3 Day Tour: Haiku Town Matsuyama, Cycling and Glamping on the Shimanami kaido

3 Day Tour: Haiku Town Matsuyama, Cycling and Glamping on the Shimanami kaido

Feel the refreshing ocean breeze!
E-bike tour of world-renowned cycling routes

Strolling through one of Japan’s most beautiful castle sites

Enjoy only the best of the Setouchi region!

A trip to the world of haiku while visiting the hot spring resort, the majestic Matsuyama Castle, and a unique temple!

This 3-day/2-night tour will take you beyond the Golden Route!

Itinerary

Day 1: Matsuyama Castle—Ishite-ji Temple—Dogo Onsen
Day 2: Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge–-(E-cycling)—Ojima—(E-cycling)–Hakatajima—Wakka（glamping）
Day 3: Lemon picking–(E-cycling)–Omishima—Ikuchijima–(E-cycling)–Onomich

On the first day, you will visit the famous Matsuyama Castle and a unique local temple, and enjoy hot springs and delicious meals. Matsuyama is also known as a city of haiku, and you will be able to appreciate the famous haiku associated with the place as you tour around the famous spots. Why don’t you create your own haiku?
On the second day, you will set off on an E-cycling tour along the Seto Inland Sea’s the Shimanami Kaido, a sea route with beautiful islands and bridges connecting them. Enjoy active time surrounded by rich nature, such as lemon picking and glamping!

Sightseeing Spots: Day 1

How about starting your day at the castle?

Matsuyama Castle：Matsuyama Castle is one of only 12 castles in Japan that still has a castle tower built before the Edo period. The view from the castle tower is breathtaking.
If you want to enjoy the 360-degree panoramic view of the Matsuyama Plain and the Seto Inland Sea, the top floor of the castle tower is the place to be!

Matsuyama Castle is known for its ageless and elegant beauty.

We recommend the lifts and ropeways for a full 360-degree view of the city and lush nature! The lift is a great way to take your time and enjoy the scenery surrounded by the greenery of the trees. The lift is a great way to take your time and enjoy the scenery surrounded by the greenery of the trees. It’s the perfect way to climb up and feel the fresh breeze!
The ropeway will also take you up to the main castle in no time at all.

Enjoy the panoramic view from the castle tower!

Ishite-ji Temple: Kumanozan Ishite-ji Temple is located not far from Dogo Hot Spring in Matsuyama. This is the 51st temple of the 88 temples in Shikoku, and most of the buildings in the temple grounds are designated as national treasures or important cultural assets.
At this temple, you will find a mysterious tunnel, the Mantra Cave, which leads to a mysterious world that you would not expect to find inside a temple in Japan. Why don’t you visit the mysterious world beyond the tunnel?

Visit the Ishite-ji Temple and get yourself a luck and protection!

A stature invites you to the mysterious world

Dogo Onsen Hot Spring: Dogo Onsen is said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan, and is mentioned in the Chronicles of Japan. This is one of the most popular hot springs in Japan too, not only because of its elegant cityscape but also many sightseeing spots. The Dogo Onsen Honkan is a place where you can feel as if you have stepped back in time. There are also many free footbaths and day-trip baths in Dogo Onsen, so why don’t you enjoy bathing in the different baths and get smooth skin?

The Dogo Onsen Honkan, the symbol of Dogo Onsen

Hotels in Dogo Onsen Resort

Chaharu：A refined hotel with luxurious facilities. The hotel is only a minute away from the famous Dogo Onsen. The hotel’s outdoor hot spring has a stunning view of the city and the mountains. The guest rooms are chic, spotless, and very relaxing. The hotel has a restaurant that offers exquisite washoku and meat and seafood dishes. The hotel has a spacious indoor public bath as well as a bar and a relaxing lounge. High-speed internet access (WiFi) is available in all guest rooms. Awarded 4 stars by Tripadvisor.

Funaya：Funaya has a proud 390-year history and welcomes guests with courteous Japanese-style hospitality. Large elegant hotel-ryokan right next to Dogo Onsen, Funaya has its own baths, as well. The room was traditional, ample size, with a balcony sitting area. As is often the custom, a kimono-clad server was assigned to us for the 2-day stay. Many rated the food as top-notch, kaiseki . As an upscale hotel-ryokan, it awarded 4 1/2 stars by Tripadvisor.

Sightseeing Spots: Day 2

This tour will take you to areas that are normally off-limits to the public.

Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge：Cycling across the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge is extremely popular since you can ride a bicycle over a huge suspension bridge, which is rare in Japan. This is special content that can only be experienced by tour guests. The recommended course is to cross the bridge to Oshima Island. At Oshima, take a break to enjoy seafood barbecue and sweets.

E-cycling along the Shimanami Kaido Express way~Oshima, Hakata Island: The scenery is incredibly liberating, and you will surely be stunned by the sights that you would never normally see. At 65 meters to sea level, cycling at a height equivalent to a 14-story building is sure to send shivers down your spine.

the winding road speeds you up like a wind!

Glamping at WAKKA: From the cabins facing the sea, you can fully enjoy the view of Shimanami while staying inside. The rooms are decorated in a natural style, promising a relaxing time. Local meat, vegetables, fish, and even gibier (optional: wild boar meat) can be enjoyed on a BBQ that is unique to the Shimanami Sea Route. In the winter, a lobster bouillabaisse is served.

Wakka is located on the beach side of Omishima Island, which is right in the middle of the 70km Shimanami Sea Route. It promises a comfortable stay in front of the beauty of the many islands, the Tatara Bridge, and the Seto Inland Sea. From the cabins facing the sea, you can fully enjoy the view of Shimanami while staying inside. The rooms are decorated in a natural style, promising a relaxing time.

You may choose to stay in a slightly mysterious dome-shaped space. With tents that give you the feeling of camping, wooden doors with electronic locks, and air conditioning, WAKKA promises safety and comfort at all times. Experience the extraordinary in a comfortable glamping dome tent with an ocean view. Fully furnished and air-conditioned.

Sightseeing Spots: Day 3

Lemon Picking and Lunch: Picking citrus fruits grown in the Seto Inland Sea with your own hands. You can feel the nature and taste the fresh citrus. Depending on the season, other citrus fruits may be picked. Lemon: December~January, Another citrus: November~April

Lemons and citrus fruits can be seen all over the cycling route.

For lunch, you can enjoy a burger with a citrus flavor of Omishima salmon, which is produced by feeding citrus extract to silver salmon farmed at the surrounding sea.

Omishima-Ikuchijima E-cycling: Among the Shimanami Kaido, Ikuchijima is a particularly good cycling course because it is flat and easy to cycle. As you cycle along the perimeter road of Ikuchijima, you will see oddly shaped modern art pieces casually placed along the side of the bike path. On the other hand, there is the Ikuo Hirayama Museum of Art, which displays the paintings of Ikuo Hirayama, one of Japan’s most famous Japanese painters, and is a must-visit for those who love Japanese paintings.