A unique castle where black sea bream and puffer fish swim in the moat. It was a famous castle that was supervised by Takatora Todo and whose construction was supervised by Kanpei Watanabe. I also enjoyed the many exhibits inside the venue. The view from the castle tower is also good.

Had a great time visiting Imabari Castle and Fukiage Shrine. Very cool history museum with a great view of the water and city.

While Imabari is not a particularly famous place, Imabari Castle is a very good castle. The fortifications have been reconstructed well, so you can see the exterior of the castle in its full beauty. The main draw of Imabari Castle, however, is the observation deck. Imabari is directly on the Sea of Japan and the top of the castle offers amazing views of the surrounding area. If you're in the area, it's well worth the trip.

One of the better reconstructed castles in Japan. Looks amazing from the outside when the light at dusk catches it correctly. Museum inside is fairly good and offers good views of the surrounding area especially around dusk.

This is a small castle but very nice as not so many tourist now.

Who doesn’t live to visit old castles! Imabari Castle no exception! This was worth a special visit! 40 minutes drive from Kotahara Onsen hotel, on the way to Hiroshima, it was truly a worthwhile stop! Enjoy the pictorial, not a sunny day? But it added some drama to the visit!

Well-preserved and charming castle in the centre of the town. Inside the main compound, one can go up into the keep and visit a nearby shrine. This castle has one of only a few seawater moats in all Japan, and many species of fish can be seen in the waters. Worth dropping in if nearby.

I visited it around sunset and the atmosphere was kinda magic. The castle looks magnificent in quite uninteresting surrounding. What's worth mentioning is the moat filled with sea water (connect with a channel with Imabari port). In the evening it was very charming place and quiet without many visitors (only couple of people praying). Maybe it's only during spring time, because the whole city looks a little bit deserted in the evening.

Must-visit place in Imabari. The castle is huge, gorgeous, and you get to go to the top of the main "tower". There's a student discount for the tickets to the tower, but no pics are allowed inside, only at the top observation deck.

Very nice Castle. Great outside and inside. Beautiful scenery around and very well maintained.

It’s worthy to pay a visit. I took bus for Imabari station and got off right in front of castle. The castle was defending pirates to protect people in the region.

This is a beautiful castle set within a moat that’s fed from the harbour and rises and falls with the tide. It costs 520 Yen to get in for adults. Children are free. The castle itself is fantastic, with a stunning view from the top (be prepared to walk up a lot of stairs!). Adjoining the castle is a fantastic natural history museum. It shows the local geology, along with fish, birds, plants and animals found in the area. Watch out for some impressively long seaweed and a giant clam that is truly a giant. This museum, along with the castle itself and the view from the top, is well worth a visit.

It’s just not a Towel Museum . Hear was wonderful garden peaceful environment. Before I visited, I couldn't imagine it.

This unique museum is located in a large building that is mostly filled with towel-related merchandise. The display area, while not small, almost feels secondary to the retail floors. In any case, the exhibits were well done, including a really nice Winnie the Pooh section. A nice surprise was a lovely terrace garden that includes a Cafe with a garden view and a shop with many succulents and planters for sale. Among the retail offerings within the museum building, it was impossible to find proper museum merchandise. We hoped to find a magnet or pin representing the museum but found none.

Quite a huge facility and nice place to see the art of making design towels. They have a Moomin swedish museum on top too. Have restaurant also for light refreshments.

Towel museum ?? I couldn’t believe there could be this kind of museum. Who could think of a towel can be a thing to be exhibited? Well ~ if you don’t come and visit here you’ll never know what it’s like. The scale of this museum is really huge and there’s a pretty garden outside of the museum. You get an admission ticket with a small piece of towel. This Imabari towel is well known for high-priced, high quality of towel in Japan. I was really surprised to see all those towel art works. So lovely and so amazing piece of art works are definitely attractive enough to every viewers. There are many collaboration products done with cartoon characters as well. It makes you open your wallet. You might end up spending a lot of money to buy cute and beautiful stuffs in the shop after walking around the magnificent exhibition. Great exhibition ~ The best towel products~ People of all ages including kids and adults would have a wonderful happy time here. One to be desired is that there is no public transportation to get here. The best way is to come here by a rented car. That’s why I couldn’t see many foreign tourists but the natives who come in a tour package.

You start your visit in the factory and then can see a lot of towel based creations in the museum. The towels are not a Big deal but they created a lot of things with Moomins, Hello Kitty and Walt Disney figures. Those are nice and funny and save the otherwise not so interesting place. You can of course buy a lot of stuff, including high quality towels.

A very interesting place! There are several floors, which are partly educational, partly manufactoring, partly retail. Showcased a new fabric technology on our visit today. Many character towels and products, like Hello Kitty, Snoopy, Moomin, etc. There is a nice garden with a cafe. Tax free purchases in cash only. Otherwise can accept credit cards. Remember to pay for purchases in that same department. We ended up sorting out our baskets again and went back to each department on different floors to pay. Staff excellent, though.

They have a huge collection of Made in Japan towels which are very nice and luxurious to the touch. Unfortunately the prices are beyond lots of ordinary folks. There’s also several restaurants and cafe within the complex including a Hello Kitty exhibition where you have to pay to enter.

Located in Imabari City. I originally thought it's conmected with Imabari brand but it's actually not. Cool artworks to see made with thread works but it's an hour drive from Matsuyama. I wouldn't prioritize this if there are other things you'd like to visit in Ehime. Follow Instagram: @Japan.47Prefectures for more finds

Everything was great quality! I was surprised that the big painting is made of towels and real pressed cherry blossoms! The quilt exhibit was great and the soft serve ice cream was the best♡

Drop by if you’re biking in the area. The museum attached to the temple is so worth it. It contains many national treasures including samurai armors, swords and weapons

Such a beautiful shrine to wander around - we arrived at dusk and only had a few minutes but will definitely go back! I love the 2000 year old tree and temple history, want to get back to see the samurai artifacts.

This is a beautiful temple and very large but very few visitors. If you are biking, it is 100% worth it to venture off on the island explorer route to visit this temple.

The collection of national treasures here was really worth the detour to this side of the island. Unfortunately photos are not allowed, but if you're into huge ancient swords and amazingly preserved armor from the samurai era, make a point to come here.

They aren’t signing goshuincho books due to COVID at the moment, but will give you a pre customized seal on a separate piece of paper if you would like to stick it in your book. Highly recommend checking out the armor at the museum that ties with Tsuruhime and the huge camphor tree on the shrine grounds.

A very sacred shrine. Don't trust google maps when you go here. It directed me to someone else's car park.

Always enjoy visiting this most spiritual nature shrine in Omishima island. Highly recommend visiting especially if you’re a fan of Japanese history. You will enjoy treasure hunts of samurai period in the museum inside the shrine. (Although they were closed due to COVID-19 at this moment.)

Enjoying bike rides on the Shimanami Kaido(seaside bike trail)!

Driving across was a pretty cool experience, the bridge was not only spectacular but was so easy to drive across, take care though I did see an unmarked police car pull someone over, plenty of photos and videos can be taken by passengers whilst driving over this marvellous structure.

Awesome bike ride, if you’re in the vincinity I highly recommend renting a bike and admiring the views!

It was raining (-1) It was too long (-1) My behind was hurting because I didn’t have paddings in my pants (-1) Seen prettier bridges (-1)

steep climb on 🚴🏻. One of the longest bridges in Japan with great views of imabari and the surrounding sea and islands

Windy, BUT AWESOME!

Beautiful scenery from the bridge

Clearly one of the best observatory in the area. These spots are usually a good for a panorama but so uninteresting for their building. Here, thanks to Kengo Kuma you can enjoy a architectural walk with several levels and several platforms. Highly recommended!

Wow, just wow! not only are the views 360 degrees of magic but the structure on the top is a bespoke architectural vision. This is a must see if you are on Ōshima Island. There are super clean toilets at tge top with the cutest homely touches! We were there just before sunset af golden hour it was breath taking. There are countless operated binoculars too. It is 360 meters of elevation with a 5-9 degree gradient on the road. Car or scooter is better if you are an expert road cyclist this is an epic hill climb.

Beautiful scenery. Narrow uphill road but safe to drive. Two parking lot with maximum 30 cars.

If you're riding the Shimanami this was the hardest hill we did. Took us about 40 mins walking uphill we were so tired by the end of the ride. ( if you have an ebike should take half the time). Awesome 5-8 mins ride down. Only do on a clear day as your views will not be worth it Small food stall and souvenirs at the top.

Wonderful 360 degree view. If you have time, you should visit to here. 30min from Oshima exit of highway. 40 to 60min for walking from bottom of mountain. There are clean toilet and small food & drink shop at top of mountain.

Incredible views and well worth the trip! We drove up thankfully as I imagine walking or cycling would be very tough indeed. The area at the top is very wide and open, which gives excellent panoramic views of the Inland sea and islands. I would love to come again during sunset.

The perfect place for sunset view. It got quite chilly and windy during the sunset time. There is a free parking lot at the top of the mountain, with more than 15 parking spaces. The observatory itself is a nice spot for taking pictures as well. The road up to the mountain has quite many turns, it gets really dark at nights.

Group Cycling Rides 2023 pinoy Cycling in Shimanami kaido routes @ kirosan Panorama Park. Great memories for cycling explore in imabari.

We cycled the route of Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi to Imabari. This park is just next to the main route, but requires a long and tough climbing, also return per same path. We are casual cyclists, and cycled, more wheeled our bicycles up the hill, costing around 45 mins. The view on the top is absolutely stunnng, and I say this point is the true jewe on the whole route. If you have enough time, must go there. It deserves your hard climbing. The downhill journey just cost 4 mins, grasp your brakes and stay safe.

The views at Kirosan Observatory Park were spectacular and worth the bike ride up. It was a great side diversion while riding the Shimanani Kaido.

Easy drive and lots of parking, there is a small store which sells snacks, drinks and various souvenirs. The walk up is pretty easy and the views are breathtaking. Probably best to come at dawn or dusk, but we had a schedule to follow.

Hired a car to visit the islands south of Onomichi and this location was one of the highlights.

Highly recommendable sightseeing point. We reached to top by bike to enjoy a great view. The distance from the main road is approximately 3 km. On the way up there are signs every 500 m informing you which distance you have left. On the top is a small shop with drinks and ice cream.

Wonderful view. came here by climbing with my bicycle after doing the shimanami kaido route ! Sunset is Woawww

Nice rest stop with a view! Recommend the restaurant with menu from local ingredients and seafoods.

This has always been a great lunch or break stop on the Shimanami route from Onomichi to Imabari. There is a good restaurant with local fish, a nice shop, bathrooms, and facilities for cyclists/cycles. Try the マハタ (mahata or grouper), it is delicious. Update: I visited on a holiday and they were fairly busy. When my order had not arrived after 35 minutes, I had to leave to make the Setoda ferry. Since you now pay in advance, there was no way to cancel my order, so I lost my money and am removing one star. The food is usually pretty good.

Great photo spot. There's also some shop that sells sweet strawberries and oranges. A good, famous cyclist stop called Cyclist' Sanctuary.

Pleasant terrace with grassy area and outdoor table seating with lovely views of the sea, Ikuchijima Island and the 1480m Tatara Bridge. Farmers market with a great selection of local citrus fruits, veggies and other produce. One of the Shimanami rental bike terminals is located here and a lot of cyclists make sure to get a souvenir photo of themselves with the stone monument to the "Cyclists' Sanctuary" and the amusing bike stands in human form. No vegetarian options - although the restaurant should be able to accommodate with some advance notice (a few days). If you are after coffee, opt for the nearby Shimanami Coffee truck that overlooks rest area.

This is the best cycling course in Japan. I would definitely ride my bike again on this 70km course, play with the dolphins, enjoy the delicious food that you can try along the way and the list continues.

Half way between Onomichi and Imabari, perfect place to stop for a meal or refreshment on the Shimanami Kaido cycle trail. Great views of the inland sea and Tatara Bridge and good pic opportunities. Be sure to have some cash.

The final stop, half way through the 7 bridge highway, on the way from Kotahara to Hiroshima, a great scenic spot! Have lunch here, enjoy the view and get closest to the water front! It’s a great break when driving a 300km scenic route, pretty much a whole day affair if one takes the time to admire the scenery along the way! So yes, highly recommended to do a stopover, and from here it’s pretty much 125km to Hiroshima! Enjoy as much as we did on this perfect drivers day!

What a deal! A delicious fish burger for 600 yen. The buns are toasted. You order from a ticket machine that doesn't have English translations.

A tough ride if, like me, you haven't cycled in about 12 years, but infinitely worth it. Justmake sure you bring extra padding for the bike seat designed by the devil himself.

Only briefly stopped for a quick break. There's a cafeteria and small grocery store for you to recharge if you're biking. Very spacious and gets lots of traffic

A sacred place for cyclists! Good road side park to relax while hiking beverages, foods and more!

Lots of parking and toilet facilities, nice view of the bridge. lots of vendors selling fresh fruit and there is a souvenir store. The cafe/restaurant looked good