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Ehime attractions: fees and access for castles, hot springs and historic streets

Choose Matsuyama Castle for city views and its historic keep, or Dogo Onsen Honkan for bathing in a heritage bathhouse. Compare Uchiko’s old buildings and lanes with Ozu’s reconstructed wooden keep and riverside. Matsuyama Castle still requires walking after the ropeway. Hot spring prices depend on bath-only or relaxation-room options. Uchiko-za’s main building is closed for construction and excluded. Ozu Castle is about 30 minutes from Iyo-Ozu Station on foot; leave time for both walks and your return train.

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Attraction fees and getting there

Attractions and visiting information

Matsuyama Castle

松山城

Go up to Matsuyama Castle for city views and a look inside its historic keep. Views from the honmaru plaza are free; keep admission and the ropeway or chairlift cost extra. You still need to walk from the upper station to the grounds and keep.

  • FeesKeep admission: adults ¥520, elementary school students ¥160. Return ropeway or chairlift: adults ¥520, children ¥260. Adult keep admission plus return transport totals ¥1,040. The honmaru plaza is free.
  • HoursUsual keep hours are 09:00–17:00, closing at 17:30 in August and 16:30 in December–January. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. The keep closes on the third Wednesday in December. Ropeway hours are usually 08:30–17:30, until 18:00 in August and 17:00 in December–January. The chairlift operates 08:30–17:00 and is suspended in rain.
  • Getting thereWalk about 5 minutes from Okaido tram stop to the Shinonomeguchi ropeway station. From the upper station, continue on foot to the honmaru grounds and keep. Leave time for that walk.
  • StairsThe keep has no elevator and its interior stairs are steep. Choose the views from the honmaru grounds if climbing steep stairs is difficult.

Castle fees and hoursReaching the lower stationOfficial Matsuyama Castle keep and fortification informationStairs and visiting information

Visit Matsuyama Castle →Castle fees and hoursReaching the lower stationStairs and visiting information2 days, 1 night: stay in Okaido for the castle and hot springs2 days, 1 night: stay in Dogo and see the castle views3 days, 2 nights: visit the castle and hot springs on different days3 days, 2 nights: a day trip to Uchiko’s historic streets4 days, 3 nights: separate day trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: travel via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: stay in Matsuyama and visit both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce return travel
Attractions and visiting information

Dogo Onsen Honkan

道後温泉本館

Bathe at Dogo Onsen Honkan in a historic bathhouse designated as a cultural property. Choose an option based on whether you want only a bath or time in a relaxation room too. Kami-no-Yu bath-only and relaxation-room options have different prices, time limits and reception conditions.

  • FeesKami-no-Yu bath only: ages 12+ ¥700, ages 2–11 ¥350. Itinerary bathing costs use this bath-only option.
  • Hours and reservationsKami-no-Yu bath only operates 06:00–23:00, with reception until 22:30, a 60-minute limit and no advance reservations. Other bathing options, private rooms and Yushinden tours have separate conditions.
  • Getting thereTake an Iyotetsu tram towards Dogo Onsen and get off at Dogo Onsen Station. Walk along Haikara-dori to Honkan. Plan meals before or after bathing around the shops’ actual opening hours.
  • Facility typeHonkan is a public bathhouse. Book separate accommodation near Dogo if staying overnight.

Bathing options, prices and reservation conditionsCity tram timetableOfficial walking map of Dogo Onsen Station, shopping street and Honkan

Visit Dogo Onsen Honkan →Bathing options, prices and reservation conditions2 days, 1 night: stay in Okaido for the castle and hot springs2 days, 1 night: stay in Dogo and see the castle views3 days, 2 nights: visit the castle and hot springs on different days3 days, 2 nights: a day trip to Uchiko’s historic streets4 days, 3 nights: separate day trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: travel via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: stay in Matsuyama and visit both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce return travel
Attractions and visiting information

Uchiko-za

Uchiko-Za内子座

See this theatre’s exterior on your walk through Uchiko’s historic streets. Check the main-building interior and separate dressing-room opening independently.

  • Main-building closure and separate openingThe main building is closed for repairs; the tourism association’s FAQ says the closure lasts until spring 2029. Exclude its interior from your itinerary. A separate dressing-room opening is announced, but check operating dates and access conditions. Confirm the reopening date in official notices before visiting.

Tourism association closure noticeUchiko Tourism Association visitor informationUchiko Town dressing-room opening notice

Visit Uchiko-za →Tourism association closure noticeCurrent tourism association FAQUchiko Town dressing-room opening notice3 days, 2 nights: a day trip to Uchiko’s historic streets4 days, 3 nights: separate day trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: travel via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: stay in Matsuyama and visit both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce return travel
Attractions and visiting information

Uchiko historic streets

Yokaichi and Gokoku Historical District八日市・護国の町並み

Choose Uchiko for a walk through a town of old buildings and shops. Reach this historic town by JR from Matsuyama.

  • Fees and hoursStreet walking is separate from house and museum admission. Check closing and opening days for individual houses and restaurants. Itinerary costs exclude house and museum admission.
  • Getting thereTake a train via Uchiko from JR Matsuyama and get off at Uchiko Station. The historic area’s southern entrance is roughly 1 km or a 15-minute walk away. Matsuyama–Ozu trains via Iyo-Nagahama do not pass Uchiko. Required tickets depend on the train category.

Uchiko Tourism Association visitor informationMatsuyama StationUchiko StationIyo-Ozu Station

Visit Uchiko historic streets →Uchiko Tourism Association visitor informationOfficial Uchiko historic-street information in English3 days, 2 nights: a day trip to Uchiko’s historic streets4 days, 3 nights: separate day trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: travel via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: stay in Matsuyama and visit both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce return travel
Attractions and visiting information

Ozu Castle

大洲城

Explore Ozu Castle’s wooden keep, reconstructed using traditional methods. Afterwards, walk the historic streets and Hijikawa riverside. Allow time for sightseeing and the walk back to the station: Iyo-Ozu Station is about 30 minutes from the castle on foot.

  • FeesAdults ¥550; junior high school students and younger ¥220; ages 5 and younger free with a guardian.
  • Hours09:00–17:00, ticket sales until 16:30. Check temporary notices separately.
  • Getting thereWalk about 30 minutes from JR Iyo-Ozu Station to the castle. The loop bus from Ozu-ekimae to Ozu-jo-mae takes about 10 minutes, followed by a 5-minute walk; check service intervals and fares separately. Plan castle time and the station walk around your return train.

Official Ehime tourism informationOzu City castle informationOfficial Ehime tourism: Ozu Castle’s wooden reconstruction

Visit Ozu Castle →Official Ehime tourism informationOzu City castle information4 days, 3 nights: separate day trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: travel via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: stay in Matsuyama and visit both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce return travel

Questions before you go

Can I stay overnight at Dogo Onsen Honkan?

Honkan is a public bathhouse rather than accommodation. Plan nearby Dogo accommodation separately from your Honkan bath.

Bathing options, prices and reservation conditions

Can I enter Uchiko-za in 2026?

The main building is closed for construction. The current tourism association FAQ gives spring 2029 as the end of the closure but no exact reopening date. Check Uchiko Town’s notice for separate dressing-room access conditions.

Uchiko Tourism Association visitor informationTourism association closure noticeUchiko Town dressing-room opening notice

Does the Matsuyama Castle ropeway take me all the way to the keep?

No. You still need to walk from the upper station to the honmaru grounds and keep, which has interior stairs. Ropeway tickets and keep admission are separate.

Reaching the lower stationCastle fees and hoursStairs and visiting information

Official sources and check dates