Imabari, Ehime: Towels, a Sea Castle and the Shimanami Kaido

I grew up in Ozu, in southern Ehime, and Imabari is the other end of the prefecture: a port city facing the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Most visitors pass straight through on the Shimanami Kaido. Stop for a day and you will find a castle, a towel industry with a story, and some of the strongest tidal currents in Japan. This guide uses official information checked in October 2026.

In this guide

• Why visit Imabari
• Getting to Imabari
• From Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima at a glance
• Getting around
• A walk around central Imabari
• Imabari Castle
• Imabari towels
• The Kurushima Strait
• Oshima and Omishima
• What to eat
• Starting the Shimanami Kaido
• A one-day ride from Imabari
• Ferries from Imabari Port
• Events and football
• Imabari through the year
• Where Imabari fits in a Shikoku or Setouchi trip
• Where to stay
• Sample itineraries
• What a day costs
• Families and rainy days
• Practical information
• Useful Japanese
• Frequently asked questions
• Plan the rest of your trip

Why visit Imabari

Imabari sits on the northern coast of Ehime, where Shikoku comes closest to the islands that lead to Honshu. Three things define it:

• Towels. Imabari makes about 60% of the towels produced in Japan, and the “Imabari Towel” brand has become a byword for quality.
• The sea. The city looks out on the Kurushima Strait, one of Japan’s three great fast-current waters, and on the islands once controlled by the Murakami sea clan, now a Japan Heritage story.
• The bridges. The Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge starts here, and the Shimanami Kaido cycling route runs 70-odd kilometers across the islands to Onomichi.

It is also a practical stop: a good place to sleep before or after riding the Shimanami Kaido, or to break a journey between Okayama and Matsuyama.

Getting to Imabari

By train

The Japan Rail Pass and the ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass cover JR trains to Imabari, but not buses. From spring 2027, JR plans to make the Shiokaze all-reserved. You can buy the ALL SHIKOKU Rail Pass on Klook.

By bus across the Shimanami Kaido

• Shimanami Liner (Fukuyama ⇄ Imabari): about 1 hour 35 minutes, 17 runs each way, ¥3,300 (¥2,970 if you pay online), stopping on the islands. Since October 1, 2026 every run is reservation-based (you can still board without a booking if there are free seats), and transport IC cards are no longer accepted. A new early-morning direct bus leaves Imabari Station at 5:50 on weekends and holidays (arriving Fukuyama 7:10), and the Imabari Sanbashi (ferry pier) stop has been discontinued on this line.
• Shimanami Liner (Hiroshima ⇄ Imabari): three runs a day each way, about 2 hours 50 minutes, ¥4,200 (¥7,600 round trip); reserved seats, bookable from one month before, and no bicycles. On the timetable revised in March 2024, buses leave Imabari Sanbashi (the ferry pier) at 8:40, 11:37 and 17:52, and Hiroshima Bus Center at 7:50, 15:10 and 19:10. Unlike the Fukuyama line, this line still uses the Imabari Sanbashi stop.
• From Onomichi: there is no direct bus from Onomichi Station; change from the Shimanami Liner to an Innoshima–Onomichi bus.

Long-distance buses

• Osaka and Kobe: the “Ishizuchi Liner” runs from Imabari to Kobe (¥5,500) and Osaka (¥5,800), with higher night fares, in about six hours; all seats reserved, sales from one month before at 9:00, with 2% off when you pay online by card. Check the current timetable.
• Tokyo: the “Pirates” overnight bus to Shibuya takes about 12 hours, from ¥11,000 off-peak to ¥16,000 at peak, with three-across seats, a toilet and Wi-Fi.
• Matsuyama Airport: a reservation-only limousine runs three times a day to Imabari Station in about 85 minutes (¥2,500).
• Matsuyama city: a Setouchi Bus express also links Imabari Station and central Matsuyama (¥1,300).

By ferry

Overnight Orange Ferry passengers from Osaka arriving at Toyo port can take a free connecting bus to Imabari (about 50 minutes; ferry ticket required, no bicycles). Note that Osaka-to-Toyo sailings are suspended from October 20 to November 2, 2026. Imabari Port also has local boats to the islands, including Omishima and Innoshima.

From Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima at a glance

Getting around

• To the castle: about 22 minutes on foot (1.7 km) from JR Imabari Station, or a short Setouchi Bus ride (¥140) and a walk.
• To the Kurushima Strait Observatory (Itoyama): take the “Koura/Ohama” bus from Imabari Station to “Tenbodai iriguchi” (departures at 8:55, 10:25 and 13:20 every day, plus 15:52 and 17:55 except Sundays and holidays). Buses back to the station leave “Tenbodai iriguchi” at 9:17, 10:47 and 13:42, plus 16:14 and 18:17 except Sundays and holidays.
• Bicycles: Shimanami Rental Cycle at Imabari Station and at Itoyama rents cross bikes (¥3,000 a day), electric-assist bikes (¥4,000) and e-bikes (¥8,000), open 8:00–19:00 from March to November and 8:00–18:00 in winter. There is also a GIANT store inside JR Imabari Station (9:00–19:00, closed Tuesdays).
• Luggage: coin lockers at JR Imabari Station are available 24 hours (large ¥500 for 3 hours, ¥1,500 for 24 hours), and JR West’s pikuraku smart lockers are there too.
• Tourist information: inside the cycling terminal in front of Imabari Station. The Imabari District Tourism Association office is on the 3rd floor of the Minato Koryu Center at Katahara-machi 1-100-3 (0898-22-0909, weekdays 8:30–17:15).

A walk around central Imabari

Central Imabari is flat and easy to explore on foot in a morning.

1. Imabari Station: pick up maps at the tourist information desk in the cycling terminal in front of the station, and leave bags in the coin lockers if you need to.
2. Imabari Castle (about 22 minutes on foot): walk around the sea-water moats first, then go up the keep for the view over the port and the islands.
3. The port area: the Minato Koryu Center by Imabari Port houses the tourism association’s office, and boats to the islands leave from the piers nearby.
4. Towel shopping: the Imabari Towel shop in Imabari Kokusai Hotel is about 10 minutes on foot from the station (closed Wednesdays); the main shop and its café are a short taxi ride away.
5. Lunch: yakibuta tamago meshi at one of the shops listed by the tourism association.

In the afternoon, head out to Itoyama by bus or bike for the strait, or over the bridge to Oshima.

Imabari Castle

Imabari Castle was built by Todo Takatora, one of the great castle builders of the early Edo period, on flat land right by the sea, and its wide moats are filled with sea water. Today the site has a keep, the Yamazato and Bugu turrets and the Kurogane gate. The keep is a modern reconstruction that houses exhibits, including new acquisitions on its 4th floor, and a viewing deck, with the islands of the Shimanami Kaido spread out to the north.

In autumn 2026 the castle holds a special exhibition on Todo Takatora and his son Takayoshi and their bond with Toyotomi Hidenaga (September 19 to November 29), and a new goshuin (castle stamp) has been sold since July 1, 2026. Todo Takatora also left his mark on Ozu and on the first castle at Uwajima, so castle lovers can follow him around Ehime.

Imabari towels

Imabari’s towel industry is about 130 years old. In 2006 the industry relaunched its brand with the art director Kashiwa Sato, and today only towels that pass strict standards may carry the Imabari Towel mark. The best-known test is the “five-second rule”: a piece of the towel floated on water must start to sink within five seconds, proof that it absorbs water well. Imabari produces about 60% of Japan’s domestic towels.

Where to shop and learn

• Imabari Towel Honten (main shop): Higashimon-cho 5-14-3, about 10 minutes by taxi from JR Imabari, open 9:30–18:00 daily except over New Year, with the imabari towel CAFÉ inside (last order 17:30) and a LAB next door.
• Imabari Kokusai Hotel shop: about 10 minutes on foot from JR Imabari, currently open 10:30–19:00, closed Wednesdays.
• Matsuyama Airport shop: on the 1st floor, 8:00–19:00, handy for last-minute gifts.
• Towel Museum (Ichihiro): a towel-themed museum and shop at Asakura-kami-ko 2930, in the Asakura area, open year-round 9:30–18:00 (gallery last entry 30 minutes before closing). Some older guides say it closed; its official site shows it open.
• Also: Texport Imabari, where you can learn about and buy towels, and Kontex Towel Garden Imabari, a shop in a brick towel factory about 80 years old.

The city holds an annual Towel Fair in October (the 57th was on October 17–18, 2026). Towels make a light, useful souvenir, and a good one is something you will use every day.

The Kurushima Strait

The Kurushima Strait, between Imabari and Oshima island, is one of Japan’s three great fast-current waters. When the tide runs, the water races through the narrow channel, and the bridge overhead gives you a sense of the scale.

Ways to experience it

• Shimanami Kurushima Kaikyo cruise: a boat of about 50 minutes from Shitadami Port on Oshima, 3–5 minutes on foot from the roadside station Yoshiumi Ikiikikan. Adults ¥2,000, junior high and high school ¥1,800, elementary ¥1,000. Boats leave every 60 to 75 minutes during the station’s opening hours, with times set by the tide; book online or board if seats are free, and pay at the ticket machine at least 30 minutes before. Groups of 10 or more get 10% off; cancellations cost 20% the day before and 100% on the day, and the cruise does not run on the roadside station’s closing days.
• “Kurukuru Climb”: a tour that combines the cruise with a climb to the top of one of the bridge’s main towers, about 180 meters above the sea, for ¥8,250. Remaining 2026 dates are November 7, 8, 14 and 15 and December 5, 6, 12 and 13, in morning and afternoon sessions, for ages 12 and over (12–15 with an adult). You must be able to walk 2 km and climb stairs. Book through the Shimanami company (0898-25-7338).
• Noshima tidal-current boat: a 40-minute boat around the islet fort of the Murakami sea clan, ¥1,800 for adults, hourly from 9:00 to 15:00, closed Mondays and Tuesdays since July 2026.
• From the shore: the Kurushima Strait Observatory at Itoyama Park is free (9:00–18:00 from March to November, 9:00–17:00 in winter) and looks straight along the bridge.

Next to the observatory, the Sunrise Itoyama cyclist hotel closed on March 31, 2026 for redevelopment. The city’s plan is to reopen it with 23 rooms in winter of fiscal 2027 and add a villa wing with 20 rooms in winter of fiscal 2028. The rental-cycle terminal there is still open.

Oshima and Omishima

The nearest Shimanami islands are part of Imabari City and make easy trips from town by bus, bike or boat.

The Murakami sea clan

The islands around Imabari were the home waters of the Murakami, a seafaring clan whose story was recognized as a Japan Heritage in 2016. You can learn about them at the city’s museum on Oshima, and see the tiny island of Noshima, once one of their sea forts, from the 40-minute tidal-current boat. Knowing the story makes the strait’s currents, and the clan’s skill in navigating them, far more vivid when you are out on the water.

Oshima

• Murakami Kaizoku Museum: the city-run museum of the Murakami sea clan, whose story became a Japan Heritage in 2016. Adults ¥310, students ¥160; 9:00–17:00; closed Mondays (or the next day if Monday is a holiday) and over New Year.
• Kirosan Observatory Park: a free viewpoint designed by Kengo Kuma, with a view over the strait and the bridge. By bike it is a steep climb (about 230 meters up, with a final 300 meters at 15%).

Omishima

• Oyamazumi Shrine: the grounds are free, and the treasure hall (¥1,000) holds about 80% of the armor and weapons in Japan designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties, including Japan’s oldest surviving armor from the mid-Heian period. Check opening hours before you go (0897-82-0032).
• Hakata Salt: the salt factory on Omishima offers free tours.
• Getting there: buses link Miyaura Port on Omishima with Imabari Station in about 68 minutes (¥1,340 since October 1, 2026). The roadside station next to the shrine has a tourist information desk.

What to eat

Imabari yakitori

In most of Japan, yakitori means skewered chicken grilled over charcoal. In Imabari, it means chicken, especially chicken skin, cooked without skewers on a thick, slightly tilted iron griddle and pressed down with a small iron weight. According to Japan’s agriculture ministry, the style was devised about 50 years ago, and the city once had more than 100 griddle-yakitori shops. Start with the skin and finish with senzanki, Imabari’s fried chicken. The agriculture ministry links the fast griddle style to Imabari’s merchants, who disliked waiting. The tourism association lists shops including Kikudori, Shinmidori Tokiwa, Toribayashi, Izakaya Nagatsuki and Yakitori Maruya; check opening hours before you go.

Yakibuta tamago meshi

Imabari’s local rice bowl: rice covered with slices of braised pork and two soft fried eggs, finished with a sweet soy-based sauce. Shops listed by the tourism association include Hakurakuten Imabari Honten, Hakuryu, Daikokuya Hanten, Rairaiken and Kurumaya Shokudo. It is filling and a perfect refuel after a day on the bike.

Taimeshi and more from Ehime

Imabari is in the north of Ehime, where taimeshi traditionally means sea bream cooked with the rice; in the south, around Uwajima near where I grew up, it is raw sea bream over rice. Try both on a longer trip through the prefecture. See our Matsuyama and Ehime guide.

Starting the Shimanami Kaido

Imabari is the Shikoku end of the Shimanami Kaido, the cycling route that crosses six islands and seven bridges to Onomichi in Hiroshima. Many riders start here and finish in Onomichi, or ride a section and come back by bus or boat.

• Bicycle tolls on the route are free until March 31, 2028.
• Rentals are available at Imabari Station and at Itoyama, by the bridge, where the route climbs onto the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge.
• On weekends and holidays, some local trains between Matsuyama and Iyo-Saijo via Imabari carry bikes without bagging (the “Ehime Shimanami Rin Rin Train”, until February 28, 2027).
• Luggage: a Sagawa hands-free service sends cyclists’ bags for ¥2,200 a bag.
• By boat: on weekends in October and November 2026, a seasonal “Cycle Ship” links Onomichi, Setoda and Imabari.

Our full Shimanami Kaido cycling guide covers routes, bikes and timing, and our Onomichi guide the other end.

A one-day ride from Imabari

If you only have one day, you do not need to ride all the way to Onomichi. A loop of the nearest islands gives you the best of the Imabari end:

1. Imabari Station: rent an electric-assist bike (¥4,000 a day), which makes the bridge approaches far easier.
2. Itoyama: ride to the Kurushima Strait Observatory and climb the spiral ramp onto the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge.
3. Oshima: cross the bridge to Yoshiumi Ikiikikan and take the Kurushima Kaikyo cruise from Shitadami Port (about 50 minutes, ¥2,000), timed to the tide.
4. Kirosan Observatory Park: if you have the legs, climb about 230 meters for the view back over the strait.
5. Murakami Kaizoku Museum: on the far side of Oshima, if you have time (closed Mondays).
6. Back to Imabari: ride back across the bridge and return the bike before closing (19:00 from March to November, 18:00 in winter).

Note that bicycles are not allowed on the Shimanami Liner bus to Hiroshima, even folded, and the free Orange Ferry connecting bus does not take bikes either. Check the bike rules for any bus before you plan a one-way ride.

Ferries from Imabari Port

Imabari Port is a hub for boats to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. As of April 1, 2026, regular routes included:

• A Geiyo Kisen high-speed boat to Innoshima via several small islands, four times a day.
• City ferries and high-speed boats to the Sekizen islands (Oge, Ko-Oge and Okamura), four times a day each.
• The Omishima Blue Line ferry to Munakata on Omishima and on to Kinoe on Osakikamijima, twice a day. Imabari to Munakata costs ¥760, plus ¥250 for a bicycle.

Bikes are allowed on most routes for an extra fee (not on the Innoshima high-speed boat). Island ferries are a relaxing way to return after a one-way ride, or to see islands off the cycling route.

Events and football

• Imabari fox wedding procession: November 23, 2026.
• Shimanami company 20th-anniversary event: November 28–29, 2026 at Yoshiumi Ikiikikan on Oshima.
• Autumn on the islands: the Oyamazumi Shrine autumn festival (October 3–4 in 2026), the Towel Fair (October) and Cycling Shimanami (October 25 in 2026) fill the calendar in October.
• FC Imabari: the city’s football club plays in J2 in 2026/27 at Asics Satoyama Stadium, which has been expanded to 8,848 seats. Home games in late 2026 include October 31 against Ventforet Kofu and November 3 against Consadole Sapporo.

Imabari through the year

Imabari is pleasant for most of the year, and autumn is especially busy with events. As examples from the 2026 calendar:

Late summer is typhoon season across Shikoku: the Japan Meteorological Agency’s averages show August and September as the months with the most typhoons approaching the island. Ferries and strait cruises stop in rough weather, so keep a spare day if you travel then.

Where Imabari fits in a Shikoku or Setouchi trip

Imabari sits where two classic routes meet: the Shimanami Kaido from Honshu and the rail line along Shikoku’s northern coast. Three ways to include it:

• Hiroshima to Matsuyama: Shimanami Liner bus from Hiroshima to Imabari (about 2 hours 50 minutes), a night in Imabari, then 35 to 41 minutes by train to Matsuyama.
• Okayama or Fukuyama into Shikoku: shinkansen to Fukuyama and the Shimanami Liner over the islands, instead of the usual train over the Seto Ohashi bridge. You see the bridges and islands on the way.
• Onomichi by bike: ride the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi, finish in Imabari and continue by train into Shikoku.

For a wider plan of the island, see our Shikoku itinerary. If you continue south through Ehime, the castle towns of Ozu and Uwajima are on the same line beyond Matsuyama.

Where to stay

Imabari is a convenient base for the Shimanami Kaido. Cyclist-friendly options include Cyclo no Ie, a guesthouse for riders (dorm ¥3,200, twin ¥7,400), and JR Clement Inn Imabari, which has rooms you can bring your bike into. The tourism association also lists hot-spring areas nearby, including Nibukawa Onsen and Yunoura Onsen. If you prefer a bigger city base, Matsuyama is 35 to 41 minutes away by train. To compare options, check Imabari hotels on Agoda.

Sample itineraries

One day in Imabari

1. Morning train from Matsuyama (35–41 minutes).
2. Imabari Castle, then lunch: yakibuta tamago meshi.
3. Afternoon: bus or bike to Itoyama for the Kurushima Strait Observatory, or over the bridge to Oshima for the strait cruise.
4. Evening: griddle yakitori in town; train back to Matsuyama or stay the night.

Two days: towels, islands and the strait

1. Day 1: the castle, the Imabari Towel main shop and café, and yakitori for dinner.
2. Day 2: bus to Omishima for Oyamazumi Shrine, then Oshima for the Murakami Kaizoku Museum and the Kurushima Strait cruise, back to Imabari.

Imabari as the start of the Shimanami Kaido

Arrive the evening before, sleep in Imabari, rent a bike at the station in the morning and ride north across the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge toward Onomichi. Send your luggage ahead.

What a day costs

A full day of castle, bike and cruise comes to about ¥10,000 before food, less with a rail pass. Bicycle tolls on the Shimanami Kaido are free until March 2028, which keeps the ride itself cheap.

Families and rainy days

With children

• Imabari Castle is free for high school students and anyone under 18.
• The Kurushima Kaikyo cruise costs ¥1,000 for elementary children, and preschoolers ride free.
• The Kurukuru Climb is for ages 12 and over (12 to 15 with an adult).
• The Murakami Kaizoku Museum charges students ¥160.

On a rainy day

• The castle keep’s exhibits, the Murakami Kaizoku Museum and Oyamazumi Shrine’s treasure hall are all indoors.
• Towel shopping is ideal in the rain: the Imabari Towel main shop and café, the Towel Museum, Texport Imabari and Kontex Towel Garden. The Towel Museum is open every day of the year from 9:30 to 18:00, so it is a reliable rainy-day stop.
• Strait cruises and bike rides are best saved for a dry day; boats depend on weather and tide.

Practical information

• IC cards: the Shimanami Liner no longer accepts transport IC cards (from September 30, 2026), so carry cash or book online.
• Bus bookings: Setouchi Bus reported unauthorized access to the “Hassha Orai Net” highway-bus booking site in October 2026; if you prefer, book at the counter.
• Taxes: Ehime had no accommodation tax as of October 2026; hot-spring lodgings charge a bathing tax.
• Data: route apps and bus times are easier with data; Airalo’s Japan eSIM installs before you fly.
• Language: English is less common than in big cities; a few useful phrases are below.

Useful Japanese

For more, see our essential Japanese phrases.

Frequently asked questions

Is Imabari worth visiting? Yes, for a day or a night, especially if you are riding the Shimanami Kaido. It has a sea-moated castle, the towel industry, the Kurushima Strait and two local dishes you will not find elsewhere.

How do I get from Matsuyama to Imabari? By JR limited express (Shiokaze or Ishizuchi) in 35 to 41 minutes for ¥1,840 with a non-reserved seat, or by local train in about 1 hour 20 minutes for ¥1,080.

How do I get from Hiroshima or Fukuyama to Imabari? By the Shimanami Liner bus: about 2 hours 50 minutes from Hiroshima (¥4,200) or about 1 hour 35 minutes from Fukuyama (¥3,300). The Fukuyama line is reservation-based from October 1, 2026.

How much is Imabari Castle? ¥520 for adults, with free entry for high school students and under 18s. Open 9:00–17:00.

Where can I buy Imabari towels? At the Imabari Towel main shop (9:30–18:00), the shop in Imabari Kokusai Hotel, the Towel Museum, and the Imabari Towel shop at Matsuyama Airport.

Is the Towel Museum open? Yes. Its official site shows it open year-round from 9:30 to 18:00.

Can I see the Kurushima Strait currents up close? Yes, on the cruise from Oshima (¥2,000, about 50 minutes), whose departure times follow the tides, or from the Kurushima Strait Observatory at Itoyama.

Is Sunrise Itoyama open? No. It closed on March 31, 2026 for redevelopment and is planned to reopen in winter of fiscal 2027. The rental-cycle terminal next door is open.

What should I eat in Imabari? Griddle-cooked Imabari yakitori, especially chicken skin, and yakibuta tamago meshi, a rice bowl with braised pork and fried eggs.

Can I take my bike on the bus from Imabari? Not on the Shimanami Liner to Hiroshima (even folded) or on the free Orange Ferry connecting bus. Many island ferries take bikes for an extra fee, and on weekends and holidays some local trains between Matsuyama and Iyo-Saijo carry unbagged bikes.

Is there luggage storage at Imabari Station? Yes. Coin lockers are available 24 hours (large ¥500 for 3 hours or ¥1,500 for 24 hours), and JR West’s pikuraku smart lockers are there too. Cyclists can also send bags with Sagawa’s hands-free service (¥2,200 a bag).

Is Imabari a good day trip from Matsuyama? Yes. The limited express takes 35 to 41 minutes, so you can see the castle, shop for towels and take a strait cruise in a day.

What is the Kurukuru Climb? A tour that combines a Kurushima Strait cruise with a climb to the top of a main tower of the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge, about 180 meters above the sea. It costs ¥8,250, runs on selected weekends, and is for ages 12 and over; you must be able to walk about 2 km and climb stairs.

Where does the Shimanami Kaido start in Imabari? Most riders rent bikes at Imabari Station or at Itoyama, by the foot of the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge, where a ramp leads up onto the bridge’s cycle path. From there the route heads north over the islands to Onomichi.

Is Imabari Castle an original castle? The site and its sea-water moats date from the castle Todo Takatora built, but the keep you climb today is a modern reconstruction with exhibits and a viewing deck. The turrets and gate on the site add to the atmosphere.

Do I need to book the Shimanami Liner? On the Fukuyama line, all runs are reservation-based from October 1, 2026, though you can board without a booking if seats are free. The Hiroshima line has reserved seats, bookable from one month before. Booking ahead is wise on weekends.

How do I get from Imabari to Omishima and Oyamazumi Shrine? By bus from Imabari Station to Miyaura Port on Omishima, about 68 minutes (¥1,340 since October 1, 2026), or by ferry from Imabari Port to Munakata on Omishima (¥760, plus ¥250 for a bicycle). By bike, the Shimanami Kaido route crosses the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge, Oshima and Hakatajima before reaching Omishima.

Plan the rest of your trip

• Shimanami Kaido cycling guide
• Onomichi guide
• Shikoku itinerary: 5 to 7 days
• Matsuyama and Ehime travel guide
• Dogo Onsen guide
• Ozu travel guide
• Uwajima travel guide
• Hiroshima and Miyajima guide

Sources: Imabari City (Imabari Castle, Murakami Kaizoku Museum, port and bus information); Imabari District Tourism Association; Imabari Towel Japan; Towel Museum; Setouchi Bus (Shimanami Liner, Ishizuchi Liner, Pirates); Shimanami Co. (Kurushima Kaikyo cruise, Kurukuru Climb); Japan Bridge and Highway Authority; Oyamazumi Shrine; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries regional cuisine database; FC Imabari; Orange Ferry; Travel Voice (Sunrise Itoyama); route searches for train and bus fares (checked October 2026). Prices and hours change; if you spot something out of date, please let us know.

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About the Author

Jack

I'm Jack, the writer behind Japan Real Guide. I'm from Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku and live in Osaka. Work takes me around Japan regularly, and I go home to Ehime often, so the guides here come from living in the country, not visiting it. Prices, ticket rules and opening hours are checked against official sources, and every guide shows when it was last updated.