A complete guide to Ainan Town, The southernmost town in Ehime Prefecture

What kind of place is Ainan Town?

Ainan Town is a small town with a population of about 18,000 people located at the southernmost tip of Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku. There is no train service, and it takes about two and a half hours to get there from the nearest Matsuyama Airport, so it is considered one of the farthest towns from Japan's capital, Tokyo. However, Ainan Town has many tourist spots that even Japanese people don't know about.

In this article, we will introduce some of the lesser known tourist spots, activities, and delicious gourmet food of Ainan Town.

• Table of Contents
• Access to Ainan Town
• 5 recommended sightseeing spots in Ainan Town!!
• 3 Activities to Try in Ainan Town
• Ainan Town's 3 Best Gourmet Dishes
• Recommended places to stay in Ainan Town
• Climate and clothing in Ainan Town
• Conclusion

Access to Ainan Town

Access from Tokyo to Ehime Prefecture (Matsuyama Airport) (by plane) ✈

To get to Ainan Town from Tokyo, first fly from Haneda Airport or Narita Airport to Matsuyama Airport. There are 10 direct flights to Matsuyama per day from Haneda Airport, and about 12 direct flights from Narita Airport per day. Airlines include ANA and JAL.

The fare is up to 35,000 yen one way, and the journey takes approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

Access from Matsuyama Airport to Ainan Town Part 1 (Public Transportation)

This is the route from Matsuyama Airport to Ainan Town using public transportation.

To get from Matsuyama Airport to Matsuyama City Station, take a bus from Matsuyama Airport to Matsuyama City Station. It takes about 25 minutes to get to Matsuyama City Station. The fare is 790 yen.

From Matsuyama-shi Station, take the Uwajima Bus E21 Express Matsuyama Line bound for Gujo, and head to Ainan-cho. The journey takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes and costs 2,950 yen.

Access from Matsuyama Airport to Ainan Town Part 2 (Rental Car)🚙

This is the route to Ainan Town using a rental car around Matsuyama Airport.

First, rent a car near Matsuyama Airport. Nearby rental car companies include Nippon Rent-A-Car Shikoku, Orix Rent-A-Car, Toyota Rent-A-Car, Times Car Rental, and Nissan Rent-A-Car.

It takes about two and a half hours to get from Matsuyama Airport to Ainan Town via the expressway. The toll for the expressway is 1,890 yen.

From Matsuyama Airport, head towards Matsuyama IC, then head towards Uwajima. From the end of the expressway at Tsushima Iwamatsu in Uwajima City, take National Route 56 and you will arrive in about 30 minutes.

Get around Ainan Town on an E-bike!

E-bikes are one way to get around Ainan Town.

E-bikes are bicycles that combine the riding performance of a sports bike with an electric assist function, making it easy to climb even steep hills.

E-bikes can be rented from the Ainan Town Tourism Association for 1,000 yen for four hours.

Ainan Town Tourism Association Website

5 recommended sightseeing spots in Ainan Town!!

Here are five must-see tourist spots for you to visit when you come to Ainan Town.

1. Takamo Cape

Located in the southwestern tip of Ehime Prefecture, Cape Takamo features cliffs over 100 meters high covered in lush greenery.

On a clear day, you can see all the way to Kyushu, and every year around mid-November, you can see hawks gliding through the clear sky and wild chrysanthemums in full bloom.

It is also famous as the most Instagrammable spot in Ainan Town, with its spectacular views of the sea and blue sky.

Please drive carefully as the roads to Takamo Cape are narrow.

2. Sasayama

Sasayama is located on the border between Ehime and Kochi prefectures.

It has an elevation of 1,064.6 meters, and at its peak is Sasayama Shrine. It has long been loved by many people as a sacred place of mountain worship.

At the seventh station of Mt. Sasayama, there is a 50-meter waterfall called Shirataki . The water flows straight down the rock face among the greenery of the mountain, and is so beautiful that it looks just like a white cloth being hung down.

3. Ishigaki Village

The cultural landscape of Todomari Ishigaki Village remains. To protect the houses from seasonal winds and typhoons, the stone walls are stacked neatly up to the height of the eaves of the houses, creating a rare sight unique to this village. This landscape has even won the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award in the past.

4. Shiden Kai Exhibition Hall

The fighter plane " Shiden Kai ." The aircraft on display at this museum is the only one still in existence in Japan. It was discovered in Kura Bay in 1978 and is displayed as a symbol of hope for lasting peace. You can get a close look at the legendary fighter plane.

5. Swaying Inland Sea

Located opposite the sea-facing Sunokawa Campsite, " Yulari Uchiumi " is a fully-equipped facility with restaurants, hot spring baths, and a rest room that you can use after a bath or meal. Many souvenirs are also sold, and seaborn art made from seashells is very popular.

3 Activities to Try in Ainan Town

Here are three activities that you should definitely try when you come to Ainan Town.

1. Underwater Walking

Much of the sea around Ainan Town is designated as part of Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park. With outstanding transparency and a large number of colorful corals and tropical fish, it has attracted many divers. With Sea Walker, no diving license is required, so everyone from children to adults can enjoy the extraordinary experience of walking on the seabed.

2. Jetblade Flyboard

At Ainakawauso Village Sea Station, you can try out activities such as Jetblade and Flyboard, which allow you to float spectacularly over the sea from June to September. You'll feel like you're flying in the sky.

3. Rock fishing

The rocky coast of Ainan Town is one of the most popular fishing spots in Western Japan, with a wide variety of fish. Throughout the year, you can catch a variety of fish, such as yellowtail, black porgy, and rock bream, so you can enjoy the battle with the fish whenever you visit. The battle with nature is irresistible.

Ainan Town's 3 Best Gourmet Dishes

Here are three delicious gourmet dishes that you should try if you come to Ainan Town.

1. Biyabiya bonito

"Biyabiya Katsuo" is a bonito caught alive on board the ship, and is the ultimate delicacy among "day-returned bonito" that boasts outstanding freshness. It is so fresh that it is hard to cut with a knife, and because of its freshness, it can only be eaten around the port. Why not come and try this rare bonito, which is not sold privately due to its rarity?

Ainan Market Restaurant, located near the port, posts information about the arrival of Byabiya Katsuo on Instagram. They open at 9:30 on weekdays and 10:00 on weekends and holidays, stop taking orders at 14:30, and close at 15:00. However, please note that if they sell out of fish, they will close before 15:00!!

Ainan Market Restaurant Instagram

2. Ainan oysters

The round, fleshy oysters raised in the nutrient-rich Misano Bay, where five rivers flow, including the Sozu River, have a rich flavor and a plump texture.

In summer, you can also enjoy large rock oysters.

3. Pearl oyster

The colorful sea scallop is eye-catching, but it also tastes amazing. It has a sweet, rich flavor, and is thick and juicy with a chewy texture that makes it satisfying to eat. If it's fresh, it can be eaten raw, and it's also delicious boiled, grilled, or fried. Also, because of its colorful appearance, it can be used as an ingredient in sea bon art.

Recommended places to stay in Ainan Town

Here we will introduce two recommended accommodations in Ainan Town.

1. Guesthouse Kaitakusha

This is an experiential guesthouse where you can play, learn, stay, and live in Ainan Town, located at the southernmost tip of Ehime Prefecture. With the cooperation of local people, we renovated a 50-year-old traditional house and opened in August 2021 to create a base for interaction and stay where you can experience the nature and life of Ainan Town.

Kaitakusha is basically a lodging facility with no meals included, but we offer an optional nighttime BBQ set of wild game and seafood. We also offer activities that allow you to fully enjoy the rich nature of each season, such as the "Jugai Tour," where you walk through the mountains with a hunter and his hunting dog and accompany him on a deer or wild boar hunt. Enjoy the unique "food" and "nature" experiences while relaxing in this home-like lodging.

About Kaitakusha

2. Yamaide Ikoinosato Hot Springs

The landmark is a castle-like building that comes into view as you walk along the mountain path where the Sozu River flows. Surrounded by the greenery of the mountains and the clear waters of the Sozu River, Yamaidashi Ikoi no Sato Onsen is a communication space that centers around the hot springs, where people and nature, and hearts and minds, can come together. The springs are a hypotonic, weakly alkaline cold mineral spring that is effective in relieving fatigue and promoting health. There is also a campsite and log houses surrounded by nearby cedar groves, so the area is crowded with many campers and families every summer vacation season.

Click here for details about Yamaidashi Ikoinosato Onsen!

Climate and clothing in Ainan Town

Ainan Town is warm throughout the year, with a lot of rain around June, and has the characteristics of a Nankai climate.

The average temperature from April to June is 15℃ to 25℃, which is a comfortable climate. However, it can get cold at night, so it's a good idea to bring a thin jacket. In summer, the sun is strong and the temperature can exceed 30℃.

The average temperature in winter from December to February is 5℃ to 10℃, and it rarely snows in the city. However, it is necessary to dress warmly with down jackets or other clothing.

Conclusion

There are so many tourist spots and activities in Ainan Town that we can't fit them all on this page.
Please take this opportunity to visit Ainan Town!