Uwajima



Uwajima (宇和島) is a slice of small town life on the west coast of Shikoku &mdash; nothing much out of the ordinary, if you don't count an ancient fertility shrine and the occasional sumo match between two bulls.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

By train
Uwajima is the western terminus of the JR Yosan Line (予讃線), and there are regular connections north to Matsuyama. Normal trains from Matsuyama cost ¥1810 and take 3 hours, with at least one change of trains required. The Uwakai Limited Express adds a ¥1500 surcharge, but shaves the travel time down to 75-80 minutes by not stopping at every rice paddy along the way.

Okayama is about 4 hr 15 min away via two limited express trains, the Shiokaze and the Uwakai, changing trains in Matsuyama (¥8570).

Infrequent trains on the JR Yodo Line (予土線) also connect Uwajima to Kochi, but you'll have to transfer at JR Kita-Uwajima Station, one stop north of the city center.

By bus
By remarkable coincidence, buses from Matsuyama to Uwajima also cost exactly ¥1750, but are a little faster than the regular trains.

Get around
Uwajima is fairly spread out, but the few sights of interest can be reached on foot from the center of town.



See
There are two temples within a short distance of Uwajima on the 88 Temple Pilgrimage: #41, Ryūkōji (竜光寺), and #42, Butsumokuji (佛木寺).





Do




Buy
If visiting the Taga Shrine with a partner, be sure to pick up a Yin-Yang Harmony Fortune (陰陽和合おみくじ In'yō-wagō-omikuji) to test out your sexual compatibility. For a mere ¥300, you'll receive a Japanese-language fortune describing your equipment and abilities by awarding you with a sumo wrestling rank (all hail the mighty Yokozuna!), as well as a little clay figurine graphically illustrating the coupling of said equipment.

Uwajima (and the surrounding area) is well-known for pearl farming, so you may find a bargain (relatively speaking) on pearl souvenirs here.



Eat and drink


The covered arcade running from JR Uwajima Station has the usual assemblage of restaurants and coffee shops.



Go next

 * Ainan
 * Seiyo
 * Yawatahama
 * Ozu
 * Uchiko
 * Kihoku
 * Matsuno
 * Shimanto
 * Sukumo