Matsuyama, a small city famous for its hot springs, seafood, and noodles!!
This summer vacation, I went to Matsuyama, a small city in the center of Ehime Prefecture, my Japanese friend's hometown. When I called my friend to go to the hot springs in this hot weather and made a travel plan, I wondered if it was right... but after experiencing delicious food, enjoyable hot spring culture, and sightseeing, I thought it was a very good trip.
Matsuyama City is very close to the airport, so it is a very convenient area where you can get to the city center in 20-30 minutes by bus or 20 minutes by taxi. Also, Okaido, the city center, and Dogo Onsen, Matsuyama's representative tourist attraction, are connected by a tram, so if you figure out the route well, you can go and play without waiting too long. The tram is a bit narrow and the route is hard to figure out, but if you think of it as romantic, you can say that it is a city that is full of the charm of a small Japanese city.
There are many famous foods, the most famous of which is sea bream. Matsuyama, where you can eat a variety of sea bream dishes such as sea bream rice bowl and sea bream broth ramen, is famous for its seafood, so there are many great restaurants for those who like sashimi or fish dishes, so you can eat delicious food every time. Also, Imabari-style yakitori, famous in Imabari City, is a dish that you eat by pouring a unique sauce, so it is a menu that I definitely recommend if you crave meat after eating seafood. Lastly, there is a famous nabeyaki udon restaurant in Matsuyama. If you go to Kotori, you can enjoy the best udon dish with a simple but amazing broth and chewy udon noodles, so I recommend going there if you have the chance.
Since tangerines are also famous, they sell a variety of juices, so when you look at the souvenir section, I recommend trying and buying various types of tangerine juice.
Matsuyama is a small city that is clean and well-mixed with nature, with clean air. If you want to enjoy hot springs and delicious food, definitely go in the fall or winter... It was such a satisfying trip that I want to go there again with my family or girlfriend next time. Let's go on a trip, Matsuyama City~! #Matsuyama #DogoOnsen #JapaneseSmallCityTravel #Ehime