A prototype or things to be?
I know that I was supposed to continue in chronological order of my latest trip to Japan in December 2022 but its hard not to want to jump ahead and talk about the ‘geekiest thing’ on this trip. Every since I heard about a ‘life sized’ original Gundam that could move and that it was there for a limited time, I knew I had to go check it out.
To catch a ferry . . .
What if I told you that there is a non-traditional way of traveling around Japan using an overnight ferry service, would you try it?
That is exactly what I did on this trip. My next stop was Kyoto and although there are many ways to go there, the most interesting option was to take an overnight ferry service from Ehime to Osaka.
The stomach grumbles - I
Wait! Where's the food pictures of the sushi, ramen and tempura? Yes, those are things that I enjoy as well but here are 5 meals that I enjoyed while in Matsuyama. Some are Japanese and some are not. You can also find great food if you know where to look
Iyo - Matsuyama Castle
Japan and castles, there are so many of them, but probably this isn't going to be the first one that everyone thinks of but it should in my opinion. Not to be confused with the other Matsuyama Castle in Okayama, this one is in Ehime Prefecture where I visited in December 2022. It is probably my new favourite castle of Japan due to its scale, beauty of the architecture and its grounds.
Dogo Onsen Shopping Arcade
I just wanted to separate this post from the original Dogo Onsen post as it was getting a little long. The area is like a mini onsen resort town as there are hotels, restaurants and souvenir stores for those staying in the area.
Dogo Onsen
One of the major attractions of Matsuyama is going to be Dogo Onsen. With a history that spans hundreds of years, the building is going to need renovations every now and then. The main building is still open for bathing but the other rooms are closed. There is also 'Asuka no Yu' which is quite beautiful as well.