Doi Town 土居町
Description
Doi is a small town in Shikokuchuo. It’s a great town, if not a little rural. Japanese is a definite asset when visiting Doi. It has a population of 17,000.
Location / Access / Transport
Doi is located on the eastern limit of Ehime.
- Without a car, stopping in Doi isn’t that easy, as there is only a local train.
Dining Out
- Doi has a few good restaurants and a wicked pub – Syuki. The owners will do their best to accommodate you. It’s on Route 11, just west of the Co-op grocery store on the same side.
Tourism / Festivals / Highlights
- With a car, hiking is a good bet. Just take any road south as far as you can and follow the giant blue arrows that are on Route 11.
- If you follow one in particular you will find an abandoned restaurant that looks like a castle (it would make an excellent haunted house).
- Another blue arrow following adventure will take you up the Sekigawa river to a bonsai tree farm and further beyond that are some excellent swimming opportunities.
- The Fall Taiko (Drum) Festival is good times. It’s on usually the same weekend as the festivals in Niihama and Saijo.
Kawanoe City 川之江市
Description
Kawanoe is the last city on the eastern side of Ehime. It’s a pretty little town (minus the paper mills) and has some nice walks and hikes.
Website – http://www.city.shikokuchuo.ehime.jp/
Location / Access / Transport
- To get there, take the Kawanoe Mishima exit of the expressway.
Dining Out
- There is a good range of restaurants, especially around the station.
Nightlife
- There is one semi-nightclub called Luke, which has darts and stays open late.
Tourism / Festivals / Highlights
- Kawanoe is known for its paper mills and the tourist attractions include the Paper Museum (where you can make paper and postcards) and the Mizuhiki making center.
- Umenishiki – a large sake factory. You can tour and try lots of sake samples!