Family Trip to Japan's Countryside: 7 Days of Adventure in Ehime, Shikoku

A Week of Family Travel in the Countryside of Japan

Traveling to Japan's major cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka, is wonderful, but if you are coming to Japan with your family, we recommend going to quieter areas. For such families, the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture is the perfect place. With rural scenery far removed from the city, local cuisine unique to the countryside, and beautiful scenery without tourists , the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture is full of places to enjoy with children.

In this article, we'll introduce a one-week trip to the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture, where families can enjoy Japan to the fullest!

Enjoy the Drive in Nanyo Region

If you are traveling in the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture, we recommend renting a car as your means of transportation. Renting a car will give you more freedom to travel and allow you to enjoy the Japanese countryside even more. For information on how to rent a car in Japan, please refer to this article.

How to rent a car in Japan. What you need and how much it costs

• Table of Contents
• Days 1-3: Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture in Uchiko Town
• Days 3-5: The Rural Scenery and Delicious Gourmet in Ozu City
• Days 5-7: Japanese Old Villages and Exciting Activities in Seiyo City

Days 1-3: Immerse Yourself in Japanese Culture in Uchiko Town

Uchiko is a small town with a population of about 15,000. There are many places in Uchiko where you can experience the Japanese countryside, from historical architecture to beautiful Japanese satoyama scenery. Let's start by enjoying the "Japanese-style scenery" in Uchiko!

Chisei Park

Chisei Park in Uchiko Town is the perfect place to experience the Japanese countryside. The Oda River that runs through Uchiko Town has very clear water and is shallow, so you can swim safely. The roadside station "Uchiko Fresh Park Karari" is also nearby, so you can enjoy eating and shopping.

Townscape of Yokaichi and Gokoku

The streets of Yokaichi and Gokoku are lined with traditional Japanese houses built between the late 1700s and around 1920. It's the perfect place to experience Japanese history. There aren't many people on the streets, so you can enjoy a relaxing stroll through the town. There are also old-style shops and cafes, so you won't get bored even if you spend the whole day walking around.

Cycling

To fully enjoy Uchiko, rent a bicycle . You can enjoy traditional Japanese architecture in the town, and if you go a little outside the town, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Japanese Satoyama. Regular bicycles can be rented for 700 yen a day, and E-Bikes for 3,000 yen a day.

Please watch this video to learn how to rent a bicycle.

Gilding Experience

If you are looking for a cultural experience in Uchiko Town, we definitely recommend the gilding experience . Uchiko was originally one of the leading producers of washi paper in Japan, and even today it is used throughout Japan as high-quality washi paper. This washi paper from Uchiko has now been fused with a technique called gilding, which uses metal foil. The beautiful and original shine of the metal foil is sure to be an unforgettable experience. If you come to Uchiko, be sure to try out this technique that can only be found here!

Gilding Experience

Accommodation at Uchiko Hare

Let's stay at Uchiko Hare . Uchiko Hare is a guesthouse located in the historic town of Uchiko. Although it is an old-style guesthouse, it is well-maintained and clean.

The friendly staff and the relaxing atmosphere of this traditional Japanese house will undoubtedly soothe any traveler!

Learn more

Days 3-5: The Rural Scenery and Delicious Gourmet in Ozu City

Ozu City is a town with a population of about 40,000 people located next to Uchiko Town. The town used to be in rapid decline, but in recent years it has become full of vitality. The town has been revitalized by renovating the vacant houses that have increased throughout Ozu into hotels and shops without demolishing them. Ozu is another recommended place for families to travel to Japan!

Ozu's Beautiful Landscapes 

If you come to Japan, you can't help but enjoy the countryside! A river called Hijikawa flows through the center of Ozu, and rural scenery spreads out along its sides. The scenery is truly the beautiful, original Japanese landscape. The scenery changes with the seasons, so you can enjoy the scenery no matter when you visit!

Pokopen Alley

Pokopen Yokocho is exactly like the scenery of Japan 100 years ago. On Sundays, food stalls with a 100-year-old feel line the streets, where you can enjoy old-fashioned tops, hula hoops, and food. Inside the facility is the Memory Warehouse, which is crammed with old Japanese toys, furniture, home appliances, and even cars and bicycles. It may feel nostalgic to Japanese people, but it may look new to visitors from overseas.

Ozu Castle

If you come to Ozu, you can't miss Ozu Castle ! Ozu Castle was rebuilt about 20 years ago, and has been completely restored to its original appearance using only wood. The contrast between the castle and the black is beautiful, and the whole family will be excited to visit Ozu Castle !

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.

Food & Drink in Ozu

Ozu City has a variety of local dishes, all of which are delicious. There are imotaki, river fish , and tonkuri mabushi, a mixture of pork and chestnuts. Imotaki in particular has been a popular dish in Ozu for a long time, and is definitely a local dish you should try! Every year from early September to October, many Ozu residents enjoy imotaki. Please come and enjoy this local dish loved by the locals!

Food in Ozu

Staying in Ozu at Hatagoya Kirinaka

You can't go wrong staying at Hatagoya Kirinaka . The 10 tatami Japanese-style room dormitory can accommodate up to four people, and tourist attractions such as Ozu Castle and Garyu Sanso are just a 10-minute walk away. Hatagoya Kirinaka is a guesthouse that was renovated from a vacant stationery store that was built over 140 years ago. The owner is a river boatman in Ozu and knows the area inside and out, so you can ask him anything you want to know about the area!

Hatagoya in the fog

Another Unforgettable Stay at NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town 

Additionally, your stay at NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town will be an unforgettable experience. NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town is a decentralized hotel that renovated vacant historical buildings in Ozu. Each building has its own story, and the stay experience that blends into the town will be a lifelong memory. For more information about NIPPONIA HOTEL Ozu Castle Town, please click 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.

Days 5-7: Japanese Old Villages and Exciting Activities in Seiyo City

Seiyo City has a population of about 30,000 and is an area where the sea, mountains, and villages that are unique to Japan remain. If you want to enjoy a slow-paced Japanese experience with your family, Seiyo City is the perfect place. Here are some of the attractions of Seiyo that we recommend for those visiting with your family!

Straw Mammoth

Seiyo City is one of the leading rice producing areas in Japan. In Seiyo City, where beautiful rice fields spread out, a mother and baby mammoth suddenly appear. This mammoth is actually a " straw mammoth" made of straw. The straw mammoth was created by local volunteers in cooperation with university students from Tokyo. You will definitely be surprised to see a mammoth in a peaceful rice field!

Straw Mammoth

232 Iwaki, Uwa-cho, Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture, 797-0026

Straw mammoth art is located a three-minute walk from Iyoishijo Station in Uwacho, Seiyo City. This straw mammoth was created in 2011 as a collaboration between Musashino Art University in Tokyo and local volunteers to liven up the lotus flower festival. With the cooperation of local residents, the mammoth's straw is replaced every year from March to April. In spring, it can be seen against the lotus flower, the city's flower. In summer, against the green rice paddies where rice has grown. In autumn, against the rice fields where the rice has been harvested. In winter, it is lit up with straw groves. You can see the straw mammoth in all four seasons. Every year during the lotus flower festival on April 29th, the place bustles with activity and has become something of a symbol of Uwacho.

Sea kayaking in Akehama Town

One experience we especially recommend in Seiyo City is sea kayaking . The sea in the Akehama area of Seiyo City is calm and boasts exceptional clarity. Sea kayaks do not sink, so they are safe for families with small children! In addition, the Akehama area offers a variety of other activities, including SUP, fishing, and swimming at the beach.

The greatest feature of Akehama Town is that it still has beautiful Japanese villages. In the mountains behind it are terraced fields of mandarin oranges, the largest industry in the Akehama area, and the community is formed on a limited amount of flat land. In order to preserve the charm of the Akehama area for the future, we offer octopus fishing experiences and various other experience content.

List of experiences in the Akehama area

Mopping Experience

At the Uwa Rice Museum in Seiyo City, you can try out mopping the floor in a 109m long corridor. The Uwa Rice Museum was built in 1928 and was originally an elementary school. Today, it introduces agricultural tools and rice cultivation, in keeping with Uwa's rice-producing region. This is an experience that can only be had here in Japan and is sure to be enjoyed by the whole family!

Uwa Rice Museum

797-0015 2-24 Uwamachi, Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture

This rice museum is a relocated and preserved version of the "former Uwamachi Elementary School building." The "mopping experience" that takes place in the 109m long wooden corridor is popular. The old classrooms are also used as a shared office and meeting rooms.

Stay at Ento House

If you are staying overnight, please do stay at Ento House . It is a little far from the Akehama area mentioned above, but if you are traveling around in a rental car, the distance is not a problem. There is a guesthouse that you can rent exclusively, and a dormitory room with a bar. The inn is surrounded by quiet rural areas, making it a wonderful place to relax. The staff can also speak English, so you can stay with peace of mind!

For more information, click here