From Wikitravel

Matsuyama (松山; [1]) is the capital of Ehime prefecture on the island of Shikoku, Japan.

Contents 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By bus 2.4 By ferry 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 10 Get out

Understand

Matsuyama is a city famous for its hot springs, especially Dogo Onsen, the oldest hot spring in the country.

Get in

By plane

Nonstop air service is offered into Matsuyama from major airports such as Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya Komaki, Osaka Itami and Fukuoka, as well as from Okinawa.

Buses connect the airport to the Matsuyama train station in about 20 minutes (¥300).

By train

Matsuyama is located on the JR Yosan Line.

The Ishizuchi limited express connects Matsuyama with Takamatsu on the eastern end of Shikoku (2 1/2 hours, ¥6010). The Uwakai and a few other limited express services run from Matsuyama to Uwajima (75 minutes, ¥3410).

To reach Matsuyama by rail from the Japanese mainland, take a San'yo Shinkansen train to Okayama, and transfer to the Shiokaze limited express, which will get you to Matsuyama in about three hours (¥6630).

Be careful, as many limited express trains in Shikoku combine or divide with others at certain stations, so be sure you're in the correct part of the train.

Local trains during the day will take much longer, and will probably not leave you with ample time for sightseeing.

There is no charge for the above services with the Japan Rail Pass.

By overnight train service from Tokyo, take the 10 PM Sunrise Seto train to Sakaide (坂出) station, the first stop after crossing the long Seto-Ohashi bridge, and the station before Takamatsu. After a 40-minute wait (during which you may be able to get a bite to eat), take the Ishizuchi limited express to Matsuyama, arriving at 10 AM. The Sunrise Seto is one of the few overnight trains in Japan with a shower on board. You can use the shower for a small fee, or for no charge, depending on your accommodation type. But, if you don't like being limited to six minutes worth of water, just bathe yourself at Dogo Onsen instead!!

Note that during Holiday periods, the Sunrise Seto runs directly to Matsuyama after reversing direction at Takamatsu.

The Sunrise Seto may be a bit more comfortable than the other overnight option:

By bus

A daily overnight bus service, the Dream Takamatsu Matsuyama runs from Tokyo station, leaving at 10:20 PM and arriving just before 9 AM the next morning. (12 1/2 hours, ¥9400 one way, ¥17000 round-trip.

By ferry

Ferry services connects Matsuyama with various locations on Honshu and Kyushu.

Ferries depart from the ferry terminal, Matsuyama Kanko-ko (松山観光港). To reach the ferry terminal from Matsuyama Station, take the private Iyo railway line from nearby Otemachi (大手町) station. At the terminating station, Takahama (高浜), take the shuttle bus to the port.

• Ishizaki Ferry operates daily boat service to Hiroshima, with some boats stopping in Kure (呉). The Superjet Hydrofoil service departs every hour, on the hour, from 7:00 to 21:00. The ride takes 70-80 minutes to reach Hiroshima and costs ¥6300 each way. Slower ferries depart on different schedules between 6:50 and 19:55 (10 per day), reaching Hiroshima in about 2 1/2 hours at a cost of only ¥2700 each way.

• There are also two daily Ishizaki Ferry services to Moji and Shimonoseki, departing at 7:50 and 15:10. The boats arrive in Moji at 10:30 and 17:50 respectively, with arrival in Shimonoseki 10 minutes later. The fare is ¥8500 each way, with second-floor Super Seats costing an extra ¥1000.

• Kansai Ferry runs overnight services from Beppu, stopping in Matsuyama enroute to Kobe and Osaka. The ferry departs at 22:40 and arrives in Kobe at 6:50 and Osaka at 8:40 the next day. The morning ferry to Beppu departs at 6:55, arriving in Beppu at 10:25.

• In addition there is an overnight Kansai Ferry service to Kokura in Kitakyushu, leaving at 21:55 and arriving at 5:00 the next day, at a cost of ¥4000 each way.

• Diamond Ferry runs one day service and two night services to Kobe. The day boat leaves at 11:45, arriving in Kobe at 21:00. The overnight boats leave at 20:30 and 22:40, arriving at 5:30 and 6:50 the next day, respectively. There is also a morning service to Oita, departing at 7:50 and arriving in Oita at 11:15.

For the Kansai and Diamond Ferries, the cost is ¥3000 each way to Beppu and Oita, and ¥5900 each way to Kobe and Osaka.

Ferry Timetable Information (in Japanese)

Get around

The streetcar, abolished in most Japanese cities, is still in use in Matsuyama today, and is the main method of getting around the city. The flat fare is ¥150 per trip; a one-day pass for the streetcars costs ¥300.

See

Besides Dogo Onsen, visit eight temples in Matsuyama which are part of the 88 temple pilgrimage.

Do

Visit Matsuyama Castle which is situation on a plateau. It is claimed to be one of three plateau castles remaining. The inside has not been remodeled, so it offers a clearer look at what life may have been like there. From the top of the castle there are spectacular views.

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Get out

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