A solo day trip for 10,000 yen! ~Ehime edition~

This time, we bring you a retro trip to Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, a city steeped in history and culture, which was the setting for Natsume Soseki's "Botchan" and Ryotaro Shiba's "Clouds Above the Hill." From Matsuyama Airport to the center of Matsuyama City, it's only about 15 minutes by limousine bus, making it extremely accessible! This is a place where you can enjoy an efficient day trip even if you're short on time, so let's start our "solo, day trip, 10,000 yen trip"!

*Prices include tax.

Your Ehime trip begins!

It takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes by plane from Haneda Airport to Matsuyama Airport.

After arriving at Matsuyama Airport, we immediately boarded a limousine bus bound for Dogo Onsen Station. The return flight is about 11 hours away, so we want to arrive at Matsuyama Airport an hour before departure. This is the start of a trip to fully enjoy Ehime in one day!

Approximately 40 minutes by airport limousine bus

About 6 minutes walk from "Dogo Onsen Station"

[Gourmet] Breakfast at a bakery loved by locals | Yunomachi Bakery

First, we went to breakfast at Yunomachi Bakery, a bakery located near Dogo Shopping Street that opens at 7am. It is bustling with locals who stop by on their walks, and tourists on weekends.

When we went inside, there were about 60 kinds of freshly baked bread lined up!

The shop's most popular breads are the "Mentaiko French Bread" and the "Iyokan Baguette." The dough of the French bread and baguette is softer than it looks, and the more you chew it, the more delicious the wheat becomes.

There is also an eat-in space at the back of the store, so you can enjoy your breakfast at your own pace.

This time, I bought the "Setouchi Lemon Croissant" and the "Mikan Danish", which are bite-sized breads that are typical of Shikoku and Ehime. I enjoyed the aroma of the freshly baked bread and the refreshing sweetness of the fruit, and it was a great morning.

Yunomachi Bakery

1 minute walk

[Photo Spot] Enjoy art on Dogo Haikara Street | Dogo Art 2023

In the Dogo area, "Dogo Art 2023" will be held until Thursday, February 29, 2024. You can enjoy strolling through the colorful town of Dogo!

The street of Dogo Shopping Arcade is decorated with the symbolic work "100 colors no. 42" by French-born architect, artist and designer Emmanuel Moureaux. The colorful work blends into the charming Dogo streetscape, creating a wonderful space.

In the courtyard of "Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yuen," there is an exhibition of "Asuka-no-Yuen Installation," decorated with about 230 flower photographs by photographer and film director Mika Ninagawa. The vibrant floor is sure to make for a great photo! The collaboration of retro streetscapes and art is something you can only see here.

Dogo Haikara Street (Dogo Shopping Street)

2 minutes walk

[Experience] Create memories by taking in the view of the town at your leisure | Dogo Rickshaw

We found a rickshaw that we could board in front of the main building of Dogo Onsen! We tried out the "Madonna Course" which takes you around the famous sights of Dogo in about 10 minutes.

You will be accompanied by a rickshaw driver who is knowledgeable about Dogo, so in addition to learning about the town's history, you might even be able to get to know some hidden gems! Enjoy the conversation while taking your time to soak up the atmosphere of the town.

Once again, we enter Dogo Haikara Street!

Rikisha Main Store

2 minutes walk

[Gourmet] Sweets made with locally produced ingredients | Dogo Milk Cheese Keki

Located in Dogo Shopping Arcade, this sweets shop is full of local love in both appearance and taste.

There is an eat-in space at the back of the store, so you can enjoy the sweets you have purchased right away. On the walls are illustrations of famous people with ties to Dogo and cows, so it's a great place to take photos with your purchased items!

I ordered the most popular "Whole Mandarin Cheese Cake" and the new "High Color Soda (Ramune)"!
The cake is made with Ehime oranges, and the milk in the cheese is from the Shikoku Karst. Enjoy it with the new, refreshing "High Color Soda" for a gorgeous sweet treat.

Next, head towards Dogo Onsen Station.

Dogo Milk Cheese Keeki

1 minute walk

[Photo Spot] Characters from the novel "Botchan" welcome you | Botchan Karakuri Clock

While walking, I discovered the "Botchan Trick Clock" in front of Dogo Onsen Station. Between 8:00 and 22:00, music typical of Dogo Onsen plays every hour, and characters from the novel "Botchan" appear. This retro trick clock is sure to bring out the childlike spirit in you!

Botchan Trick Clock

1 minute walk

[Experience] A ride that has been popular since the Meiji era | Botchan Train

This is also the most retro! You can also see the "Botchan Train" at Dogo Onsen Station, famous for being the train ridden by the protagonist in the novel "Botchan." On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, the train operates eight times a day, so you can also ride it. Why not try riding the train while thinking of the characters from the novel?

After Dogo, we hop on the city tram and head to Ropeway Street!

Botchan Train

Approximately 15 minutes by train and on foot

[Gourmet] Enjoy local cuisine any way you like | Marumizu Taimeshi Stand

Ehime Prefecture's local dish "Taimeshi" comes in two varieties: "Takikomi" and "Sashimi." "Original Uwajima Taimeshi Marumizu" is a famous restaurant with over 100 years of history for its "Uwajima Taimeshi" sashimi. You can casually enjoy the "Uwajima Taimeshi" served there at "Marumizu Taimeshi Stand" for lunch!

All seats are at the counter, so even if you're dining alone you can feel at ease. Mobile ordering is available at the stand-up stores, so that's another great feature for solo diners!

With up to 10 different toppings available, you can enjoy your "Uwajima Taimeshi" with your favorite toppings. Each ingredient, including the rice and eggs, is carefully selected.

The dish is presented with fresh red sea bream sashimi caught in the Uwa Sea.

Once you've topped the red sea bream with other ingredients, add the secret sauce made with additive-free soy sauce. The firm red sea bream goes perfectly with the condiments and sauce! You'll be eating it all in no time!

Now that we've filled our stomachs, we head to the famous castle, which is located very close to the restaurant!

Marumizu Sea Bream Rice Stand

2 minutes walk

[Experience] Tour the castles that are included in the "12 surviving castle towers" | Matsuyama Castle

Matsuyama Castle is a representative tourist spot in Ehime. Take the lift to the inner citadel of Matsuyama Castle!

Matsuyama Castle has 21 structures designated as Important Cultural Properties, including Ninomon Gate and Shichikumon Gate, so you can feel the vestiges of history there.

Matsuyama Castle is one of only 12 remaining castle towers in Japan. Tickets to view the castle tower are sold in front of the entrance, so we recommend climbing up the tower if you have the chance!

The view from the castle tower, which is about 160m above sea level, is great, and it is also a scenic spot where you can get a 360-degree view of the Matsuyama Plain. Take a deep breath and refresh yourself while looking out over the city of Matsuyama!

After touring the castle, we returned to the Ropeway Street.

Matsuyama Castle

1 minute walk

[Souvenirs] Buy the perfect canned goods as souvenirs | Canpachi Matsuyama Ropeway Street Store

Looking for a souvenir that would last a long time, we headed to the second store of "Canpachi," a canned food brand that uses Ehime specialties such as red sea bream and locally produced ingredients.

The store has a whopping 150 types of canned goods on display! In addition to sea bream, they also stock a wide variety of canned goods made with seafood, including mackerel, octopus, and oysters.

This set of canned sea bream and rice includes "Boiled wild red sea bream" and "Matsuyama sea bream rice with sea bream dashi stock". It comes in an original Canpachi box, so you can enjoy local gourmet food at home, making it a perfect gift for yourself or someone else!

Next to the "Taimeshi Selection Corner" is a unique corner where you can turn on the tap and try the "Taimeshi" dashi from Matsuyama Taimeshi! It is lighter in taste than the dashi found in the actual can, making it easier to drink.

The take-out corner next to the shop offers canned sweets such as "Botchan Pudding Cake," a canned sweet that is unique to Ehime, and "ginger squash," a drink you'll want to drink in the summer. There is also a vending machine where you can eat canned sweets even outside business hours!

After purchasing some canned sweets and drinks, take a break on the bench in front of the store. Recharge your energy with a refreshing Blue Hawaii Soda made with kiwi and berries, and a mandarin orange dessert that is irresistible for those with a sweet tooth!

After leaving the shop, we walked along Gintengai and Okaido Street, heading for the giant Ferris wheel "Kururin" on the roof of Iyotetsu Takashimaya. If you get tired of walking, you can also take the city tram from the entrance of the Ropeway Street to "Matsuyama City Station"!

Canpachi Matsuyama Ropeway Street Store

20-minute walk

[Experience] Enjoy the view of Matsuyama at the end of your trip! | Kururin's See-Through Gondola

The giant Ferris wheel "Kururin," which offers a panoramic view of Matsuyama city, is popular with locals and tourists alike.

Purchase a ticket from the ticket machine. This time, ride in a "see-through gondola" with a transparent glass floor and seat!

You can get a panoramic view of Matsuyama city, Matsuyama Castle, which we visited on this trip, and if the weather is good, you can even see the distant islands of the Seto Inland Sea!

The floor is also made of transparent glass, giving you the sensation of floating in the air.

While looking out over the city, we reflected on our day trip. Our stomachs and hearts were both full, and it was a fulfilling day!

The Giant Ferris Wheel

Approximately 15 minutes by airport limousine bus from Matsuyama City Station

Arrived at Matsuyama Airport! Had fun all in one day!

Ehime is perfect for solo travelers, as many of the tourist spots are close to each other and can be easily reached on foot, and there are also shops that are easy to enter by yourself! Even on a day trip, you can create an itinerary that is packed with food and experiences, making for a great value trip. And the retro townscape is sure to tickle your fancy!

If you feel like going on a trip on a whim, why not plan a solo day trip to Matsuyama City in Ehime Prefecture, which is easily accessible?

Domestic Discount Fares Skymate

Limited to ages 12 and over and under 25!
Extremely affordable discount fares available for booking from the day of departure (4 hours before departure)

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