Author: Federica Morgandi

 

Imabari (今治市, Imabari-shi) is a city in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. It is renowned throughout the country for its high-quality towels as well as its sweet citruses. 

 

Today, we will discover three places and activities to do in the area.

 

As someone who has been to the Japanese countryside of Imabari many times growing up, I can tell you there is more to the city than you might think, making it well worth the visit!

 

1. Imabari Towel Museum

lienyuan lee, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

 

Art museum, garden, restaurant, cafe and souvenir shop; this place has a little bit of everything. Every time I am in the city, I make sure to go at least once. 

 

The city, located near the sea, has 130 years of history in towel production. This museum opened in 1974 to encourage people to see towels as a form of art in itself.

 

 

Imabari Towel Museum ICHIHIRO, “Colorful yarn.”, kenichi nobusue on Flickr.

 

One floor is dedicated to showing the manufacturing process of towels using working machinery, while the others are dedicated to their permanent and temporary art collections. 

 

 

Artwork from the Moomin Exhibition, Imabari, Japan. Photography by Author.

 

Among their permanent art exhibitions is one dedicated to Moomin, a Finnish storybook character extremely popular in Japan. 

 

For their temporary exhibitions, make sure to check out what they are showing before your visit.

 

The shops offer a wide selection of towels to buy from, which includes collaborations with renowned characters from animation studios as well as high fashion brands from Japan and from around the world. 

 

You can even request personalized embroidery on your towels!

 

Make sure to take a stroll in their beautiful garden outside, and enjoy their selection of regional souvenirs before returning home.

 

Access Information

■ Address: 2930 Asakurakami, Imabari, Ehime 799-1607, Japan

■ Opening Hours: 9:30-18:00 (gallery tours available until 30 min before closing time; closed on some winter days)

■ Tel: 0898 56 1515

■ Web: towelmuseum.com

■ Museum Admission Fee (optional):

Adults: 1000 yen

Middle School Students: 800 yen

Elementary School Students: 600 yen

Person With Disability (+ 1 caregiver): 500 yen 

Seniors: 600 yen

 

2. Kirosan Observatory

View from the Kirosan Observatory, Imabari, Japan. Photography by Author.

 

Kirosan Observatory is the best place to view Shimanami Kaido (しまなみ海道, Shimanami Kaidō) a 60-kilometer-long toll road that connects Japan’s main island of Honshu to the island of Shikoku, leading to Imabari city to be precise. Traversable also by foot or bicycle, it passes over six small islands in the Seto Inland Sea. 

 

 

View from the Kirosan Observatory, Imabari, Japan. Photography by Author.

 

For the most spectacular view of this bridge, you should visit the observation deck on top of Mount Kiro at sunset. 

 

If possible, going there by car is recommended as the way to the top is quite steep. 

 

The observatory, located among the natural landscape of the area, was designed by the renowned Kengo Kuma and Associates, granting the place uniqueness.

 

Access Information

■ Address: 487-4 Yoshiumicho Minamiura, Imabari, Ehime 794-2115, Japan

■ Opening Hours: 24/7

■ Admission: Free 

■ Tel: 0897 84 2111

■ Parking: Available; Free

■ Web:.city.imabari.ehime.jp/kanko/spot/?a=182

From Honshu

■ By Car: Nishi-Seto Onomichi IC → Setouchi Shimanami Kaido, approx. 60 min → Oshima Kita IC → approx. 15 min → Destination

■ By Bus: Shimanami Liner → Get off at Oshima BS → Island bus Tomoura/Hayakawa-Miyakubo-Shimoda Suiko Line → Get off at Kameyama → Walk, approx. 120 min → Destination

■ By Bicycle: Nearest cycling terminal is Yoshiumi Bicycle Rental (Roadside station “Yoshiumi Ikiikikan”)

From Imabari

■ By Car: Imabari IC → approx. 10 min → Oshima Minami IC → approx. 10 min → Destination

■ By Bus: Imabari Station → Get off at Kameyama → Walk, approx. 120 min → Destination

■ By Bicycle: Nearest cycling terminal is Yoshiumi Bicycle Rental (Roadside station “Yoshiumi Ikiikikan”)

 

3. Nibukawa Onsen

Nibukawa Seseragi Onsen, Imabari, Ehime. Iyokannet.

 

If you are looking for a luxurious hot springs establishment, this is not the place. But if you are looking for an authentic hot spring experience in Japan, look no further.

 

 

Nibukawa Seseragi Onsen, Imabari, Ehime. Iyokannet.

 

The water quality of the springs is so good it will leave you feeling refreshed and with baby-smooth skin.

 

 

Nibukawa gorge on Iyokannet.

 

Not only that, but you should make sure to take a walk in the area because Nibukawa Gorge is a scenic prefectural nature park. One of Ehime’s “top 100 natural attractions,” it owes its good reputation to the crystal-clear water. 

 

Perfect to wind down and take in a nice breath of fresh air, or escape the summer heat.

 

Feel yourself rejuvenate, surrounded by the sounds of little birds, wind rustling in the trees and clear running water. 

 

Access Information

■ Address: 218-1 Tamagawacho, Nibukawa, Imabari, Ehime 794-0121, Japan 

■ Opening Hours: (bath) 10.30 – 21.00 (last entry 20.30); (food corner) 11.00 – 14.30

■ Closing Days: the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month (or the next weekday if a public holiday falls on Monday); December 31st; January 1st.

■ Admission Fee: 

Adults (middle school and above): 420 yen

Children (elementary school and below): 210 yen

Children (under 3): free

Seniors (65 and above): 340 yen

Person with Disability: 340 yen

■ Tel: 0898 55 4477

■ Parking: Available; Free

■ Web: https://www.nibukawa.net/

From Nishiseto Expressway (Setouchi Shimanami Kaido)

■ By Car: Nishiseto Onomici IC (Hiroshima Prefecture) → About 50 minutes → Imabari Kita IC → About 5 minutes → Imabari IC→ About 20 minutes → Destination

From Imabari Station

■ By Car: Imabari Station → About 20 minutes → Destination

From Matsuyama Airport

■ By Car: Matsuyama Airport → About 60 minutes → Destination

From Shimanami Kaido

■ By Bicycle: Imabari City Cycling Terminal Itoyama → About 90 minutes → Destination

From Dogo Onsen

■ By Bicycle: Dogo Onsen Main Building → About 2 hours 30 minutes → Destination