Matsuyama1 is a perfect city for a citywalk in Japan
Matsuyama1 is a perfect city for a citywalk in Japan to go on holiday
Japan has many small and exquisite cities, all of which are suitable for citywalk day trips. Today, let's recommend a small city that is perfect for a day trip - Matsuyama. Here you can find the Dogo Onsen, the prototype of the bathhouse in 'Spirited Away', and one of the 'Twelve Castles' in Japan, Matsuyama Castle. When you visit the small cities in Japan, you must reserve a seat for Matsuyama!
Dogo Onsen
This is the prototype of the bathhouse in 'Spirited Away', with a history of three thousand years. It is one of the three ancient springs in Japan and a folk hot spring where the Japanese Emperor would bathe. It is divided into the main hall and the annex. It is still a public hot spring open to the public. You can also buy tickets to visit the place where the Emperor bathes. Of course, the most important thing is to check in its architecture, after all, it is the original location of 'Spirited Away'. Let's recommend some good framing positions
-At the entrance of the hot spring, you can shoot small scenes. The typical Japanese ancient architecture is very characteristic
-On one side of the hot spring, there is a foot bath on the second floor. Here you can enjoy a free foot bath while overlooking the entire Dogo Onsen. It is quite shocking
-Across the road from the main entrance of the hot spring, you can also take a panoramic view of the Dogo Onsen main hall from here. It is recommended to come early in the morning to shoot, there are not many cars on the road, it is easy to shoot
Enmanji Temple
A small temple located in modern urban architecture, famous for concluding marriages. The temple is full of colorful hair knot beads, which are said to be very effective. Many girls go to pray. The temple is small but exquisite and cute. It is very suitable to wear a bathrobe from the hotel and take a set of beautiful photos.
Kai Izoribo Shrine
An important cultural heritage of Japan, it is one of the only three Hachiman-zukuri in Japan. You have to go through a long stone steps to reach it. From a distance, the stone steps and the orange-red shrine at the end are very spectacular. You can stand on the stone steps and take a photo with the shrine, which is very nice.
Matsuyama Castle
One of the 'Twelve Castles' in Japan, very old, built on the top of Matsuyama in the center of Matsuyama City, 132 meters high, it is the landmark of the entire Matsuyama City. You can take a cable car up and down, and you can see the cityscape of the entire Matsuyama City from the castle. Have an Ehime orange ice cream on the top of the mountain, or a glass of orange juice from the unique water pipe in Ehime, which is also a must-do in Matsuyama Castle.
Suggestions for citywalk day trip itinerary:
Stay in a hot spring hotel near Dogo Onsen, take a comfortable bath in the hotel at night, and you can go straight to Dogo Onsen in the bathrobe of the hotel early the next morning. It is recommended to go before the hot spring opens, with fewer people and cars, and it is more convenient to frame with the building.
Then walk to Enmanji Temple, it can be finished in about half an hour, and then walk to Izoribo Shrine, which is very close and can be reached on foot.
Then go back to the hotel for a comfortable breakfast. After checking out, you can stroll around the Dogo Onsen shopping street and buy some souvenirs from Ehime and Matsuyama. In the afternoon, take a tram to Matsuyama Castle and get off at 'Okaido Station' and walk there.