2025 Niihama Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in April)

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] You can eat authentic udon in Ehime! Himi Udon! The owner trained in Kagawa Prefecture, the home of udon, to master the essence of Sanuki udon, and learned the traditional udon manufacturing method (^^) The soft but elastic noodles are the best (^^) The udon soup is based on dried sardines! It's very delicious (^^) Please go and check it out! [Location] 5-63-1 Go, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] About 17 minutes on foot from Niihama Station exit About 36 minutes on foot from Takihama Station exit #Spring 0 yen trip

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] The god who controls the source of the Kokuryo River! Ryuga Shrine ⛩️🐉 Ryuga Shrine enshrines Takaogami no Kami and Tatsukowake no Miko (^^) Takaogami is the so-called dragon god. The god who controls the source of the Kokuryo River (^^)!!! ! ! ! It seems that the name of Tatsukowake no Miko has a very deep connection to the name of the shrine and the place name Besshi. The shrine was founded very long ago, so the date is unknown! (^^) This area is called Tatsukawa, but since the names of Tatsukawa Bridge and Tatsukawa Shrine remain, it is thought that it was written as Tatsukawa or Tatsukawa in the past (^^) The shrine forest of Ryuga Shrine is a natural monument (^^) [Location] 496-1 Tatsukawa-cho, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture #0 yen trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Beautiful strolling garden! Jigenji Temple (^^) The garden of Jigenji Temple is a strolling garden with a teahouse and gazebo arranged around a pond ^ ^ In spring, the flowers of the carefully tended plants bloom all at once! In autumn, every year from mid-November to the end of the month, Jigenji Temple holds a fall foliage festival, where parishioners play the koto and flute, and serve matcha and amazake (^^) [Location] 2-16-47 Nishino Doi-cho, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] About 20 minutes on foot from the Niihama Station exit About 57 minutes on foot from the Nakahagi Station exit #0 Yen Trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime] Unique Hydrangea Road! (^^) Hydrangeas are a seasonal feature of the rainy season! (^^) "Hydrangea Road Yamada" in Yamada-cho, Niihama City! About 7,000 hydrangeas bloom over a distance of about 1 kilometer, attracting visitors! You can also see unique stuffed animals along with the hydrangeas (^^) [Location] 10-30 Yamada-cho, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] Bus stop Minamitaka Iriguchi / About 8 minutes on foot from Setouchi Bus Bus stop Nakamura 4-chome / About 9 minutes on foot from Setouchi Bus Bus stop Hirose Park / About 12 minutes on foot from Setouchi Bus #0 Yen Trip February 2025

Playground equipment! Feeding carp! Interacting with animals! Since its opening in October 1956, this park has been a representative park in Niihama City, loved by many visitors for its recreational activities, its opportunity to interact with nature and animals, and its relaxing space and time. The park has been loved for about 60 years since its opening, and in order to further improve its appeal and provide new services to park users, a renovation project has been carried out since 2019. #0 yen trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] The Akagane Museum is a comprehensive cultural facility located in front of Niihama Station that opened in July 2015 (^^) "Akagane" means copper, and the exterior walls of the building are covered with copper plates that match the curves! On the first floor, there is the "Taikodai Museum" which displays the real Taikodai, a specialty of Niihama, and the "Theater" where you can experience the realism of the Taiko Festival, as well as the "Niihama Gallery" which introduces the history, climate, and nature of Niihama, exhibition and creative spaces, studios, etc. In the basement, there is the multi-purpose hall "Akaganeza", which is used for cultural activities by citizens (^^) The second floor is the "Niihama City Museum of Art" with two exhibition rooms and a citizens' gallery, and special exhibitions are held several times a year! #0 yen trip February 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] The world's largest giant planetarium and life-sized dinosaurs are popular! Ehime Prefectural Science Museum (^^) A hands-on museum with three permanent exhibition rooms, the Nature Museum, the Science and Technology Museum, and the Industry Museum, as well as one of the world's largest (30m in diameter) giant planetariums (^^) Fun for all ages and genders! (^^) The most popular corner is the life-sized dinosaur robot in the Nature Museum on the 4th floor! (^^) It moves every 15 minutes (^^) There is 3D art, and there are also exhibits of dinosaur eggs and bones (^^) [Location] 2133-2 Ojoin, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] Bus stop Sakuragi / About 18 minutes on foot from Setouchi Bus Bus stop Yahatama-mae (Saijo City) / About 21 minutes on foot from Setouchi Bus Bus stop Uzuibashi / About 23 minutes on foot from Setouchi Bus [Parking] Available. Free! [Opening hours] 9:00-17:30 [Closed] Monday #Free hotel stay

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Minetopia Besshi, a mine theme park built on the former site of the Besshi Copper Mine! (^ ^) It is also a roadside station, attracting many tourists (^^) Within the large grounds, there is a day spa facility "Besshi Onsen - Tenku no Yu" and an indoor children's play facility "Akagane Kids Park", making it a tourist spot that can be enjoyed by three generations, from children to adults (^^)! In the main building, there is a shop and restaurant selling local specialties, as well as "Hadeba Station", a mine railway that is a restoration of a railway dedicated to mountain mines. You can also ride the mine tourist train and visit the tourist tunnels where the history of "Besshi Copper Mine" is reproduced with dioramas and videos (^^) There are also tourist facilities such as a gold dust pit! [Location] 707-3 Tachikawa-cho, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] The best way to get there is by car! Bus stop Minetopia Besshi / 2 min walk from Setouchi Bus Bus stop Hatadeba / 7 min walk from Setouchi Bus Bus stop Onsenguchi / 16 min walk from Setouchi Bus [Parking] Available. Free. #FreeHotelStay

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Bronze statue of Hirose Saihei, who established the foundation for the development of the Sumitomo Zaibatsu! (^^) Like the bronze statue of Kusunoki in front of the Imperial Palace, it was commissioned by Sumitomo and made by Takamura Koun of Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo University of the Arts), but it was donated during the war and only the pedestal remains (^^) After that, in 2003, the bronze statue of Hirose Saihei was restored. The wooden model of the bronze statue was kept at Tokyo University of the Arts, so four sisters, descendants of Hirose Saihei, provided funds and commissioned Tokyo University of the Arts to create it, which was completed and donated to Niihama City (^^) #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A charming park! Hirose Park (^^)!! A park centered around an artificial pond (Tameike) made for irrigation water (^^) Saihei Hirose, who created this pond, served as manager of Besshi Copper Mine during the turbulent period of the Meiji Restoration, and later became the first general director of the Sumitomo family (^^) Hirose Saihei's former home is located in Hirose Park, and after renovation work, the Hirose residence and the newly built memorial hall were opened to the public at the end of April 1997 as the Hirose Historical Memorial Museum (^ ^) [Location] 2-10-42 Uehara, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture 792-0046 #0 Yen Trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Follow the footsteps of a Meiji era business leader at the Hirose Saihei Memorial Museum! (^^) During the turbulent times of the late Edo and Meiji eras, Hirose Saihei protected the Besshi Copper Mine from government seizure and sale due to financial difficulties by Sumitomo, and promoted its modernization (^^) He also devoted himself to fostering our country's industry and contributed to the development of the nation! Through Saihei's footsteps, we trace the origins of Niihama and the history of modern Japanese industry. The memorial museum has many exhibits that trace Saihei's achievements through documents and videos from that time! (^^) #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Nationally designated important cultural property! Hirose Memorial House 🏠 (^^) It was built in the Meiji era as the former residence of Hirose Saihei, who fostered modern industry in Japan and established the foundation of the Sumitomo Group (^^) It is a valuable building that incorporates Western culture throughout, and is a nationally designated important cultural property, and the garden is a nationally designated place of scenic beauty (^^) [Location] 2-10-42 Uehara, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] Bus stop Hirose Park / About 6 minutes walk from Setouchi Bus Bus stop Nakamura 4-chome / About 11 minutes walk from Setouchi Bus Bus stop Minami Taka Iriguchi / About 14 minutes walk from Setouchi Bus #0 Yen Trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Besshi Onsen ♨️Tenku no Yu♨️(^^)!!! The former "Healthy Land Besshi" reopened on April 15, 2016 as a tourist exchange facility (a complex of hot spring facilities and children's play facilities) (^^) The whole family can play and relax in the hot springs! There are jet baths, saunas, open-air baths (carbonated springs/oxygen springs), and more! (^^)!!! There is also a bedrock bath, but it costs extra (^^)!!! [Location] 707-3 Tachikawa-cho, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture #0 Yen Trip January 2025

🇯🇵【Ehime Prefecture】Here is the museum where you can meet moving dinosaurs🦕! 🦖 Impressive dinosaurs🦕🦖 They move every 15 minutes! There are various events and it's fun (^^) Dinosaur exercises are also held (^^) Let's all dance together! 【Location】 2133-2 Ojoin, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, 792-0060 【Opening hours】 9:00-17:30 (entry until 17:00) 【Closed】 Mondays (If the Monday falls on a national holiday or substitute holiday, the following day) *However, the museum is open on the first Monday of each month and closed the following Tuesday. New Year's holidays (December 29th to January 1st, 2024) *Open during spring and summer holidays #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A famous product representing the Shikoku route! Attached candy! (^^) The fourth generation Ochi Shinichi came up with the idea to praise and spread the word about the Besshi Copper Mine, which was the foundation of the development of the local Niihama city, and which continued for about 280 years from the 4th year of Genroku (1604) until it closed in March 1973. He thought that promoting Niihama city, the only industrial city in Shikoku, by praising it and spreading it to the world, was a way to promote local products and attract tourists, so he gave the title of "Besshi" to the milk candy products. ^ ^ Therefore, from the early days, when it was a local product called "Iyoji Besshi Candy", today, with the opening of the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, which connects the Honshu-Shikoku Bridges, it is a "Seto Inland Sea tourist souvenir" and a famous product representing the Shikoku route! [Location] 2-6-5 Go, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, 792-0886 #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A cafe that is very popular among students! Shukutorier (^^) It's close to Niihama Station (east of the Akagane Museum) and is popular with students from both inside and outside the city! (^^) Of course it's delicious! The prices are also student-friendly (^^) And the voluminous crepes and tapioca drinks are delicious (^^) The chewy crepe dough is also the best! (^^) Please go and check it out (^^) [Location] 2-10-53 Sakai-cho, Niihama City [Access] 5 minutes walk from Niihama Station #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Marine Park! Park 🛝 Hiuchi Fureai Hiroba (^^) Hiuchi Fureai Hiroba in Marine Park (^^) There are playground equipment with a sea motif!! (^^) There are fun playground equipment such as swings and slides! There is a lawn so everyone from children to the elderly can relax (^ ^) It is a spacious park so many people come to use it on weekends (^^) Please go and check it out (^^) [Location] 3-324 Kakio, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture 792-0872 #0 yen trip January 2025

A restaurant that combines French and Italian cuisine using seasonal ingredients from Ehime Prefecture (^^)♡The sea is right in front! The restaurant has a calm atmosphere where you can dine while looking at the sea, and can be used for a wide range of purposes, from casual lunches to small business meetings (^^) In addition, there is a wine sommelier on staff, so you can enjoy wine that matches the dish (^^) [Restaurant name] Restaurant Loca [Location] 3-Otsu 324 Kakio, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] Bus stop Nishikusuzaki / About 26 minutes on foot from Setouchi bus Bus stop Kakio Karahi / About 27 minutes on foot from Setouchi bus Bus stop Kakio / About 27 minutes on foot from Setouchi bus #0 yen trip January 2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A park with a huge slide 🛝 (^^) It's a modern park (^^) It has a natural grass plaza, a complex playground, toilets and a parking lot (^^)!!! The colorful playground equipment is very popular with children! And the huge slide is the highlight (^ ^)!!! The park is spacious and has good visibility, so you can enjoy the sea breeze blowing in from the Seto Inland Sea! The gazebo where you can sit comfortably is a nice point for moms and dads too (^^) Please go and check it out (^^)!!!!!!!!!!!! #0yentravelJanuary2025

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] A spacious, free park! 🛝 Shingo Park! (^^) It's great to see colorful combination playground equipment and a full range of playground equipment for different ages (^^)!! ! ...

Besshi Copper Mine in Niihama City It's a little far away, so it's recommended to go there by car or rental car The temperature inside is constant, so it's cool in summer and warm in winter After buying a ticket, you can ride the trolley for a few minutes to the entrance of the former mine. Inside, you can see the working conditions of the time and experience digging in a mine, so it's fun for both adults and children. The tour takes about 1 to 2 hours.

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Grandma's nostalgic taste! Lunchtime! Nostalgic taste of grandma from the 1940s (^^) Lunch full of love (^^) Warm and cozy time (^^) It's on the seafront so you can eat while looking at the sea (^^) [Location] 1-8, Kanaicho, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture [Access] Bus stop Higashihama / About 19 minutes walk from Setouchi bus Bus stop Nokyo-mae / About 21 minutes walk from Setouchi bus Bus stop Gariyama / About 22 minutes walk from Setouchi bus [Opening hours] 11:00-15:30 [Closed] Sunday #0 yen trip November

I went to Minetopia Besshi, also known as the Machu Picchu of the East, in Ehime Prefecture! The tour on the trolley was a lot of fun. #0yentravelautumn 📍Address: 707-3 Tachikawa-cho, Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, 792-0846

Besshi Copper Mine in Niihama City, Ehime Prefecture, is one of the three largest copper mines in Japan, and mining took place there for 283 years from 1691 to 1973. 🧐 The total copper production was 650,000 tons, and at its peak, just under 3,000 people moved to Besshi Copper Mine, making a major contribution to the modernization of Japan during the Meiji period. 🚶♀️🚶 Currently, the remains of the mine tunnels are open to the public as a tourist attraction, and the heavy artificial structures that give a sense of history in the midst of nature create a nostalgic atmosphere, making it a popular scenic spot, and the Tonaru district is also known as the "Machu Picchu of the Orient" 📸 In addition, Minetopia Besshi, which serves as the base for tourism at Besshi Copper Mine, is a roadside station that has the starting station for the mine sightseeing train (trolley), souvenir shops, and the only restaurant at Besshi Copper Mine, so it's a spot you'll want to visit if you have time ✨ 📍#Besshi Copper Mine 📍707-3 Tachikawa-cho, Niihama City 📍15 minutes by car from JR Niihama Station 📍Please note that there are many places where there is no signal. You can also access the Tonohira area by car, but the roads are very narrow and dangerous, so we recommend taking a bus from Minetopia Besshi to the Tonohira area. #domestictrip #Besshi #coppermine #modernization #Shikoku #EhimePrefecture #NiihamaCity #heritage #solotravel