Uwajima / Mimacho / Yoshida / Kihokucho and Matsunocho / Tsushinacho / Ainancho
Nanyo A
Incorporating the towns of Ainan-cho, Uwajima, Matsuno and Kihoku-cho.
RA: Richard Witts
Placement: Uwajima Minami J/SHS
Phone: 0895 22 0262
Fax: 0895 23 7080
UwajimaPopulation: 89,445
Location: Uwajima is 1hr 20mins (by train) south of Matsuyama, on the west coast of Shikoku.
Getting there
| By train |
By bus |
By car |
| 1hr 20mins* |
2 hrs* |
about 2 hours on the expressway* |
| * All times from Matsuyama |
Shopping
- Shotengai: Lots of quirky shops selling clothes, food and a variety of interesting things.
- Supermarkets: Two Fuji supermarkets, a large Sunshine supermarket, and a huge RICH supermarket on the way to Tsushima.
- Uniqlo: Has western sized clothes at reasonable prices.
- PC Depot towards Tsushima: Big computer store including a section for Apple PCs.
- Various 100yen shops near station and above big supermarkets.
- Lots of souvenir shops near the station.
Restaurants
- Gusto
- Joyfull x2
- MacDonalds
- KFC
- Mar-De-Napoli (nice Italian restaurant next to MacDonalds)
- Korean BBQ, great ramen and Donto (various dishes) opposite the station side of the Shotengai.
- Hareya conveyor belt sushi. 100yen beer on Friday nights
- Sagano Onsen restaurant. 50yen beer on Thursday nights
Tourism
- Taga Jinja Fertility shrine and sex museum. 5 minute walk left from the bridge in front of Warei Shrine.
- Warei Shrine
- Sagano Onsen In the mountains, turn left at the big onsen sign going out towards Tsuhima.
- Big festival on 22nd-24th July every year. Modern and traditional dancing, fantastic fireworks and parades.
- Uwajima Castle Small, unreconstructed castle.
Entertainment
- Karaoke: Voice in the shotengai; Jungle near the station, Sing a Song
- Bowling alley and swimming pool: Past Fuji Grand, towards Mima.
- Havala sports bar: Friendly bar with big TV screen showing various sports, especially English soccer. From the station, half way up the Shotengai on the right. Blue sign.
Nightlife
Nothing like Matsuyama but still a good selection of restaurants, izakaya and bars centered around the station and Shotengai.
MimachoPopulation: approx 7,000, Uwajima-shi
Location: Mima-cho is a small community known for growing rice, nestled in between the slightly larger towns of Kihoku, Yoshida and Uwa, on the west side of Ehime.
Getting there
| By train |
By car |
| 15 mins* |
15 mins* |
| * All times from Uwajima JR station |
Shopping / Restaurants / Nightlife
- Small A-co-op supermarket
- Two liquor shops
- Several small coffee shops in the center of town
- Tougyu: Korean BBQ restaurant
Tourism
- Two of the 88 temples
- Interesting historical places
- Illumination at the park in winter
YoshidaPopulation: approximately 12-15 000, Uwajima
Location: Yoshida is located half-way between Uwa and Uwajima on Route 56.
Getting there
| By train |
By bus |
| twice daily limited express train from / to Matsuyama; hourly local train service from / to Yawatahama |
extensive bus service from / to Uwajima Johen and also from / to Matsuyama (Overnight bus from / to Osaka also stops in Yoshida) |
Shopping
Fuji, 100yen, Supermarket, clothing/stationary shops, small electronics store, French bakery, fresh fruit/vegetables stalls, Mini DIK (hardware), Bobson denim factory outlet
Restaurants / Nightlife
- Tandoor: excellent Indian cuisine, world famous in southern Ehime
- Chinese Restaurant: serves an excellent stir-fry of mixed Asian greens and pretty decent ramen
- Udon
- Italian serves Japanese style Italian food, mainly spaghetti
- Small Karaoke corner
- apparently a pretty good pub in the main street
Tourism
- Stunning scenery, mikan mountains and Yoshida Bay make for a pretty awesome bike around and out of town
- The Old Town: A small village with houses set up as they were in the olden days (like an interactive museum encasing a selection of old tools, antique pottery and old sea faring artifacts)
Entertainment
Extensive sports centre including indoor and outdoor pool with a waterslide.
Festivals: Small but fun.
Annual combined elementary schools Halloween party is yet to be rivaled with a record 525 students attending in 2006!
Kihoku-cho and Matsuno-choPopulation: approximately 12,000
Location: East of Uwajima.
Web sites
Kihoku Web site in Japanese, lots of graphics and easy to navigate if you only know a little Japanese
Kihoku Town Website, also in Japanese.
Getting there
| By train |
By car |
| 45 mins* |
20 mins* |
| * All times from Uwajima |
Shopping / Restaurants
- Supermarkets: Big Fuji, Rich and Shinbashi.
- Jyujyu: Good Korean BBQ restaurant.
- Touyouken: Korean BBQ and sushi.
- Mama: Japanese style izakaya.
- Ichi: Another izakaya.
- Yesterday: Caf?/bar with great atmosphere, often hosts live bands.
Tourism / Entertainment
- Narukawa hot spring (Kihoku)
- Popu hot spring (Matsuno, above the station)
- Video rental by Juyjuy
- Nagashi soumen
Festivals
- Ushioni devil cow festival (November).
- Dechikonka (October)
- Naganochi (April)
- Dechikonka Natsunojin, Kawanobori (July)
- Summer Festival (July)
TsushinachoPopulation: approximately 10,000
Location: South of Uwajima.
Getting there
| By local bus |
By car |
| about 30 mins* |
20 mins* |
| * All times from Uwajima |
Shopping / Restaurants
- Rich supermarket.
- Je Tame: Caf?/restaurant, great buffet on Sunday mornings and good food/cakes.
Tourism / Entertainment
- Tsushima hot spring
- Nanrakuen Park - beautiful park famous in the area. Nice for weekend walks.
Festivals
AinanchoPopulation: approximately 28,000
Location: Ainan is the southernmost region of Ehime situated in south-western Shikoku.
Getting there
| By bus |
| most buses from Matsuyama to Uwajima end up in Johen (express approx 3 and a half hours). Some buses from Uwajma continue through to Sukimo in Kochi, half an hour further on from Ainan. |
Shopping
Restaurants
Misho/Johen
- Chinese food: Pink Bamboo Blossom - pink free standing place in the car park near Joyfull.
- Korean BBQ: Chise ? Next door to the Aokuni hotel. Big neon bull over the entry. ?3,500 women, ?4,000 men gets you all unlimited meat and drink (though seafood and veg are restricted.
- French Patisserie: Je Taime has amazing cakes and a lovely upstairs eating area. On a corner opposite Sun Pearl and the bowling alley.
- Naniwa (Japanese style): Near Misho Chugakko and Sunkus. Reasonable prices, nice atmosphere. Food's fine, but variable.
- Hana Karuta (Japanese style): Up from Minami Uwa High School and Misho Bunka centre. Very nice izakaya type food, beer for 300 yen and mixed drinks 450 yen.
- ? Aoikuni Hotel buffet: Summer only, costs about 2,000 - 2,500 yen. Good selection and decent food, beer.
- Roppo: Behind the Johen Community Centre. Great izakaya style and food. English Menu available.
- Ranmante: hard to find Japanese restaurant back from the main street of Johen. Good food and reasonable prices.
Entertainment
- Uchiumi is proud of their park -Sunokawa Koen. Kayaks and snorkel gear can be rented.
- Johen / Misho bowling alley.
Highlights
- Check out the beaches/swimming spots in Ainan!
Festivals
- Festival for the dead: August/September, Fukuura, Nishiumi. Dancing and singing.
- Various autumn festivals in every town
