Top Things to do in Uwajima
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What to do and see in Uwajima, Japan: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Uwajima, Japan including Uwajima Castle, Michi-no-Eki Minato Oasis Uwajima Kisaiyahiroba, Yusumizugaura Terrace Field, Uwajima, Tenshaen Garden, Nametoko Valley, Warei Shrine, Sei Bunkazai Dekoboko Shindo, Nanrakuen Garden, Butsumokuji Temple.
Restaurants in Uwajima
1. Uwajima Castle
Overall Ratings
4 based on 180 reviews
Reviewed By DanL917 - Tokyo, Japan
This is the third time I've been to this castle; mainly in town for the Uwajima Festival and to see bullfighting, but I've never seen an original castle look so nice from the outside. You'd swear it was a restoration.
From the Jcastle website, this castle is rated a 4 out of 5 due to the extensive network of stone walls that surround it, so don't forget to note this, which I missed my first two times here.
Also the castle isn't really close to the train station, plus you have to hike to the top of a small mountain. I'm glad I had a rental bike. You can rent them at the JR office next to the train station, but cost is 100 yen per hour. Another tip: don't miss the roadstop down by the port area, which is where the bike comes in handy as its somewhat of a walk. Hiroba Ichiba it's called. But it's quintessential in that respect and has a good restaurant to sample the food of Uwajima. Normally you don't find roadstops that close to a city center.
And BTW, the Uwajima Festival on July 22-24 is well worth it. Never seen floats carried so far across town at any festival, plus no crowds outside of the shopping arcade (where the parade begins at the Bus Center there). Since the floats are carried from there to the train station and to Warei Shrine (something like 2 km), you can find yourself alongside the road with nobody next to you, as you take pics. The police stop traffic for the floats.
One interesting aspect of the parade is a float that is carried entirely by women! Never seen this before in a festival. On top of that, the women are all what I now call Uwajima Bijin; young girls in kimonos with a flower in their hair. They were all very pretty and young. Carrying a float and perspiring in the July heat. Imagine!
2. Michi-no-Eki Minato Oasis Uwajima Kisaiyahiroba
Overall Ratings
4 based on 55 reviews
Reviewed By DanL917 - Tokyo, Japan
Most tourists to Japan who travel by train or bus are not able to experience the wonderful world of Michi No Ekis, or roadstops in Japan. Only those who travel via rental car have access, since the roadstops are usually well out in the countryside, or alongside mountain roads, or strung along the coastline. If you head to the port area of Uwajima, you will find a classic road stop which has a fruit and vegetable market, a Fish Market, and a restaurant where you can sample the local delicacies. Obentos are also sold, although the selection at this road stop wasn't as extensive as some I've seen.
This road stop isn't THAT close to Uwajima Station. It's about 2 km away so it's best to have a rental bike. One of my favorite foods I tried at Kochi is a kind of fish similar to a lionfish that is split and deep fried to a delectable crisp, so you can eat everything but the center bone. The last two times I visited Kochi it was nowhere to be seen at the Fish Market there, but I saw the cooked fish here at the roadstop in Uwajima - what a treat! On the day I visited during the Uwajima Festival, they were also selling plump, fried oysters - quite unusual for summer, however I did not partake of them as I was saving my hunger for lunch. Outside in the parking lot, there was a tent where they were grilling fresh unagi over the charcoal. Quite pricey at 2000 yen per fish, but they were delicious! Perhaps they are only sold during the festival.
For lunch, I ate a sea bream don (which the area is known for), which contained several slices of white sea bream meat over rice. The restaurant at the road stop there is quite unusual: you buy a ticket but the dish is sold at one of four counters so you have to be sure you go to the right counter to cash out the ticket. Meals you can get at roadstops are often budget priced, so it's a good way of sampling the local cuisine w/o breaking the bank. I did eat a traditional Uwajima set meal at a restaurant in town but that set me back 2400 yen. You can also eat katsuo dishes at the roadstop, which Kochi is known for, as well as the ubiquitous ramen.
This roadstop is well worth a visit, and which is why most my travels now throughout Japan are via rental car, mainly to hit all the roadstops along the way. This is one roadstop you can visit w/o a rental car.
3. Yusumizugaura Terrace Field
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By Sunny M - Singapore
We were recommended this attraction by the Tourist Information Centre at the
Uwajima Road Station Minato Oasis Uwajima Kisaiyahiroba in town and we decided to pay it a visit.
From Uwajima, the GPS took us along national expressways 37, 345 and 346. We were out on a lovely afternoon and the coastal drive was beautiful. We were rewarded by wonderful views of the bay and the sea as we drove.
The attraction itself shows the way farmers harvest the land, terraced farming, on whatever little land they have, on the hill slope. There is just a short walk up, from the right side further away from the information office.
4. Uwajima
Overall Ratings
4 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By Neko4515 - Takamatsu, Japan
宇和島名物の鯛めしを食べるだけでも訪問する価値があります。皆様が香川県にうどんを食べるためだけに訪問してくださっているように、私は鯛めしを食べるためだけに宇和島を訪問したこともあるくらいです。
ただし、きらゆきさんの投稿のとおり定休日にはご注意。前回は「とみや」さんに行きたかったのですが、定休日でした。残念、また行かなくては。
最後に、私はジャコ天が嫌いでした。でも、宇和島近辺のジャコ天は別物で、美味しい一品でした。普段、香川で食べていたものはなんだったのでしょうか。嫌いな人間が好きになってしまうのだから、相当な一品ですよ。
5. Tenshaen Garden
Overall Ratings
4 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By Shinichi H - Uwajima, Japan
Tenshaen Garden (天赦園) is a lovely mid-sized Japanese garden located southwest of Uwajima Castle. It was built in 1866 as a recreational venue by the ruling lord from the Date Clan.
This japanese garden is very near from my pad, maybe, a couple of blocks away. I spent my afternoon here last Monday, Reading a travel book. The lake was awesome, with Koi fish swimming around. An old man was playing his harmonica while I was there, and, I enjoyed the free show.
The entrance is only 300 yen and I was given an english literatures about the history of the garden. Some information about the nature living inside the garden was is also written.
6. Nametoko Valley
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Shinichi H - Uwajima, Japan
I joined a Nametoko Fest 2014 and I signed for a guided trekking. The guide doesnt speak English but it is ok. We went trekking and it was awesome. Super clean and I can hear the birds sing! Then we saw the sight for canyoning and it was breathtaking!
There are other activities here as well. There is a hotel and coffee shop nearby.
The location is only accessible by car but if you book a hotel, they can pick you up at the train station.
My friend with a car brought me there and I took a taxi to the nearest train station going home. I paid around 4000yen for that taxi ride.
But the experience trekking and canyoning was awesome!
7. Warei Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By Paul v
Great location with a bridge before. we where there during the festival so there where a lot of extra decorations including the Bulls. Temple itself is not big but also a nice one.
8. Sei Bunkazai Dekoboko Shindo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By himahami - 横浜
多賀神社の小さな鳥居をくぐって 薄暗い中を通り過ぎてずっと奥に進むと 明るいところに出た先に 立派な凸凹神堂の建物がありました。
9. Nanrakuen Garden
Overall Ratings
4 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By takki2 - Las Vegas, Nevada
It is a rather original garden because of the abundance of bamboos of various kinds, and a gorgeous wisteria bridge. I really enjoyed strolling through it.
10. Butsumokuji Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Chook1 - Sydney, Australia
We are using a combination of public transport and walking to visit some of the 88 Temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. We went to Temple 42 (Butsumokuji) and walked backwards to Temple 41 (Ryukoji). We took the bus to Butsumokuji bus stop from Uwajima bus station. The buses are limited so be sure to check the timetables before you set out. We caught the 11am bus for the small bus station near Japan Post next to Uwajima Castle. It stopped at Uwajima Train Station if that's more convenient. Staff made sure we got the right bus and that the driver knew where we were headed. The bus stop is right in front of the Temple - no way you can lose your way. Our photos summarise the visit with a wonderful Autumn display.
After, we walked back to Ryukoji - an easy walk of about 3kms - look for the turn off to the left. We made it back to Muden Station on the Yodo line to connect with the 2:14pm train back to Uwajima. Again, this is rural Japan so check your timetables to make sure you are not sitting for hours on a small station.
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