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Ehime attractions: castle, bath and old-town fees and access

Choose Matsuyama Castle for summit city views and the historic keep interior, or Dogo Onsen Honkan for a bath in a cultural-property building. Compare Uchiko for old-building/lane walks with Ozu for a restored wooden keep and riverside. The castle still requires walking after the ropeway; bath-only/rest-room choices change hot-spring fees. Uchiko-za’s main hall is closed for works and excluded. Ozu Castle is about 30 minutes from Iyo-Ozu on foot; allow walking both ways and your return train.

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Attraction fees and access

Attractions and visiting information

Matsuyama Castle

松山城

Go up to Matsuyama Castle for city views and the historic keep interior. Honmaru plaza’s views are free; keep admission and ropeway or chairlift tickets cost extra. After the upper station, walk onwards to Honmaru and the keep.

  • FeesKeep admission costs JPY 520 for adults or JPY 160 for primary school pupils. Return ropeway or chairlift tickets cost JPY 520 for adults or JPY 260 for children. Adult keep admission and return transport total JPY 1,040. Honmaru plaza is free.
  • HoursThe keep usually opens from 09:00–17:00, closing at 17:30 in August or 16:30 in December–January; entry ends 30 minutes before closing. It closes on the third Wednesday in December. The ropeway usually runs from 08:30–17:30, ending at 18:00 in August or 17:00 in December–January. The chairlift runs from 08:30–17:00 and is suspended in rain.
  • Getting thereWalk about 5 minutes from Okaido tram stop to Shinonomeguchi ropeway station. From the upper station, walk onwards to Honmaru and the keep. Allow this extra walk.
  • StairsThe keep has no lift and its internal stairs are steep. If steep stairs are difficult, choose Honmaru views instead.

Castle fees and hoursAccess to the lower stationOfficial Matsuyama Castle keep and fortification guideStairs and visiting guidance

View Matsuyama Castle details →Castle fees and hoursAccess to the lower stationStairs and visiting guidance2 days, 1 night: Okaido base for castle and bathing2 days, 1 night: Dogo base for castle views3 days, 2 nights: castle and bathing on separate days3 days, 2 nights: day trip to Uchiko’s old streets4 days, 3 nights: separate return trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: Matsuyama base for trips to both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce returns
Attractions and visiting information

Dogo Onsen Honkan

道後温泉本館

At Dogo Onsen Honkan, bathe in a historic bathhouse designated a cultural property. Choose bathing alone or a rest-room option. Kami-no-Yu bath-only and rest-room options differ in prices, permitted time and reception rules.

  • FeesKami-no-Yu bath-only costs JPY 700 for ages 12 and over or JPY 350 for ages 2–11. Itinerary bathing costs use this option.
  • Hours and reservationsKami-no-Yu bath-only runs from 06:00–23:00, with reception until 22:30 and a 60-minute time limit. It accepts no advance reservations. Other baths, private rooms and Yushinden visits have separate conditions.
  • Getting thereTake an Iyotetsu tram towards Dogo Onsen and alight at the terminus. Walk along Haikara-dori to Honkan. Fit meals around the arcade shops’ actual opening hours.
  • Facility typeHonkan is a public bathhouse. Book separate accommodation around Dogo for an overnight stay.

Bath options, prices and reservation rulesCity tram timetableOfficial Dogo Onsen Station, arcade and Honkan walking map

View Dogo Onsen Honkan details →Bath options, prices and reservation rules2 days, 1 night: Okaido base for castle and bathing2 days, 1 night: Dogo base for castle views3 days, 2 nights: castle and bathing on separate days3 days, 2 nights: day trip to Uchiko’s old streets4 days, 3 nights: separate return trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: Matsuyama base for trips to both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce returns
Attractions and visiting information

Uchiko-za

Uchiko-Za内子座

See this theatre’s exterior on an old-street walk in Uchiko. Distinguish the main interior from separately opened dressing rooms.

  • Main-hall closure and separate accessThe main hall is closed for restoration; the tourism-association FAQ gives until spring 2029. Exclude its interior from your itinerary. Separate dressing-room access is advertised, but check operating dates and conditions. Consult official notices before visiting for the reopening date.

Tourism-association closure guidanceUchiko tourism-association visiting guideUchiko Town dressing-room access guidance

View Uchiko-za details →Tourism-association closure guidanceCurrent tourism-association FAQUchiko Town dressing-room access guidance3 days, 2 nights: day trip to Uchiko’s old streets4 days, 3 nights: separate return trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: Matsuyama base for trips to both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce returns
Attractions and visiting information

Uchiko’s old streets

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

Choose Uchiko for walks among old buildings and shops. Make this old-town trip by JR from Matsuyama.

  • Fees and hoursStreet walks and house/museum admission are separate. Check individual houses’ closures and restaurants’ opening days. Itinerary costs exclude house/museum admission.
  • Getting thereTake a train via Uchiko from JR Matsuyama and alight at Uchiko. The old streets’ southern entrance is about 1 km/15 minutes on foot. Matsuyama–Ozu trains via Iyo-Nagahama do not pass Uchiko. Required tickets depend on train class.

Uchiko tourism-association visiting guideMatsuyama StationUchiko StationIyo-Ozu Station

View Uchiko’s old streets details →Uchiko tourism-association visiting guideOfficial Uchiko old-street guide in English3 days, 2 nights: day trip to Uchiko’s old streets4 days, 3 nights: separate return trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: Matsuyama base for trips to both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce returns
Attractions and visiting information

Ozu Castle

大洲城

Explore Ozu Castle’s wooden keep, restored using traditional methods. Afterwards, walk Ozu’s old streets and the Hijikawa riverside. The station-to-castle walk is about 30 minutes; allow both visiting and station-return time.

  • FeesAdmission costs JPY 550 for adults or JPY 220 for junior high school pupils and younger children. Children aged 5 and under enter free with a guardian.
  • HoursThe castle opens from 09:00–17:00, with ticket sales ending at 16:30. Check temporary notices separately.
  • Getting thereWalk about 30 minutes from JR Iyo-Ozu to the castle. A circular bus from Ozu-Ekimae to Ozujo-Mae takes about 10 minutes plus a 5-minute walk, but check frequency/fares separately. Fit the castle and station walk around your return train.

Official Ehime tourism guideOzu City castle guideOfficial Ehime tourism: Ozu Castle’s wooden reconstruction

View Ozu Castle details →Official Ehime tourism guideOzu City castle guide4 days, 3 nights: separate return trips to Uchiko and Ozu4 days, 3 nights: via Uchiko for one night in Ozu5 days, 4 nights: Matsuyama base for trips to both towns5 days, 4 nights: two nights in Ozu to reduce returns

Questions before you leave

Can I stay overnight at Dogo Onsen Honkan?

Honkan is a public bathhouse, not accommodation. Plan Dogo accommodation separately from Honkan bathing.

Bath options, prices and reservation rules

Can I see inside Uchiko-za in 2026?

The main hall is closed for works. The current tourism-association FAQ gives until spring 2029 without a confirmed exact reopening date. Check Uchiko Town notices for separate dressing-room access conditions.

Uchiko tourism-association visiting guideTourism-association closure guidanceUchiko Town dressing-room access guidance

Does the Matsuyama Castle ropeway remove the walk to the keep?

No. Walk onwards from the upper station to Honmaru/the keep; there are stairs inside too. Ropeway and keep admission fees are separate.

Access to the lower stationCastle fees and hoursStairs and visiting guidance

Official sources and confirmation dates