Photo: Vickerman625, Public domain.
Uwajima Castle Town
Overview
Uwajima's original castle keep and the surrounding shrines, garden, and bull-sumo arena in southwestern Ehime.
Uwajima Castle is one of twelve original castle keeps remaining in Japan, perched on a small hill above the harbor city. The surrounding district holds the Tenshaen samurai garden, the Warei and Taga shrines (the latter housing a Showa-era folk museum of fertility art), and the Uwajima Togyu bull-sumo arena. The city sits a couple of hours by limited-express train south of Matsuyama and rewards a slower-paced day.
Local tips
Bull-sumo bouts run on five fixed dates per year; check the schedule before traveling solely for the matches. The castle keep is steeply pitched, so comfortable shoes are non-negotiable.
Want to visit Uwajima Castle Town?
Build a trip to Uwajima