Nakajima / Matsuyama
Chuo B
Incorporating the towns of Matsuyama and Tohn.
RA:Debra Castaneda
Placement:
Phone: 0899 25 4005
Fax: 0899 25 9929
Nakajima
(population: small)
Location
Nakajima the Island in the Seto Sun is a rural community consisting of mikan farmers and fisherfolk. It is located off the coast of Matsuyama. If you fancy a glimpse of old Japan then look no further.
Getting There
Hop on the train at Shieki.
Trains run every 15 mins starting on the hour from platform 2. It takes about 20mins to get to Takahama port (last stop, not the tourist port to Hiroshima). Tickets cost 400 yen.
Alternatively coming from JR walk straight up the main road and you will see a very small station on your right called Otemachi. From here tickets to Takahama will cost 350 yen. Once at Takahama, walk out of the station and cross the road, directly in front of you will be a one storey white buiding. This is the ticket office.
Slow ferries cost 730 yen (one-way) fast ferry 1300 yen (one-way). You'll notice travelling times vary depending on how many of the smaller islands you stop at.
| Slow Ferry |
High-speed Ferry |
| Takahama |
Oura
(Nakajima) |
Oura
(Nakajima) |
Takahama |
Takahama |
Oura
(Nakajima) |
Oura
(Nakajima) |
Takahama |
| 7:10 |
8:15 |
8:35 |
9:45 |
7:23 |
7:48 |
6:35 |
7:15 |
| 10:25 |
11:30 |
11:45 |
12:25 |
8:30 |
9:00 |
7:55 |
8:20 |
| 13:15 |
13:55 |
14:10 |
15:20 |
13:50 |
14:30 |
12:25 |
13:04 |
| 16:05 |
17:10 |
17:30 |
18:40 |
17:40 |
18:20 |
17:05 |
17:30 |
| 19:25 |
20:14 |
|
|
19:10 |
19:41 |
18:30 |
18:59 |
Getting Around
There are buses that leave from the port to various places around the island, but htey are few and far between. It's possible tohire bike sform the port for 200 yen a day.
Highlights
- Nakajima has a few beaches the most popular being Himegahama.
- Himegahama is also the starting point of Nakajima's triathlon; every August Nakajima plays host to a nationwide triathlon which people from throughout the land flock to in order to compete! The night before there is a bit of a shin-dig to celebrate so head over the night before to make the most of it. You can also hire tents/ BBQs from the office at Himegahama...I think! As well as rooms although on the night before the triathlon these are all booked out, but if you want to stay any other time of the year I'm sure you'd have no problem in making a booking!
- Nakajima has a small smattering of points of interest: several shrines and a collection of artefacts from the Edo period. To find out more information plese contact the Culture Centre (tel: 089 9971181). Ask for Ms. Ruriko Kochi -she speaks wicked English!
Food
There is no conbini, but there are several food stores. The biggest and easiest to find being Tominaga. Turn right out of the port and then immediately left and it will be on your left. It closes around 5:30. There is also a very nice off license nearby too! Virtually everything is closed on Sundays. There are quite a few restaurants on Nakajima: Yakiniku, Chinese, Curry and Sushi all at very cheap prices.
Entertainment
Nightlife (in the very loose sense of the word.. Nakajima is a ghost town come 7 p.m.)
However, one thing that Nakajima does know how to do is karaoke. There is an awesome place called Night situated (rather bizarrely) right behind a graveyard. You won't miss it since it has some serious pika pika going on. I especially like it since you can adorn yourself in any array of dodgy accessories and then prance about. To get there, turn left out of the port and keep going until you see the fairy lights. There is also another small karaoke bar directly opposite the port (next to the one and only coffee shop).
Granted there isn't a great deal to do on Nakajima but if you fancy escaping Matsuyama and taking it easy in the sunshine, then I'd reccomend it for the boat ride alone.
Matsuyama
(population 514 944)
Location
Right in middle of Ehime along the coast, with Hojo to the east, and Iyo to the west. It also takes in the communities of Nakajima and Hojo. Matsuyama is the big city hub of Ehime.
Getting there and away
Located on the Yosan JR line, is an express train stop. Numerous buses can be found leading to many major cities in Japan (Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka). Ferry service to Hiroshima, Kobe, Osaka, and Beppu/Oita runs from the main ferry port on the northeast side of town. Domestic flights to various big cities in Japan and International flights to Seoul and Shanghai come in and out of Matsuyama airport on the southeast side of town.
Getting Around:
There are several places that have bike rentals EPIC has free rentals for foreigners, but you need to pay a deposit (bring your passport or residence card) and book ahead if you can. Monkeys in an alley opposite Starbucks has bikes available at a small fee.
You can also walk, use the city trains, buses or trams.
For buses - when you hop on at the back, take the ticket (check out the number that is printed on it) and watch the screen at the front. A price corresponds with each ticket number. Pay when you leave. If you dont have correct change, you can use the money changer at the front.
Trams are a set price 150 yen. If you need to transfer, when you get off, just ask for a norikaeken and then pay your 150 yen. When you get off at your final destination, drop the transfer ticket into the fare box in place of your money.
Essentials
EPIC (Ehime Prefecture International Center): Very handy place! Catch a tram bound for Dogo from Matsuyama City Station or from JR (3 or 5) and get off at Minanmi Machi. Cross the road toward the huge fancy cultural auditorium and turn left. The small building back off the road with the big red question mark on the side is EPIC. There is a woman on staff who speaks English and who is there to help you find a doctor or understand a bill or otherwise help you. You can park your car (please ask first). EPIC hosts Intensive Japanese classes twice a year for 2 weeks each (summer/spring) for the bargain price of 500. Good lending library too!
MIC/COMS: Downtown a few blocks from Shieki. This is a good place to study and use the internet. Book loans and travel guides too.
Places to shop
- Gintengai: shopping arcade running from Takashimaya Dept store (at city station) to Haagen Daaz. Things to check out A-One foreign foods, GET (big 100yen store on the 3rd floor and groceries in the basement)
- Okaido: shopping arcade running from Haagen Daz to Starbucks.
- Takashimaya: swanky department store. There is some grocery shopping in the basement, with sections carrying foreign foods (like peanut butter and curry spices). Be careful to pay in the correct area its not all one store! Upstairs is a toy shop and a great stationers shop along with several cafes and restaurants including a cafe that sells bagel sandwiches.
- Mitsukoshi: expensive and brand oriented shopping. Food is in the basement with two pastry stores, meat store and another small section of foreign foods and cheeses.
- Fuji Grand (500m west of JR station): large shopping centre with groceries, fast-food outlets (McDonalds KFC, Mr Doughnuts, Baskin Robbins), clothing, fitness center, housewares. Also nearby is an electronics store and a Hard Off store (selling books and electronics at discount prices).
- Kinuyama: this area has many stores and restaurants. Theres a home supplies store called Nitori across the large street from the main shopping area (lamps, couches, beds, bedding dishes etc), bagel shop, Baskin Robbins, media centre (pool tables, computer access, book rentals), 100 yen store, mens business clothing, Hard Off/Book Off and lets not forget to mention the huge 19 screen cinema.
- Dogo: this area is great for gifts for home. It is focused at tourists because of the very popular bathhouse at the end of the shopping arcade. Food, pottery, Japanese souvenirs.
- Jusco (15 min walk south of Gintengai s entrance): Grocery, clothing, housewares. Near to Jusco is a large computer store, and further down the road is Daiki (diy home center), DeoDeo (electronics) and a few other larger shops.
- DIK/Daiki: (Heiwa-doori, north side of Matsuyama castle hill): Housewares, hardware
Groceries
- GET/Fresh Value: Gintengai. Decent prices. Other Fresh Value locations around town (lower prices but not such a wide range of choices or prepared foods).
- Fuji: everywhere. Very good store. Lots of produce and sushi and some western items (like cheese, chips and soda). Fuji Grand in Dogo and near JR Station.
- Seven Star: always has cheap cheese and good lunch foods. Almost the same as Fuji as far as good prepared foods and a great selection. Closest grocery store to the Okudogo Apartments.
- Marunaka: A little more of a gourmet store, thus slightly more expensive. They have many more pre-made foods and sometimes carry different brands and varieties of things.
- Jusco: large grocery store on the 1st floor of Jusco.
Foreign Foods
- A-One: Gintengai. Go here for a few staples like popcorn or Mexican food fixings or candy. A good place for gifts for your teachers.
- A-Price: one the airport road (Kuukou-dori). This is the best place to go for getting lots of stuff at a good price. Tortillas, spices, pasta, Thai seasonings, canned beans and fruits etc. It is a restaurant supply store, but you can shop there. Also alcohol and frozen foods (including things like mango and raspberries). A little hard to find at first, but if you are facing JR station, go left until the road hits the city train line. Turn right at that street (but dont cross over to the train side). The sign is red and written in katakana. Its about a block down.
- Item Ehime: good beers and some Thai foods and bulk foods (like candy).
- Supa: a few locations. Cheapest coconut milk and tortillas. Also, lots of pasta and frozen foods.
- B1 floors of both Takashimaya and Mitsukoshi. A bit more pricey especially if you are looking for fruits and veggies out of season.
Foreign Books
- EPIC: free lending library. Just fill out your name in the back card and leave the card at EPIC.
- Comi-Cen: quite an extensive collection of English books. Fill out the application card in English (bring proof of your address or foreigner card). Borrow for up to 3 weeks.
- Kinokuniya: On the 4th floor is a foreign books section, including Japanese study materials. There are also some magazines, although it may be best to browse (they are quite expensive!
Internet
- EPIC: free computer use (but limited numbers and a time limit).
- MIC/COMs: Set up a membership to use the computers for 100yen/hour. These connections are much better than the free ones at EPIC and worth the money if you aren't just trying to find one quick thing. Its a good place to go for A/C if youve been wandering in the summer heat as well.
- City Station: (air conditioned room next to the train ticket machines) Internet use is free, with a limit of 15 minutes if people are waiting.
Dining Out
This is just to get you started. There are many local great places that the people who live in Matsuyama will be able to help you out. Dining out in Japan is slightly more expensive with often significantly smaller portions. Don't worry, your stomach will shrink. These are the greatest hit spots only.
- Coffee
- Starbucks: the only non-smoking cafe in town. Great for meeting with teachers or for finding other foreigners on the weekends. One opposite Laforet and one along the busy road near Saibi High school.
- Avignon: two locations, one in Okaido and one on the same street as Kinokuniya bookstore. Excellent cakes and quite good coffee. Sometimes has good sandwiches. Not so English friendly.
- St Marc's: In Okaido. Great chocolate filled croissants!
- Cafe By the Way. Along Gintengai toward the end away from Shieki. Lunch set from around 1200 yen with delicious gourmet-style food. Good place for a lunch date.
- BC Cafe: right turn off Okaido coming from Starbucks. Great sandwiches.
- Dotour: cafe with a few bagel sandwiches, really cheap (Gintengai on the corner near the steak restaurant with the irritating video advertisements outside).
- Salus: cafe with an organic foods shop in front, has great soft serve smoothies (called 'salus' on the menu).
- Santo Santo: cafe, variety of foods and desserts, located in the Takashimaya Building on the 3rd floor, nice view of the station area.
- Udon
- Hanamaru: Delicious cheap udon. Many locations, but most convenient in Gintengai and Okaido. They also have tempura (veggies, shrimp) but its often cold.
- Kibun Shitsu Udon shop: Near Hagen Daaz in Gintengai. Supercheap udon and also serves tasty french fries. Open late too!
- Izakayas (Japanese pub)
- Gazen: behind Mitsukoshi Dept store off Okaido (same street as the big red bus). Great food and okay prices!
- Hakkenden: Located on nibanchou east of Okaido, this place's food is okay, but its real deal is the all-you can-drink deals starting at 1000 yen for 2 hours!
- Doma Doma: One of the best izakayas in town, Doma Doma is located about 2 blocks east of Okaido on Ichibanchou.
- Okonomiyaki:
A Japanese food that looks like a pizza, but tastes different. Its good and there are lots of restaurants that serve it. A good and cheap one is a few minutes walk past Gintengai (past Hagen daaz, through Minami Gintengai (old arcade) down Yanai-machi and has a yellow VW sticking out of the building.
- Westernish
- Pizza:
While there is Pizza Hut delivery in Matsuyama it very oily and quite expensive. Best pizza is found at Paradiso cafe on Nibancho street (calzones and pasta as well). Also Indie's Kashi Mashi (in the hopping nighttime area) has a good pizza and Spice Kingdom has nice nan-bread pizzas (located in Okaido near Haagen Daaz and also near Ehime University). Pizzeria de Cappucio in Okaido also has a wide variety of good pizzas. If you fancy delivery pizza Pizza Royal Hat is ubiquitous and Strawberry Cones is along the Ishite River near the turnoff for the Dogo area.
- Pasta:
La Sera, located about 2 blocks west of Haagen-Daz on Gintengai, has the best lasagna in town, along with many other tasty dishes. Lunches is the best time for a great deal! There's also the aforementioned Paradiso and Mar de Napoli on a small street behind Mitsukoshi that runs parallell to Okaido.
- Burgers:
Western favourites McDonalds and KFC are sprinkled throughout Matsuyama. McDonalds in Okaido and near JR station, KFC in FujiGrand near JR station.
Freshness Burger: has good hamburgers, located off Gintengai (from Shieki, go down Gintengai, and turn left at the first alley)
- Other
- Indian: Ladkis and Spice Kingdom are the best places in town.
- Ladki's: start with a number one spice or maybe a two if youre feeling brave. Two locations, one near Shieki (city station) and one nearly opposite Baskin Robbins along Ichibancho (the road at the Laforet end of the Okaido shopping arcade).
- Spice Kingdom: There are several to choose from, but the most popular is opposite Haagen Daaz in Okaido. There is a great all-you-can-drink deal for cheap and the nan-pizzas are quite tasty.
- French:
Amitie - quite delicious and slightly pricey - downtown in Matsuyama near NHK park (the place with the moat). Try lunch, just as good and half the cost.
- Chinese:
- There's a nice all you can eat and drink for two hours spot near JR station. Leaving the station on foot or by bike, turn north and go about two blocks until you see an Ichi-roku Taruto shop, just past this shop, turn left. The Chinese restaurant is on the first floor across the small parking lot. The staff doesn't speak much English and the menus aren't translated, so bring a Japanese friend. The food is delicious and its a great place for parties and enkais. Reservations are recommended.
- Hole in the wall restaurant, located just off Okaido. From Nibancho, go east and its on your left.
- Okudogo Buffet: for a weekend feast, this viking (aka buffet) is a great deal for 1500 yen (bring a hot pepper coupon book and its only 1200 yen). It comes with a ticket to the Jungle Onsen which has about 10 different hot spring tubs in a jungly atmosphere and is highly recommended. The buffet and onsen are located at the Okudogo Hotel. Access it by the #52 bus toward Okudogo, or a 5 min walk from the Okudogo Apartment complex. Near the hotel you can see cherry blossoms in spring.
- Mexican: Unfortunately, none. But you can get tacos at New York Elephan and Mirai Kanai mentioned below under nightlife.
- Thai: Four Seasons. This is a bit of a hike, and untested, but the Thai restaurant in Matsuyama receives good reviews from the JTEs who have been there. Directions forthcoming.
- By location:
- Okaido: McDonalds, Yoshinoya, shabu-shabu, yakitori, soba, Italian (Mar De Napoli and Pizzeria de Cappucio in the alley behind Mitsukoshi, Indian (Spice Kingdom), beefbowl, udon.
- Gintengai: Japanese curry, Freshness Burger, Doutor, Hanamaru udon.
- Matsuchika: (starting at the west end of Gintengai): Ramen station, tonkatsu (fried pork)
- Fuji Grand: KFC, McDonalds, ramen, udon, Korean, Baskin Robbins, Seattle's Best Coffee.
- Kinuyama: Korean, Chinese, Mar de Napoli, Okonomiyaki, Bagels.
Health
Matsuyama publication Whats Going On prints the emergency hospitals for each month. (available at Kinokuniya, EPIC, MIC/COMs)
- Large Public Hospitals:
- Ehime Prefectural Hospital
- Shimin Hospital
- Womens health:
- female gynecologist at Shimin Hospital near JR station, Dr Yuuko Kawamoto.
- NTT Hospital in the moat area.
- Opticians:
- Takeoka Contact (up the Ropeway street from Ichibancho street so that Starbucks is on your right and LaForet is behind you, its about two minutes on foot, on the right hand side.)
- Tanaka glasses (located about half way down Gintengai)
Accommodation
- Capsule hotel opposite Takashimaya (city rail station): 2500/night (in the New Grand Build)
- Abis hotel (2 locations: opposite prefectural building, and corner of ichibanchou and katsuyama doori) - ~4500/night
- Toyoko inn (ichibanchou, east of Okaido): ~5000/night.
- Many other hotels all over town ranging from 5000-8000/night.
Entertainment and Nightlife
- Kinuyama Cinema Sunshine
- Okaido Cinema Sunshine
- Kisuke Box located across from the JR Station, has bowling, an arcade, and a public bath.
- More bowling can be found on the north end of Okaido.
- Hagakure, a 2 story dance club on the 5th floor of a building one block west of Mitsukoshi in Okaido, has a variety events (usually with a 1000-2000 cover charge)
- Bibros is another club, located to the east of Okaido between nibanchou and sanbanchou on the 7th floor of a building (usually with a 1500+ cover)
- Flankeys bar is behind the McDonalds in Okaido, go there with one or two people as it's a standing bar.
- Roppongi is a small quiet bar located near Starbucks just off of Ichibancho. From in front of Starbucks, go left toward the Lawson and turn left at the corner there. It's small, but its right there on your left. Run by former Flankey's 2 barman, Maikeru and his wife. If you speak to Mike, English is fine.
- New York Elephant, located in the same building as Hagakure on the 3rd floor. Has darts and a big screen where they show movies/tv.
- Sala Sol is another foreigner friendly bar located east of Okaidos Club Zero, on the 3rd floor. A variety of events are held throughout the year.
- Mirai Kanai is a smaller bar with good ambiance, located north of Okaido opposite the ropeway lift to the castle. Drinks made to order, and are good. The food is excellent as well and quite eclectic with changing daily specials of Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean influenced dishes.
- Sport: Three blocks down from the Daily Yamazaki on Katsuyama Doori, turn right and go another block or two and you should see Sport on the right. Its on the 5th floor. Good snacks and well-mixed drinks, but pricey. Ask about an all-you-can-drink special for 3500 yen for 2 hours. Again, pricey, but when beer is 700 yen a glass, its not so bad. Has pool and darts.
Sports and Exercise
There are many places to get your gym time in while living (or visiting) Matsuyama.
- Comi-Cen
The easiest place to get started (and for cheap) is at the Comi-Cen (Community Centre). At the Comi-Cen, there is a great lap swimming pool, a free weights gym, a nautilus-type machine and cardio gym and racquetball/badminton/ping pong courts available to be rented.
How to use the Comi-Cen:
For the pool: - You must walk downstairs and use the machine to buy a ticket for 200yen. This has a time mark on it. Each hour is 200yen.
- As you enter, you will need to remove your shoes and put them into a plastic bag.
- Walk into the locker room area. Lockers require a 50yen coin to lock and be able to carry the key with you. Locking is recommended, as there is sometimes theft at the pools.
- Rinse in the shower, walk through the foot cleaning pool and there you are!
- You must use a swim cap. If you dont have one, they have yellow ones available poolside. Remember, if you go over an hour, you must pay more money!
- As you leave, show that time-marked ticket to the woman and either pay more or be on your way.
For the gyms:
- Upstairs as you enter the exercise building, there is a counter with cards. Please fill in the card (English is ok) and hand it to the attendant.
- You will need to pay 200yen and they will give you a wrist band. Go to it!
- Then return the wrist band as you leave.
- Tennis Courts:
There are places to play tennis all over town. Your school may even allow you to play there when the tennis clubs arent using it for practice. Many parks have tennis areas (along Ishite koen). Botchan Stadium has nice ones, but they are often in use by university clubs.
- Botchan Stadium:
This is the very nice sports arena and area of Matsuyama City. There is a baseball stadium, soccer fields, tennis courts, a brand new swimming pool, and a martial arts area.
- Other:
Besides comi cen, there are lots of private gyms where you can pay if you choose. Tomorrow, located near Dogo Park, is a small cozy gym, only 5,250 yen/month (foreigner discount). Others include Holiday, or Konami
Highlights:
- Matsuyama castle, recently completely restored, located to the north of the prefectural building, accessible by foot or chairlift.
- Dogo onsen, a hot spring famous for being really old (seriously), is located in the Northeast section of town, surrounded by a shopping arcade, several high-class hotels and it's own red light district.
- Matsuyama community center, has a library, swimming pool, and gym.
- Shiroyama koen is a park located in the center of the castle moat, and contains the prefectural museum of art, and traditional gardens.
- Ishiteji, a famous temple, is located south of the Dogo area of town. Several festivals are held there are various times of the year.
- Jungle Onsen at Okudogo Hotel.
- Dogo Park, good for relaxing, can hike to the top for a nice view, great for cherry blossoms in spring.
