Matsuyama to Saijo(H-2)⭐⭐ ‘26.21st,Sep.
This route H-2 is in Area-H, “Shikoku". See Area-H map / See Japan map
Sight & Entertainment ⭐⭐⭐
Food & Drinks ⭐⭐⭐
Easiness ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Road condition ⭐⭐⭐
Safety ⭐⭐
I had planned this Matsuyama→Saijo→UFO line(H-3 article)→Matsuyama 3day trip for over 2 years. But previous 4 bookings were all canceled due to rain in thie region. This was 5th attempt and the weather there seemed good. But the typhoon was coming to Tokyo area which was big threat for my flight would take off.
On 21st. Sep., my flight was very early morning and could take off though afternoon flights from Tokyo were all canceled. I narrowly escaped Tokyo and reachd Matsuyama, slight couldy weather place.
After composing my bike, I started cycling at AM11:30 from Matsuyama airport. The road to the city center was none of special but once coming into the city, the sight became quaint, with tram and old fashioned townscape(pic.1). I wanted to take a “Tai meshi", this area’s famous traditional rice bowl with seabream on the top for my lunch but there was a long queue in front of the restaurant, so I visited Matsuyama castle first.
This castle is one of the 12 whose towers remain from its original construction in 17C(Pic.2-2). It is built on the top hill, so you can enjoy spectacular view from the top(2-3) as well as old buildings and stone walls. You must pay fee when you enter the main tower(pic-2-2) but I was told I had to wait for 30min due to congestion. So I gave up entering and came back.
Before coming to the mountain area, I wanted to take a lunch, hopefully “Tai meshi" and luckily I could take a seat at Nagatsuki around 13:30. The restaurant closes at 14:00, so only few groups were still there. The price was just \1480- and I could enjoy Tai meshi.
The prefectural route 334 along which “Nagatsuki" located was narrow and not safe. So when I finally joined R-11 toward mountain, I was a little bit relieved(pic.4). Gradually it became steep and mountain landscape(pic.5). Sometimes rain dropped, though I believed it was still affected by Tokyo area’s typhoon and it would be sunny next day. Soon I reached the pass and down hill started to Saijo city.
A few Km to my hotel, I noticed a board inviting to Ishizuchi shrine. Once I neglected but when I though about next day’s hill climbing on Mt.Ishizuchi, I returned to pray for my safety. It located on a little high hill, so Seto internal sea could be seen(pic.7).
Soon I reached my hotel in front of Saijo station, at 16:00. This 60km cycling seemed a good rehabilitation for me since next day’s tough ride would be my first one in quite a while.
The tavern which I originally wanted to visit was fully booked, so I walked around and finally entered a local tavern, where very kind-hearted old partons talked to me about my trip. There I heard from them that there was a much more famous shrine in Saijo,"Isono-shrine" which was related to Ise shrine, a Japanese emperor’s shrine. I wanted to visit on next day in early moring but I couldn’t, which was correct due to tough schedule.
I asked to give me local fish food but the master said they had no special ones. But the local Sake “Ishizuchi"(pic.8 right side) taste was better than some major Japanese sake.
<Transportation info>
Tokyo to Matsuyama: HanedaAM9:10 NH585→ Matsuyama AM10:45
<Connected routes>
H-1: Shimanami Sea route
H-3: UFO line cycling