[Feel the nature and history of Japan] Boat tour around Ozu Castle Town

Ozu Castle

903 Ozu, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture 7950012

Ozu Castle is said to have its origins in Jizogatake Castle, which was built by Toyofusa Utsunomiya, the governor of Iyo Province, in 1331 at the end of the Kamakura period, and since then it has been the castle for 237 years. After the Battle of Sekigahara, the turbulent times subsided, and a castle town began to form during the era of Todo Takatora and Wakisaka Yasuharu, who were known as master castle builders. Later, Sadayasu Kato became the lord of the castle, and the Kato clan's reign continued until the restoration of land ownership. In the Meiji era, the castle tower was dismantled in 1888 due to its deterioration. The current castle tower was restored in 2004 over a period of about 10 years, starting with conservation efforts and donations from residents. It is the first of its kind in Japan to have four floors and four floors as a wooden castle tower restored after the war, and at 19.15m, it is the tallest in Japan.

• Table of Contents
• Enjoy the nature of Ozu by boat
• Date and time
• About tickets
• How to enjoy

Enjoy the nature of Ozu by boat

The Hijikawa River, which flows through Ozu City, has been a key part of the city's life, transportation, and commerce for hundreds of years, and continues to be a place of relaxation for citizens today.

The "Ozu Castle Town Boat Tour" takes you on a leisurely boat trip down the Hijikawa River for about an hour.

If you come to Ozu, be sure to try out the "Ozu Castle Town Boat Tour"!

Date and time

The 2024 boat tour will be held from May 1st to September 29th.

*Not available on Mondays and Thursdays.

Summer in Japan is hot, but being on a boat is like a different world. The cool river breeze will soothe your body and soul!

About tickets

Fee

Adults: 1,100 yen

Children (junior high school students and younger): 550 yen (toddlers free)

Buy tickets

No prior reservation is required for the boat tour.

Please purchase tickets on the day of boarding at the Ozu Tourist Information Center (next to Machi-no-Eki Asamoya) or the Ozu Red Brick Museum.

Ozu Town Station Asoya

649-1 Ozu, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture 795-0012

A facility for attracting and interacting with customers in Ozu City, which also functions as a "comprehensive tourist information", including special products of the Ozu region. The facility has a tourist information center, product sales corner, toilets, etc., and a townscape concierge is always on duty.

Ozu Red Brick Museum

60 Ozu, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture 795-0012

It was built in 1901 as the head office of Ozu Commercial Bank. The building is mainly constructed of British bricks, with a Japanese-style roof covered with Japanese tiles, and a fusion of Japanese and Western style, with the oni tile having the character for commerce on it. At that time, Ozu was at its peak as a base for manufacturing wax and silk, as well as for distribution by boat. Garyu Sanso was completed at the same time, which shows how economically prosperous Ozu was at the time and had a high standard of culture. The main building is lined with high-quality Ozu miscellaneous goods, as well as Japanese accessories, crafts, and special products made by local and prefectural artists, as well as souvenirs that can only be found here. You can experience delicate handicrafts such as the smooth texture and sophisticated design of Tobeyaki ceramics from Ehime Prefecture, and accessories made from cocoons from Ozu.

How to enjoy

It feels like time is slowing down

The best way to enjoy the "Ozu Castle Town Boat Tour" is to spend relaxing time on the river.

On the boat, it feels like time slows down.

Enjoy a relaxing stay away from the hustle and bustle of the city!

Famous buildings such as Garyu Sanso and Ozu Castle

On the "Ozu Castle Town Boat Tour," you can enjoy famous architecture such as Garyu Sanso and Ozu Castle from angles that you normally can't see. Garyu Sanso in particular was built in the most scenic spot on the Hijikawa River, and is a "hanging-style building" like Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, which can only be enjoyed from a boat.

Garyu Sanso

795-0012 411-2 Ozu, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture

Garyu Sanso is a 10,000m2 mountain villa overlooking Garyu-buchi, the most scenic spot in the Hijikawa River basin. It is said that Kato Yasutsune, the third lord of the Ozu domain, named it Garyu (Garyu) because Mt. Horai resembles a dragon lying down. 　The three buildings, Garyu-in, Furo-an and Chito-an, are all masterpieces of refined taste, and the borrowed landscape garden, which incorporates the mountains and the natural scenery of the Hijikawa River and Nyohoji Riverbank, displays an elegant harmony between nature and man-made, and shows different faces with each season. 　It can be said that the almost forgotten "spirit of tea" and "spirit of Japan" still live on in the charming views from the garden and Garyu Sanso.

Ozu Castle

903 Ozu, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture 7950012

Ozu Castle is said to have its origins in Jizogatake Castle, which was built by Toyofusa Utsunomiya, the governor of Iyo Province, in 1331 at the end of the Kamakura period, and since then it has been the castle for 237 years. After the Battle of Sekigahara, the turbulent times subsided, and a castle town began to form during the era of Todo Takatora and Wakisaka Yasuharu, who were known as master castle builders. Later, Sadayasu Kato became the lord of the castle, and the Kato clan's reign continued until the restoration of land ownership. In the Meiji era, the castle tower was dismantled in 1888 due to its deterioration. The current castle tower was restored in 2004 over a period of about 10 years, starting with conservation efforts and donations from residents. It is the first of its kind in Japan to have four floors and four floors as a wooden castle tower restored after the war, and at 19.15m, it is the tallest in Japan.