2024 Imabari Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in October)

obanzai meal

Food was all tasty and sophisticated whatever we ordered. The price was reasonable and the service was super efficient. This was a very interesting meal. Everything was lightly seasoned so it was not in your face, making it enjoyable to switch from one small plate to another. The winners that we ordered were the braised wagyu beef, three kinds of assorted oden, and grilled kyoto red chicken. They have table seating and bar seating. We were seated at the bar in front of the chefs which is the ideal place sit when going to obanzai style restaurant as it is close to the action and more lively. About 8 seats at the bar. And about 2 tables either side. We ordered many dishes, working our way through the menu starting with the cold starters which are displayed on the bar counter. We ordered beer and sake. Each dish was delicious. Very good food. We ordered many rounds of food. #japantrip #deliciousfood #deliciousfood

Imabari Castle: A Treasure Blending History and Scenery

Imabari Castle is a hidden gem in Ehime Prefecture, boasting grand stone walls and beautiful surrounding landscapes. Upon entering the castle, you can feel the antique atmosphere, and the historical artifacts on display tell stories of the past. Especially, when you climb the castle tower, you are greeted with a breathtaking view of Imabari city and the sea. The well-maintained gardens make it a great place for a stroll. It is a recommended spot not only for history enthusiasts but also for travelers who love nature. Visiting Imabari Castle allows you to experience both the tradition and beauty of Japan.

Ehime / Coffee Shop.

A coffee shop in Imabari City with delicious coffee The retro atmosphere is very relaxing. The coffee zenzai is made by simmering azuki beans in coffee, and it was irresistibly delicious for coffee lovers♡ Coffee Zenzai ¥650 They also offer breakfast and light meals, so it's great for meals or breaks◎ There is also a parking lot in front of the shop🚗 📍Location: 4-5-4 Tokiwacho, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture 🕰️Business Hours: Tue-Thu 7:30~18:00 Sat-Sun 8:00~18:00 Closed on Mondays 💰Price per person: ¥1,000

Sumiyoshi Shrine in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture

Sumiyoshi Shrine in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, is home to various deities. Located next to Imabari Castle, also known as "Fukiage Castle," which is one of Japan's Top 100 Castles, the shrine has enshrined various deities and shrines from the Meiji era to the present. Visit Date: Mid-June 2024 information Facility Name📍 Sumiyoshi Shrine Address📍 3-1-1 Torimachi, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture Worship Hours📍 24 hours Access📍 ・About 25 minutes on foot from JR Imabari Station ・3 minutes on foot from Imabari Castle Front Bus Stop ・About 25 minutes by bicycle from Nishiseto Expressway Imabari Kita IC

Off-the-path cherry blossom trails🌸🍃

From Ehime prefecture with the deep pink cherry blossoms next to the sea to Hiroshima and Fukuoka’s fully bloomed white cherry blossoms park festival. This week has been amazing to watch them bloom from start to finish while cycling and conclude with the Cherry Blossom Festival in the south of Japan. ♡ While the biggest cities always take the spotlight, the souther prefectures enjoy the nice weather and local vibes with views next to the sea, much better than how I imagined it to be. I can’t stress enough how Spring it’s certainly the best season to visit Japan in these locations, not so crowded but still lively! #cherryblossom2024 #cherryblossom #southjapan #japan

Visit the Kamegamori Mountain Observatory to enjoy the most beautiful strait sunset

In Japan, almost every mountain has an observatory where you can shoot the sunset. Japanese people seem to be obsessed with the sunset, and so am I. After watching the whirlpool on the tide-watching boat in the afternoon, we went straight to the Kamegamori Mountain Observatory to wait for the sunset. The Kamegamori Mountain Observatory is located at the top of Kamegamori Mountain at the southern end of Oshima, with an altitude of 307.8 meters. The design of the observatory is ingenious, with the lower half buried underground, perfectly integrated with the landscape, where you can enjoy the world's first triple suspension bridge - the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, and also overlook the Ishizuchi Mountain. In order not to disturb the experience of tourists, many scenic spots and observatories in Japan do not allow the use of tripods for shooting, but the Kamegamori Mountain Observatory does, and there are few tourists in this season. Arriving 30 minutes before sunset, you can occupy the best shooting position. In winter, the sun sets in the west and south at about 25 degrees, and you can see the sun slowly sinking into the sea. You need to use a wide angle to frame the sunset and the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge together; in summer, the sun sets in the west and north at about 25 degrees, and the sun crosses the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge and sinks into the sea. You can use a medium telephoto to highlight the 'interaction' between the sunset and the bridge. Shooting a time-lapse of the sunset from day to night can fully record this wonderful moment. The Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge connects the scattered islands in the distance, the sunset glow reddens the skyline, and the last touch of red leaves in late autumn is still stubborn. The sun gradually sinks into the sea, the sky gradually darkens, the Seto Inland Sea is calm and beautiful, what a healing moment! Looking forward to the next visit to Ehime, not alone to enjoy the sunset, I hope to have the company of my family, to feel the warm and peaceful Ehime together.

Kengo Kuma designed Viewing Tower

Viewing towers everywhere around the world are often quite similar in design and purpose. They allows us to look at a place from a distance or from somewhere high in the sky. In almost all cases, we are only interested in admiring the distant sight and not the observation tower itself. However in my recent trip driving through the Seto Inland Sea, we stopped at an observation tower that is unlike most others. It is located on Kirosan Park 龜老山 on Oshima Island - one of the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and is closest to Shikoku. It is also designed by one of the most well known Japanese architect today - Kengo Kuma- in 1994. The viewing park is about 10 minutes drive uphill from the nearest highway exit. Once you get to the top of the hill, the road becomes quite narrow. There are two parking lots and the one at the top can allow for about 10 cars to park. There is also a small shop selling drinks and souvenirs. The signs would then direct visitors to walk up the viewing deck which is on the left side. The walk is about 5 minutes up a few flights of stairs that looked almost like a contemporary art museum. At this point, we saw many visitors simply posing on the staircase instead of going to the top for the scenic view. why? because it just looked so cool! The view from the top is of course spectacular. It has a panoramic view of the Seto Sea , but most importantly it has a view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge - which consists of 3 successive suspension bridges, and was the world’s longest suspension bridge ( total length of 4015 meters) when completed in 1999. The bridge connects Oshima and Shikoku. We were lucky to have visited on a clear day, and it was so easy to see the bridge and the beautiful surrounding scenery. Many visitors also stood at the top deck to have their photos taken - they all appeared to be standing in the sky! I would highly recommend to stop by the Kirosan Park Observatory to enjoy nature and architecture at the same time! There is no fee to visit nor for parking, and it is opened 24 hours daily. #we-create #japan #architecture #kengokuma #shikoku #setoinlandsea

Largest sea castle in Japan - Imabari Castle - 今治城

Imabari Castile is located in the city center of Imabari in Shikoku. It was built in 1602-6, by Takatora Todo, and is often considered a masterpiece model for later castle building. The castle has a sea water moat that is connected to the Seto Inland Sea. This , together with the high stone wall, arr the only 2 original parts of the castle. The rest were rebuilt in the 20th century. The tenshu, in particular, is a concrete reconstruction following the design of the original. To reach the Imabari castle, you can drive or take the train to Imabari station and walk 25 minutes (less than 2km) on flat road. There is also a parking lot just across from the moat, and charges ¥100 per car per hour. The castle ground is not huge compared to other castles, but the reflection of the castle on the moat is stunning and worthy of many photos. The castle is opened daily except for the last three days of the year from 9-5pm. #castleinjapan #shikoku #japan ##cityexplorer #Imabari

Getting There - easy can take many connecting trains to fukuoka city Attractions - Canal city mall, hakata city station Hotels - hotel nest Food & Restaurants - family mart, seven-11 Shopping - Canal city mall #2023travelwish #mytripvlog #yearofrabbit #newyearadventure