Discover Matsuyama: Castle, literature, and culture

If you would like to combine your stay in Matsuyama with culture and the city's history, you can focus on different themes: the castle and urban development, literature, or the historic themes surrounding Dogo Onsen.

A castle town and its architectural history

Matsuyama Castle is in the center of Matsuyama, with business and administrative districts spread around it. The city continues to build on its history as a castle town. Construction of the castle began in 1602 and took about a quarter of a century. The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1854 and is one of the twelve surviving castle towers in Japan that were built before the Edo period. The lengthy original construction period and the tower's later date represent two different chapters in the castle's history: you can focus on the creation of the complex or on the surviving tower.

The Isaniwa Shrine also connects architectural history with a specific date. The current building was reconstructed following a successful yabusame performance by Matsudaira Sadamasa, Matsuyama's third feudal lord, and completed in 1667. The main building is one of Japan's three major Hachiman-zukuri structures and was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 1967. According to tradition, the shrine's location is associated with a temporary palace said to have been used by Emperor Chūai and Empress Jingū during a visit to the hot springs. At the shrine, therefore, a traditional tale sits alongside a dated architectural history.

Dogo Onsen and historic buildings

Dogo Onsen Honkan is the landmark of Dogo Onsen. The hot spring is said to have a history of about 3,000 years and is also regarded as Japan's oldest hot spring. In December 1994, Honkan became the first public bathhouse in Japan to be designated an Important Cultural Property. Preservation and repair work on the building began in January 2019 and was completed in December 2024. The spring's attributed history and the building's more recent history offer two distinct perspectives on time.

South of Honkan, on Mount Kanyama, is Dogo Onsen Sora no Sanpo-michi. Its facilities include a footbath, a pavilion, benches, and changing rooms. The footbath is usually available year-round. The pavilion and seating make this another place to plan a break while exploring the themes of Dogo Onsen.

Dogo Park also offers a historical focus: the ruins of Yuzuki Castle existed for about 250 years, from the early 14th to the late 16th century. Moats and earthen embankments remain, while samurai residences and earthen walls have been reconstructed. Objects found during excavations are on display. The park is also described as a spot for cherry blossoms. Archaeological traces, reconstructed structures, and the park's seasonal appeal come together here.

Two literary perspectives

The Shiki Memorial Museum is a literary museum intended to introduce people to Matsuyama's history and literature through the work of Masaoka Shiki. It preserves about 70,000 original items and books; this approximate collection figure may change. The permanent exhibition reopened on July 3, 2024, following a redesign. Its features include four touchscreen or video panels, eight quiz areas, a large monitor with an AR function, and a section on the museum's masterpieces. If you are planning a museum visit, it is advisable to check the latest visitor information.

The Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum offers a different literary focus. It is the core facility of the concept of a “坂の上の雲” field museum, which presents Matsuyama as a “museum without a roof.” The museum presents traces of the novel's three main characters, along with content about the Meiji period. While the Shiki Memorial Museum connects Masaoka Shiki with Matsuyama's history and literature, the Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum brings together characters from a novel and the Meiji period.

Streetcars and getting around the city center

Orange streetcars run through central Matsuyama and also serve as a means of transportation for local residents. The Botchan Ressha offers another story about the city's streetcars: it served local residents as a means of transport for a total of 67 years, beginning in 1888, and got its nickname from the main character in Natsume Sōseki's novel “Botchan.” The current vehicle was reconstructed as a diesel vehicle. When the Botchan Ressha is running, a ride between downtown Matsuyama and Dogo Onsen offers views and the chance to experience the atmosphere of the past. Check the timetable before your trip to see whether it is currently running. Check the latest timetable before your trip if you plan to take this ride.

The shopping streets are also useful for finding your way around the city center: Gintengai and Ōkaidō together stretch for more than a kilometer and continue to Ropeway Street. This open-air shopping street is about 500 meters long; the Shinonome-guchi ropeway station for Matsuyama Castle is located on it. From JR Matsuyama Station, you can reach the ropeway entrance by taking the city streetcar toward Dogo Onsen to Ōkaidō and then walking for about five minutes. Timetables and transport connections may change, so check the latest connection information before your journey.

Discover more destinations: Saijō, Seiyo, Futami, Ikata, Imabari, Niihama, Kumakogen, Ōzu

For the main travel overview: Ehime Prefecture.