Shanghai - Japan Shikoku 13 Days Part 4-4 - Ozu City (2) Aka Renga-kan, etc.
Day 4 (Sunday, March 16, 2025) Unomachi - Iyo Ozu - Nakamura.
Sightseeing: Unomachi / Ozu Castle / Ozu District.
After visiting Ozu Castle, we checked in at other popular internet-famous spots in the Ozu District.
Photos 1-3: Ozu Aka Renga-kan;
Ozu Aka Renga-kan is a highly representative historic building in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture.
Built between 1901 and 1905, it was originally the Ozu Commercial Bank. The building features red brick tiles and a Western-style facade, constructed using the British one-stretcher one-header red brick pattern, combined with a traditional Japanese tiled roof, presenting a unique Meiji-era Japanese-Western eclectic style. The architecture blends Japanese and Western elements, with the interior preserving vintage counters, a domed atrium, and other original features. It now serves as a local history museum, displaying historical documents and folk artifacts of Ozu City. Besides exhibits of handmade crafts such as Japanese paper, silk cocoons bags, and candles by local artisans, it also houses a film memorial area. The second floor is a gallery and rest area, making it a niche spot to experience the fusion of Shikoku’s traditional and modern culture.
Photos 4-10: Ozu Maboroshi Shopping Street;
Ozu Maboroshi Shopping Street is a retro-style commercial street in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, named "Maboroshi" (meaning "phantom" or "illusion") because it preserves wooden old houses from the Meiji to Showa periods, full of nostalgic atmosphere.
Pokopen Alley is a niche retro alley in Ozu City, near Maboroshi Shopping Street, characterized by "miniature cuteness and a lively everyday vibe."
The alley is lined with softly colored wooden cottages housing handmade workshops, vintage goods stores, and mini cafes, specializing in handmade Japanese paper items, yuzu-themed products, and old-time trinkets. The quiet and soothing atmosphere is perfect for leisurely browsing, treasure hunting, and taking fresh, Japanese-style photos.
Photo 11: Omoide Soko (Memory Warehouse);
Omoide Soko is a retro-themed warehouse in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, located near Pokopen Alley, centered on "storing old times."
The warehouse is converted from an old residence and filled with items from the Meiji to Showa periods—vintage home appliances, traditional farming tools, old posters, nostalgic toys, etc., illuminated by warm yellow lighting, evoking a journey back in time. It also sells handmade Japanese paper products and yuzu-flavored souvenirs, combining exhibition and shopping functions, making it a niche nostalgic check-in spot.
Photo 12: The mailbox from the Japanese drama "Tokyo Love Story";
In the classic Japanese drama "Tokyo Love Story," the mailbox where Akana Rika sent her last letter (postcard) to Nagao Kanji is located in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, Japan.
This mailbox is a red postbox, specifically located on the street near the Hanamachi area in Ozu City. The scene of Rika leaning against the mailbox to send a letter became iconic, and the mailbox carries Rika’s complex feelings for Kanji. The mailbox still exists today, but the house in the background has been demolished or renovated.
Photos 13-16: Other classic Japanese drama filming locations;
Photo 17: An old bookstore in the Ozu District;
Photos 18-20: Streetscape of Ozu.