Matsuyama Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide

Name: Matsuyama Customized Private Tour by Car with Licensed Guide
Brand: Viator
Price: 334.8 USD
Availability: InStock

6 hoursJapanese, EnglishBook 2 days aheadEhime Prefecture, Japan

From

$335

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This is the ideal tour for travelers wanting to discover Matsuyama's highlights efficiently in a private vehicle with a government-licensed multilingual guide!

Discover the warm charm of Matsuyama, the largest city on Shikoku island. Ride the ropeway up to Matsuyama Castle, one of Japan's twelve original surviving castles, with sweeping views of the city and the Seto Inland Sea. Soak in the timeless atmosphere of Dogo Onsen, one of Japan's oldest hot springs, whose wooden bathhouse is said to have inspired Spirited Away.

With a private vehicle, explore at your own pace. Visit historic Ishite-ji Temple on the Shikoku pilgrimage, see the beloved retro Botchan Train, stroll the lively Okaido arcade, and admire the vermilion Isaniwa Shrine and the European-style Bansuiso villa.

With a fully customizable itinerary and a knowledgeable local guide, this private tour is a relaxed, enriching way to experience the best of Matsuyama at your own pace.

Included

Customizable Walking Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'Itinerary' list
Private vehicle
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide

Not included

You cannot combine multiple tour groups
Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under Itinerary

Choose your option

3 options

Check availability on Viator

What you'll do

Dogo Onsen Honkan
5-6 Dogoyunomachi, Matsuyama, Japan
Soak in the atmosphere of one of Japan's oldest hot springs, a wooden bathhouse dating to 1894 said to have inspired the bathhouse in Spirited Away. Your guide shares its history and the local onsen bathing customs.
45 min
Ishite-ji Temple
2-9-21 Ishite, Matsuyama, Japan
Explore this historic temple, the 51st stop on the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage. Admire its National Treasure two-story gate, three-story pagoda, and atmospheric grounds as your guide explains the pilgrimage tradition.
30 min
Botchan Train Museum
4-4-1 Minatomachi, 1F Iyo Railway Headquarters Bldg., Matsuyama, Japan
See the beloved Botchan Train, a charming replica of the Meiji-era steam locomotive immortalized in Soseki Natsume's novel. Your guide explains how this retro train still runs through Matsuyama's streets today.
20 min
Okaido Shopping Street
Okaido, Matsuyama, Japan
Stroll down Matsuyama's liveliest covered shopping arcade, lined with local shops, cafes, and restaurants. A great place to sample Ehime specialties like citrus treats and Imabari towels while soaking up the local atmosphere.
30 min
Isaniwa Shrine
173 Sakuradanicho, Matsuyama, Japan
Climb the stone steps to this striking vermilion shrine near Dogo Onsen, one of only three shrines in Japan built in the elaborate rounded Hachiman-zukuri style. Your guide explains its history and connection to the area.
25 min
Bansuiso
3-3-7 Ichibancho, Matsuyama, Japan
Admire this elegant French Renaissance-style villa built in 1922 by a former feudal lord, a designated Important Cultural Property. Your guide showcases its stained glass, chandeliers, and gardens at the foot of Matsuyama Castle.
30 min
Dogo Onsen Station
1 Chome Dogomachi, Matsuyama, Japan
Admire the charming retro-Western architecture of this historic tram station beside Dogo Onsen, complete with the Botchan Karakuri Clock that comes to life on the hour with figures from Soseki's novel. A delightful photo stop.
20 min
Matsuyama Castle
1 Marunouchi, Matsuyama, Japan
Matsuyama Castle is one of Japan's twelve "original castles", i.e. castles which have survived the post-feudal era since 1868 intact. It is also one of the most complex and interesting castles in the country. It is located on Mount Katsuyama, a steep hill in the city center that provides visitors with a bird's eye view of Matsuyama and the Seto Inland Sea. There are about 200 cherry trees on the castle grounds, making this a lovely cherry blossom spot typically around late March to early April each year.
1 hour