to see the architecture of Kiko Shichiro. We took the Iyotetsu railway and continued along the coast to Baizenji Station. After ordering a smoothie at a cafe, we were soothed by the pleasant sea breeze and blue sea as we concluded our trip.
The birthplace of Japan's most famous mandarin juice, "Pon Juice" and Mitsuhamayaki
It is no exaggeration to say that Pon Juice is the most famous citrus juice in Japan.
Just a short walk from Iyotetsu Mitsu Station is the "Birthplace of Pon Juice." A stone monument suddenly appears in a small park. According to Ehime Inryo, the company that sells Pon Juice, this place is the former site of the factory where the Ehime Prefecture Fruit and Vegetable Agricultural Cooperative Association, the predecessor of Ehime Inryo, first produced mandarin orange juice. Drinking Pon Juice at its birthplace was an exceptional experience.
Enjoy lunch at Mitsuhama's soul food, "Mitsuhamayaki."
It is similar to Hiroshima okonomiyaki, but the name, cooking method, and ingredients are unique to Mitsuhama. The Mitsuhamayaki I tried at "Miyoshi" contained kamaboko (fish cake) and bonito flakes.
Pon Juice is well known for its commercial catchphrase, "Ehime's serious juice."
I went to see a stone monument hidden in a small park near Mitsu Station on the Iyotetsu Railway.
There is a stone monument here with the words "Birthplace of Pon Juice" written on it. This is where the Ehime Prefecture Fruit and Vegetable Agricultural Cooperative Association, the predecessor of Ehime Beverages, which sells Pon Juice, built its first mandarin orange processing factory.
The stone monument also has the Pon Juice logo on it.
Drinking "Pon Juice" in the birthplace of Pon Juice was a very memorable experience.
If you go to Mitsuhama, try "Mitsuhama Yaki." It's similar to Hiroshima's okonomiyaki. The noodles are called "daitsuki" and you can choose between udon and soba.
The key is to use beef fat, add kamaboko fish cakes, and use plenty of dried bonito flakes, etc. They pack in a variety of delicious flavors and bake them.
It is also characterized by the way it is folded. When it is finished it will be in a half-moon shape. It is served with plenty of sauce and eaten directly from the hot plate!
I had it at the Miyoshi Station branch. The shop feels like a corner of a residential area and has a very homey feel. They kindly told me, "Be careful and continue your journey."
A stroll through the nostalgic port town of Mitsuhama. Visit the Mitsu Ferry and the former Ishizaki Kisen headquarters.
Just before heading towards the ferry terminal and wharf at Mitsuhama, you will find the "Former Ishizaki Kisen Headquarters." This was designed by Shichiro Kino, the same architect who designed the Ehime Prefectural Office and Bansuiso.
Ishizaki Kisen started as a shipping company in the early Meiji period and has been operating passenger ships as a means of transportation on the Seto Inland Sea for 150 years now. Currently, the company is headquartered near Matsuyama Tourist Port, but the head office that was built in the Taisho period has been designated as a registered tangible cultural property.
Nowadays, there are many bridges across the Seto Inland Sea, making land transportation convenient, but in the past, ships connected the seas. Mitsuhama Port, with its many passenger ships coming and going, must have been a bustling port. I took a leisurely stroll around the port, reminiscing about those times.
Mitsuhama used to be a bustling town lined with banks and merchants, so much so that it could be called the Wall Street of Shikoku. Today, you can see retro buildings that recall the prosperity of those times. These have now been transformed into cafes and general stores by young people, and are attracting attention as new spots.
Mitsuhama is laid out in a grid pattern from the station to the port. If you walk forward with your back to the station, you will eventually arrive at the port.
There was a challenge shop in the middle of the shopping street. It is a space where various shops are set up for a limited time. At that time, there was a shop selling flower temari and embroidery.
Since I had the chance, I decided to try it myself. I threaded the embroidery thread onto the Temari. Once I learned the rules, it was easy...or so I thought.
It seems that you can't stab straight unless you have a strict personality. Any confusion in your mind will show up in the needle and thread...
The design is called hemp leaf stitching. It turned out well for a first attempt.
A view of the harbor. The only sounds of the city were the sounds of ships passing by and the chirping of birds. It was a pleasant day.
The retro building in one corner of the port is the former Ishizaki Kisen Head Office, designed by Shichiro Kino.
The facade is jutted out to create a three-dimensional effect, and a balcony is installed in the middle, symmetrically.
Mitsu Ferry. "It's free, so come on in," I was told, and got on the boat. It took about a minute to get to the other side, where we picked up people and then returned. We could already see the people on the other side from this side.
The opposite bank is not an island but connected to the mainland, but it is far to go around the bay, so a sea route by ferry was created. On the opposite bank is Minatoyama Castle, and it is said that the lord of the castle, Iyo no Kami Kono Michiharu, was the first to use the ferry.
Mitsuhama is a port town that prospered through shipping on the Seto Inland Sea. There are many large houses and buildings with retro designs. This house has a unique design for the roof and walls, combining tiles and copper.
A renovated apparel and accessories store and cafe.
I thought it was a sturdy building for a ship's equipment store, but it turns out it was originally a bank.
I was allowed to take photos inside the cafe. This is Kaiendo, a bicycle shop, cafe and general goods store all in one. Beautifully renovated.
The general goods store was lined with unique items that appeared to be made by artists.
A shipping company building with nostalgic window frames and a curved roof.
The former Hamada Clinic. Inside is a shop. I enjoyed touring the retro buildings in the town of Mitsuhama.
At Baishinji, you can return to your normal self surrounded by the scent of the sea and the sounds of waves.
Have you ever suddenly thought, "Oh, I want to see the ocean" while traveling? It's only an 18-minute ride on the Iyotetsu line from central Matsuyama. You'll arrive at Baishinji in no time.
On the way, you can't help but feel excited by the blue sea you can see from the train window! Umezudera Station was also used as a location for the popular drama "Tokyo Love Story", famous for "Kaanchi!" The blue sea spreads out in front of the station building, which looks like it is built in the sand.
After a stroll along the sandy beach, head to the seaside cafe "Buena Vista." Enjoy a smoothie or lunch while listening to the sounds of the ocean and the gentle breeze.
We hope you enjoyed your trip around Ehime Prefecture by bus, train, and bicycle.
In Matsuyama, we enjoyed gourmet food at Okaido, which we couldn't introduce in detail. We had a once-in-a-lifetime encounter at a restaurant and had lively conversation. Ehime Prefecture is full of many attractive places, such as the eastern area that we were unable to visit this time, Tobe, which is famous for its pottery, and Uwajima, which is famous for its pearls and sea bream rice.
Why not visit Ehime Prefecture to experience the colorful history and refreshing sea breeze?
We continue further on the Iyotetsu Railway. From the train window we can see the blue ocean. Our final stop in Ehime is Baishuji Temple.
This seaside station is also famous for being used as a filming location for the TV drama "Tokyo Love Story."
The beach is just a one-minute walk from the station. Stroll along the sandy beach while watching the boats leisurely passing by on the Seto Inland Sea.
The beach stretches along the railroad tracks. At this time of day, the tide was out and the sand patterns were visible.
We walked to the cafe "Buena Vista" along the beach. It had a sea resort atmosphere and made us wonder if we were on the west coast or something.
The restaurant is built on the sandy beach, right in front of the sea. On the other side is the orange Iyotetsu line, making it a great location.
The restaurant is bright with plenty of natural light, and the sea breeze is pleasant. There are sofa seats and table seats by the windows, so you can relax.
People were leisurely enjoying their meals and drinks. I also refreshed myself from the fatigue of my travels with a smoothie.
Matsuyama is a city with a good mix of urban and natural scenery. Not only is the weather great, but the people are also very friendly, so it has become one of my favorite cities.
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
