[Fall 2024] 3 autumn foliage spots in Ozu, Ehime Prefecture that you can enjoy without the crowds

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We will introduce three recommended spots for autumn leaves in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture. Recommended for those who want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the autumn leaves slowly!

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Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture

Ozu City is located in the western part of Shikoku, in the region known as Nanyo, and is an area centered around the Ozu Basin, facing the Seto Inland Sea to the north and the Shikoku Mountains to the south. The clear Hijikawa River flows through the center of the city, and as its name suggests, the river curves like an elbow as it runs through the town, bringing many blessings to the city, including nature, history, culture, and local specialties. Remnants of the city's prosperity as a castle town around Ozu Castle during the Edo period still live on the banks of the Hijikawa River.

Table of Contents
What is Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture?
Recommended autumn foliage spot in Ozu #1: Garyu Sanso
Recommended autumn foliage spots in Ozu ② Hijikawa River
Recommended autumn foliage spots in Ozu ③ Nyohoji Temple
Enjoy the autumn leaves this year in Ozu! Relax and enjoy autumn

If you come to Ozu City, be sure to stay at NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Jokamachi!

Check out the official website of "NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town"

Reservations for "NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town" can be made here .

NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town

〒795-0012 378 Ozu, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture

The “Old Kato Family” is a registered tangible cultural property of the country. Buildings and storehouses of wealthy merchants who prospered with wooden wax, Former restaurants that have been in business for 400 years, etc. A hotel that renovated a historic building in Ozu into a luxurious space. Enjoy nostalgia and luxury at the same time in the historic buildings dotted around the castle town.

What is Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture?

Located in the south of Ehime Prefecture, Ozu City has prospered thanks to the blessings of the Hijikawa River, which flows through the city center. The good old streetscape that flourished as a castle town during the Edo period still retains strong traces of that time. From the mountainous areas to the Seto Inland Sea coast, diverse cultures have taken root along the clear waters, and there are plenty of tourist spots where you can experience the beauty of Japan, as well as delicious gourmet food to boast about.

Ozu City Tourist Information

The best time to see the autumn leaves is from mid-November to the end of November! Ozu's autumn foliage season

The autumn foliage in the gardens of Garyu Sansou and around the Hijikawa River that runs close to the castle town peaks from mid-November to the end of November. The gardens of Garyu Sansou are especially beautiful in the last week of November, when all the trees are dyed red and yellow.

Recommended autumn foliage spot in Ozu #1: Garyu Sanso

Garyu Sanso is a 10,000m2 mountain villa overlooking Garyu-buchi, the most scenic spot in the Hijikawa River basin. The interior is made up of the main buildings Garyu-in, Chishi-an, and Furou-an. Built to protect the culture of the tea ceremony, the villa is a masterpiece of sukiya architecture that embodies Japanese beauty and continues to convey how to enjoy Japan's four seasons.

Click here for an article introducing Garyu Sanso

Recommended autumn foliage spots in Ozu ② Hijikawa River

The Hijikawa River is located in the southwestern part of Ehime Prefecture, and is the largest river in Ehime Prefecture. It originates at Torisaka Pass in Seiyo City, which is next to Ozu City. Along the way, it merges with numerous tributaries, such as the Oda River and Funato River, which originate at an altitude of 1,000m in the Shikoku Mountains, before flowing through the Ozu Basin and emptying into the Iyo Nada Sea.

The view from below of Garyu Sansou is similar to the atmosphere when viewed from below at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, as Garyu Sansou's Furouan was built using a traditional Japanese construction method called kakezukuri.

Ayu fishing is carried out using traditional fishing methods such as cormorant fishing and cast nets.

Also recommended for canoeing and SUP!

The Hijikawa River has very little elevation difference, so it flows slowly on sunny days. On weekends and holidays, many families come to enjoy canoeing and SUP, and rest areas on the riverside are open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. To make reservations for canoeing or SUP, please call or email the Ozu Tourist Information Center.

Ozu Tourist Information Center

Phone number: 0893-24-7060

Reception hours: 9:00-17:00 (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)

Email: ozu_touris_info@kita-m.com

Recommended autumn foliage spots in Ozu ③ Nyohoji Temple

Nyohoji Temple is located on the middle slope of Mt.Tomisu in the center of Ozu City. It is not yet known as a tourist destination, but you can enjoy the moss-covered grounds by passing through the forest approach, just like the Tadasu Forest at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, Japan, and Saihoji Temple , which is famous for its moss mats.

Click here for an introduction to Nyohoji Temple

Enjoy the autumn leaves this year in Ozu! Relax and enjoy autumn

As we have introduced so far, there are places in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture where you can enjoy the autumn leaves at your own pace without the crowds. Recommended for those who have already visited famous autumn foliage spots, and for those who want to go on a drive to see the autumn leaves! Please take this opportunity to come to Ozu.

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Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture

Ehime

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