A must-see for those visiting Japan in the spring! Quiet spots to enjoy spring flowers in the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture!

What is the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture like?

The Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture is located in the southern part of the island known as Shikoku, and is an area where traditional Japanese culture and nature still remain strong. It is the perfect area for those who want to take their time and enjoy the beauty of Japan, with castle towns, merchant towns, quiet and beautiful villages, the sea, and the mountains.
In the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture, there are many must-see cherry blossom viewing spots in the spring. In this article, we will introduce the best places to see spring flowers in the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture!

If you want to know more about Southern Ehime (Nanyo), click here

• Table of Contents
• Introducing spring flower viewing spots in the southern Ehime Prefecture
• 1. Ozu Castle [Cherry Blossoms]
• 2. Mount Tomisu [Azalea]
• 3. Gonotani River [Weeping Cherry Blossoms]
• 4. Chisei Park [Cherry Blossoms]
• 5. Nanrakuen [Iris]
• 6. Field front riverside square [canola flower]
• 7. Flower Park Ozu [Tulips]

Introducing spring flower viewing spots in the southern Ehime Prefecture

In the Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture, various flowers including cherry blossoms, azaleas, and canola flower blossoms will be in full bloom from mid-March. Compared to big cities in Japan, there are fewer people here, making it the perfect area for those who want to quietly enjoy the Japanese spring in a calm place. It's also a popular photo spot, so be sure to visit when it's in full bloom!

1. Ozu Castle [Cherry Blossoms]

Ozu Castle in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, is one of the best cherry blossom viewing spots in the prefecture. The flowers reach full bloom in early April every year, and the Ozu Ozu was faithfully rebuilt in 2004 using wood, so you can see the impressive wooden framework made of beautiful cypress!

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.

2. Mount Tomisu [Azalea]

Every year from late April to mid-May, about 60,000 azaleas bloom on Mount Fuji, towering over Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, painting the summit pink and purple. The mountain looks as if it is wearing a pink cap, and you can enjoy the azaleas in full bloom even from the town.

The photo spot I recommend is a place where you can see Ozu Castle and the azaleas together. If you have a telephoto camera, you can take a photo like this!

This is the place where you can take this photo.

3. Gonotani River [Weeping Cherry Blossoms]

Gonotanigawa River, a small river that flows through Uchiko Town, is a great cherry blossom viewing spot with over 20 cherry trees blooming in a 100m stretch. It is easily accessible from Uchiko Station, about an 8-minute walk from the station. Nearby is the historic architecture of Yokaichi Gokoku Town, so you can spend the whole day here enjoying the view!

4. Chisei Park [Cherry Blossoms]

Chisei Park , located along the Oda River that runs through Uchiko Town, is a major cherry blossom viewing spot with a 200m long line of cherry trees. You can take your time to enjoy the beautiful river and the pink cherry blossoms. Also, Uchiko Fresh Park is located nearby, where you can enjoy dining and shopping, making it a recommended spot for families!

5. Nanrakuen [Iris]

Nanrakuen is the prefecture's largest Japanese garden, located in Uwajima City, and was built using the best of modern landscaping techniques. A total of 580,000 purple irises bloom in Nanrakuen from mid-May to June. In addition to irises, you can also enjoy a variety of other flowers, including azaleas, cherry blossoms, and camellias. The garden also has rest areas and shops that incorporate traditional architecture, so you can enjoy it for a whole day!

6. Field front riverside square [canola flower]

Various flowers bloom in each season at the "Hatomae Riverside Square" along the Hijikawa River that flows through Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, but in spring the whole area is dyed yellow with rape blossoms . The best time to see this is around March. Also, at the Hatomae Riverside Square, rape blossoms bloom in spring, sunflowers in summer, and cosmos in autumn. There is a red bridge nearby, and the contrast between the red bridge and the yellow rape blossoms is stunning!

Field front riverbed plaza

795-0052 Wakamiya, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture

In the riverbed plaza in front of the field, rapeseed flowers bloom in spring, sunflowers in summer, and cosmos in autumn. When the trees are in full bloom, many people from inside and outside Ozu City visit as a seasonal feature.

7. Flower Park Ozu [Tulips]

From March to April, colorful tulips and rape blossoms are in full bloom at Ozu Flower Park. In addition to spring, you can also enjoy seasonal flowers such as marigolds and cosmos in autumn at the Flower Park. There is also a large plaza, so we recommend relaxing there or having a picnic!