Experience History Through Sound: Explore the Matsuyama Castle

Matsuyama Castle has long been a beloved symbol of the city for the local community. Our audio guide reveals fascinating details you might have missed, designed to spark your curiosity. You'll feel transported to the past as Ninja guides you through the experience.

Why Choose Our Guide?
✅ Engaging Insights – Discover the Castle's rich history in a simple, captivating way.
✅ Ultimate Convenience – Use your smartphone to explore at your own pace.
✅ Deeper Connection – Gain local knowledge for a truly memorable visit.

Same-day reservations: Email sent within 30 min.
Future reservations: The URL and password will be sent via email the day before.

The closing day
・The third Wednesday in December 

The opening hour vary depending on the season. Please check the official website for updates.

Please note: An entrance fee of 520 JPY which is not included in the price of the audio guide is required.

Audio Guided Tour in Matsuyama Castle 

Discover Uchiko's deep artisanal culture.

Experience the world's only "Gilded Washi"—adding modern brilliance
to ancient paper—and visit a prestigious 300-year-old brewery.

This private taxi tour is the perfect cultural transfer between Matsuyama and Dogo Onsen. Enjoy rare Japanese mastery while traveling in comfort.

◆Authentic Two Washi Arts
At Ikazaki Shachu, hand-make traditional washi paper and decorate
a washi card with rare gilding art found only here.

◆Award-Winning Sake Tasting
Enjoy Chiyonokame Brewery for premium sake, recognized nationally for excellence and its 300-year heritage.

◆Flexible luggage-friendly Transfer
Pick-up at Matsuyama with drop-off at Dogo Onsen or return to starting point.

◆Included Services
English brochures and basic driver assistance provided.

◆Upgrades
Professional English Guide: For deep cultural storytelling.

Special Lunch: Local delicacies grilled over a traditional open hearth (Irori).

※Can see options' detail when check availability.

Private Taxi: Washi-Making & Gold Leaf, Acclaimed Sake in Ehime

The number of vacant houses in Ozu City is increasing as its population declines, making it difficult to maintain the townscape and old buildings.
To preserve valuable regional culture for future generations and protect the town's identity, Ozu City has focused on the restoration and utilization of old, abandoned residences and historic buildings. 
On this tour, you will learn about the current struggles in the old district and its revitalization efforts.

・The movie will show the overview of the pre-revitalized Ozu.
・A special visit to architectures before or under construction
・Viewing of Revitalized Historical Architectures A special visit to a hotel and shops in olden houses
・Interactoin with local Residents Interact with locais and business owners involved in revitalization of the Ozu castle-town

OZU STORIES Ozu Castle Town Regeneration Stories

Explore the rich hot-spring culture of Dōgo Onsen on this guided walking tour that unveils the town's historical significance and vibrant community traditions. Discover how this celebrated spa town evolved into a beloved destination through storytelling and local pride, starting from the iconic Botchan Karakuri Clock. The tour includes a visit to the serene Isaniwa Shrine, where you'll learn about purification rituals, before observing the architectural beauty of the Dōgo Onsen Honkan, a National Important Cultural Property. Conclude your journey with a stroll through the shopping street, sampling local snacks and comfort foods that embody the essence of this unique onsen community.

- Guided walking tour through Japan's famed hot-spring town
- Visit Isaniwa Shrine and learn about purification rituals
- Explore the iconic Dōgo Onsen Honkan, a cultural landmark
- Sample local treats while strolling through Dōgo's vibrant shopping area

Ehime: Dogo Onsen Culture Walk—Bathhouse, Shrine & Food

This is a unique guided tour, you get not only to know about special charcoals that used for Japanese tea ceremony, to see how it lit and used, and unite with the craftsman.

■At a charcoal kiln in the mountain area of Uchiko, the craftsman tells you how he makes charcoals and how it affects to the sustainable life in mountain area. 

■visit mysterious Yuge shrine, the symbol of Ishidatami district. There is a big pond in front of the shrine, and you get walk on a beautiful bridge with roof to visit the shine. 

■ Have a relax time with a cup of locally roasted coffee and local made bread. The tea-ceremony charcoal will be used to boil water for the coffee and warm up the bread. Enjoy chatting with the craftsman.

Tea Ceremony Charcoal Kiln Visit and Coffee Time in Uchiko Town

Cycle through a river side road of Uchiko's Washi(Japanese handmade paper) heritage. This immersive washi cycling tour connects you with local artisans while you create one-of-a-kind treasures to take home.

◆ Washi Papermaking & Book Binding at a Local Workshop
Work alongside skilled craftspeople to create your own handmade washi sheet. Then craft a unique handbound notebook using your paper as the cover—yours alone.

◆ Discover Hidden Origami Vending Machine
A quirky vending machine dispensing miniature origami and paper crafts, showcasing how washi culture weaves into everyday life.

◆ Enjoy Kite Museum
Explore traditional Japanese kites (tako) intricately crafted from washi paper. Learn how this durable material has been essential to kite-making for centuries.
Enjoy scenic cycling through Uchiko's historic streetscapes and traditional architecture between stops.

*Local-guided private tour: exclusive to you

Enjoy "Real Japan" at a lovely river side town.

Local Washi and Paper Craft Cycling Tour in Uchiko Town

Dogo Hot Spring , which is said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan, is also on the route of the pilgrimage to the 88 sacred sites of Shikoku, where many pilgrims heal the fatigue of their journey and enjoy historical and cultural sightseeing. This programme allows visitors to experience local history and pilgrimage culture while walking with a guide along the surrounding pilgrimage routes, which are generally not well known to the public. Within walking distance of Dogo Onsen is the 51st temple Ishite-ji Temple, which has many cultural assets and has been awarded a Michelin star. You can learn the etiquette of pilgrimage and history and culture of temples. Along the walking pilgrimage route, there is a nature trail that climbs up a small mountain and passes through a bamboo forest, which you would not expect to find in the city, and an ancient shrine, Isaniwa Shrine, which located on a hill overlooking Dogo Hot Spring, making you to feel nature and history in a compact area.

Guided Walking Ohenro Pilgrimage Experience in Dogo Hot Spring

(Highest peak in western Japan/Mt. Ishizuchi) First, a guided tour of Ishizuchi Shrine where a master of Ishizuchi guides the precincts of Ishizuchi Shrine Kuchinomiya headquarters full of worship practices, offerings, and prayers; an authentic Japanese experience (for a limited time); a special Shinto ritual "worship a god" where you directly apply the body of the god of Ishizuchi Shrine to your body; demonstrations and dedication performances by conch masters, and a spiritual "ISHUCHI Adventure Tour" combining these ancient mountain worship experiences I'm looking forward to it I'll eat it.

Ishizuchi Mystical Tour Nature and Ancient Culture Immersion

This half-day tour allows you to enjoy the charms of Ehime: the Instagram-worthy Shimoda Station and an award-winning sake brewery, all guided by private taxi.

Our taxis guarantee convenience and safety, providing direct access to Shimoda where local train services are extremely limited. You can also enjoy sake tastings.

1. Shimoda Station: A Trending Photo Spot
Enjoy breathtaking views at Shimoda Station, famed as 'the station closest to the sea'.
→ Perfect for capturing Instagram-worthy shots.
2. Eikou Shuzo: Award-Winning Sake Tasting
Tour a renowned local sake brewery that has won numerous national awards. You can sample two types of premium Japanese sake.
3. Other places to visit
・Futami Seaside Park: Enjoy a relaxing moment by the sea.
・Enmanji Temple: Visit this power spot to pray for matchmaking and good fortune.
・Tour concludes in the historic Dōgo Onsen district.
This itinerary is ideal for travellers wishing to explore Ehime's photogenic attractions.

Taxi Tour: Insta-Famous Shimonada Sunset View Award Sake Tasting

The perfect plan for those wishing to sightsee efficiently within limited time!
Experience making traditional Japanese fans at the Ikarashi Kite Museum, which displays a wide range of materials centred on traditional kites from various regions and kites collected from around the world.
Afterwards, stroll along the "Hachikōji and Gokoku Townscape" stretching approximately 600 metres along the Konpira Kaidō road. The residences of wealthy merchants, where traditional culture endures, remain preserved as they were in their heyday. Enjoy the lingering atmosphere, featuring earthen walls plastered with local clay and traditional plasterwork. Furthermore, experience Uchiko's artistic culture in the dressing rooms of an authentic, purely Japanese-style theatre building, which has continued since the Taisho era.

Uchiwa Fan Making and Uchiko Town Historical Stroll

Are you looking for a hands-on and local immersion experience unlike any other? On this tour, you will also have the unique opportunity to partake in a 200-year-old tradition by learning how to make Japanese candles known as Warosoku. Unlike the dipped candles of the West, Uchiko Warosoku are created by hand using a centuries-old technique that you can learn from a master! Once you have completed your very own Warosoku, you can enjoy a peaceful and intimate tea time of matcha and local sweets with the 7th-generation head craftsman. With a highly educated and friendly guide, you're guided through a beautiful and well-preserved historical district. As you make your way to a Japanese Candle workshop that has been in operation for 7 generations, you will learn all about the history of this one-of-a-kind historic district. 
This tour is the perfect mix of history, craft, and local immersion that you will never forget.

Traditional Japanese Candle Making and Uchiko Walking Tour

This 2-night, 3-day tour is a gastronomic and cultural journey across the Seto Inland Sea, designed for international travellers with a deep interest in Japanese food culture and regional lifestyles. Departing from Matsuyama in Shikoku, off the typical tourist route, and travelling to Kure using a combination of private vehicle and ferry, you experience the unique proximity of the sea and people in the Seto Inland Sea while exploring the distinct sake, cuisine, and history of the region.

Private Sightseeing Tours in Ehime Prefecture