Ikata Town 伊方町

Description

Ikata is a small town with a population of about 12,200.

Ikata is located on the western peninsula of Ehime, along Route 197 (also called the Melody Line).
Buses run between Ikata and Yawatahama.

The Kinahaya matsuri in Ikata is usually the last Sunday of July. Carnival-style event-food vendors, stage shows, free sake sampling, children’s sumo, etc during the day. Climax is a big fireworks display at night. It all takes place around the Ikata-cho town office, which is only about 20 minutes by car (maybe 30 to 40 by bike) from Yawatahama (Honai).
The Ikata (Minatoura-area) fall festival is held the third Sunday in October. Ushi-oni, Itsutsu Shika (five deer dancing), Karashishi (lion dance), etc. Held mostly on the Ikata Elementary School grounds (a stone’s throw from the town office).

Misaki has a population of about 3,800.

At the very tip of the peninsula.
No trains go there and buses from Yawatahama are infrequent and rather expensive.
Cars are the only way to go really.
Misaki is on the map because of its ferry port, which services ferries to Kyushu. A ferry to Saganoseki will take approximately 70 minutes while the slightly longer ferry to Beppu takes two hours. Both ferries cost 2,180yen for a return fare. If you’re brining a car, the costs vary according to the size of your automobile. Your car’s shakken (like a warrant of fitness) must be presented at the counter. Note: the ferries from Misaki to Kyushu are cheaper than the ones from Yawatahama. If you have a car and don’t mind the 40 minute drive, go right ahead. Free parking is available at the port.

Honai and Yawatahama have bigger grocery stores with less expensive stuff. However, in Misaki itself, there are Foods Nikoniko (right hand side) on the main street, and just a little father down the road is A-Coop (left hand side), beside the JA bank.
If it’s farming or fishing tools you need… super! If it’s clothes, forget it!

Marina is a decent restaurant, located on the main road.
Waiting for the ferry, the small coffee shop is a good place– try their Yakimeishi (fried rice).
For the prepared, there is a French restaurant in the mountains. The owners built a lovely and authentic French home for this restaurant/design company. Lunch or dinner is by reservation only. Call Shimauchi-san at 0894 541939 and try to speak to her in English! Ask Shimauchi-san for directions because it is quite difficult to find.

The Misaki Lighthouse is quite beautiful. You can see Kyushu on a clear day and the sunset.
Moon Beach is also a lovely place to take in the rural scenery.
You’d basically come to Misaki to see every-day living. It’s a great place to admire rural Japan.

Seto Town has a population of about 2,700.

The Seto area is located in the heart of Ikata Town , Nishiuwa-gun in far west Shikoku, a town which stretches across the longest peninsula of Japan On the map, it looks like a finger pointing from Ehime-ken to Oita-ken.
You can reach Seto by car via Melody Line or by bus using the Iyotetsu Mitsukue line from Yawatahama City .

Nice sandy beaches of Kawanohama and Oku available for swimming.
The scenic drive along Melody Line includes a panoramic view of all of Ikata-town from the Windmill Park.
Great fishing spots in Shionashi, Ashinaru and Oe.
Delicious cuisine of Fuusha (Windmill) and Pocket Park restaurants, and the Daan Daan stand that sells Shionashi’s famous sweet potatoes.
Chirimen (“Baby Sardine”) Festival, Hana Yome (“Happy Wedding”) Fireworks Festival, Omatsuri festivals take place in the dynamic Seto area.
The Imperial Japanese Navy did their practice runs for Pearl Harbor in Ikata-cho (Seto-cho’s bay)!