EhimeAJET.com - Toyo B

Saijo / Komatsu / Tambara / Niihama / Kawanoe / Doi

Toyo B
Incorporating the towns of Saijo, Niihama and Shikoku-chuo.

RA:Duncan Walsh
Phone:Tambara Higashi JH - 0898 68 7045, Tambara Nishi JH - 0898 73 2302

Location
Saijo City sits in the eastern part of Ehime, prides itself on its delicious spring water, sacred mountains and exuberant festival.

Interesting Fact
Saijo's spring water is known as 'uchinuki', and was chosen to be one of the best 100 water resources in Japan. Uchinuki can be seen everywhere in the central part of the city, and the 'Aqua Route' running through the town areas is the ideal excursion course, which allows you to admire the relics of the Saijo Clan castle town and the surrounding freshwater fish and flowers.

Highlights

Being the highest mountain in western Japan, Mt. Ishizuchi has been numbered among Japan's 7 sacred mountains since ancient times. With part of the range designed for a quasi-national park, its seasonal beauty and alpine plants make it a welcoming sanctuary for nature-loving visitors.
Saijo Festival (Oct. 14th ~17th) is the biggest event in the town. Over 80 danjiris (portable shrines which weigh about 80 kg) take part in all-day procession; make their way from local shrines down to Kamogawa River for the Festival's grand finale. The intensity of the Festival resembles a unique and magnificent picture scroll.

Komatsu
(population approximately 10,000 ? 12,000)

Location
Komatsu is located east of Matsuyama in the mountain regions of Saijo area.

Getting there

By train	By bus
From Matsuyama Iyo-Komatsu 1hr 45 mins local ?1420	From Matsuyama 1hr 15mins ?1500

Shopping
Groceries stores, kimono shop, bakery, etc.

Highlights

Omiyage ? Yoshino Mochi
Yuba
2 of the 88 temples
Hiking in the woods

Restaurants

Marubun (excellent Italian!)
Azuyama ? izakaya with great food and atmosphere
Ramen shops

Entertainment
Tsubaki onsen and the Highway Oasis

Tambara
(population approximately 15 000)

Location
Tanbara is a small township located in the Saijo area on the Eastern coastline of Ehime.

Getting there
By train: Train to Nyugawa (Toyo) and taxi to Tanbara By bus: (from Matsuyama) ? Iyo-Komatsu 1hr 45 mins ?1420

Shopping
Very little. We have 2 grocery stores.

Highlights

Lots of oysters
Nice countryside and shrines
Fun park

Restaurants
Very few. Good Korean/yakiniku restaurant

Entertainment
Besides festivals, there is little to none. Check out the Cultural Building.

Nightlife
None. The town dies at 7pm.

Niihama
(population 123 952)

Location
Niihama is the second largest city in Ehime and is located in the eastern part of the prefecture.

Getting there
There are regular trains and buses from Matsuyama to Niihama.

Highlights

Zen Monastary
Niihama marine park
Taiko festival in October. This is really a must see it's one of the top taiko festivals in Japan! It coincides with other festivals in the region: Doi of Shikokuchuo and Saijo

Entertainment
Movie theatre

The following 2 towns make up Shikokuchuo.

Kawanoe

Location
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.

Getting there
To get there, take the Kawanoe Mishima exit off the expressway.

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!

Entertainment
There is a good range of restaurants, especially around the station, and one semi-nightclub called Luke which has darts and stays open late.

Doi (population approximately 9,000)

Location
Doi is a small village in Shikoku-chuo on the eastern limits of Ehime. It?s a great town, if not a little rural. Japanese is a definite asset when visiting Doi.

Getting there
Without a car, stopping in Doi isn?t that easy, as there is only a local train.

Entertainment
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.

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 rive 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.