In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Ozu
大洲
Half a day for the castle and old town, or one night in a restored merchant house. Not a base: a stop on a Shikoku loop from Matsuyama.
Ozu is a compact castle town on the Hijikawa River in western Shikoku, about an hour from Matsuyama. Its wooden-reconstruction castle, preserved merchant streets and repurposed historic buildings make it one of the most genuine Edo-period townscapes in rural Japan. Most visitors see it as a half-day detour or a single-night stay.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 大洲
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (humid), Jan–Feb (cold, few indoor options)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–9,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥10,000–16,000 excl. bed · High ¥18,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Ozu Castle entry | ¥500–800 |
| Coffee at a café in the old town | ¥400–600 |
| Lunch set at a local restaurant | ¥1,000–1,500 |
| Taxi from station to castle area | ¥1,000–1,200 |
| Bus from station to castle area, one way | ¥300 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MYJ · Matsuyama Airport
- About 1 h by bus + train to Ozu; check connections
Typical fares
- Matsuyama → Ozu, JR Yosan Line
- about ¥1,200–1,500, about 1 h (check)
- Ozu Station → castle area, taxi
- ¥1,000–1,200
- Ozu Station → castle area, bus
- about ¥300 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable old town (15 min from the station by bus or taxi). A local bus runs between the station and the castle area every 30–60 min. Taxi from the station to the castle about ¥1,000.
See and do
Known for
- Ozu Castle (wood reconstruction)
- Ohanahan Street merchant houses
- Hijikawa river scenery
- Historic lodging in restored kura
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Matsuyama | JR Yosan Line, about 1 h | 1 h 15 min |
| Uwajima | JR Yosan Line, about 40 min | 1 h |
Sleep
- Ohanahan Street / old town
- Restored merchant houses and kura; most atmospheric, limited options.
- Near Ozu Station
- Business hotels and guesthouses; convenient for train access.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| This one, please | これをくださいkore o kudasai |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the castle? | お城はどこですか？oshiro wa doko desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Castle keep closes at 16:30 or 17:00; last entry 30 min before.
- Restaurants in the old town may close by 18:00 or require reservations.
- Buses to the castle area are infrequent; check the timetable at the station.
Very safe. The main risks are slippery stone paths in wet weather and limited evening services if you stay overnight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ozu yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ozu Castle (wood reconstruction)
- Ohanahan Street merchant houses
- Hijikawa river scenery
- Historic lodging in restored kura
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ozu (Ehime), revision 5296870 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5296870
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ozu-ehime). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.