Start Point

Giant Store Matsuyama

“Giant Store Matsuyama,” where you can rent Giant E-bikes, is the starting point. It is located about a 10-minute walk from Dogo Onsen, so you can stay at a hot spring inn and start cycling from the next morning. Renting bikes at this shop is also very popular among foreign tourists, so early booking is recommended.
[Business Hours] Mon-Fri: 10:00-19:00
Sat, Sun, Holidays: 9:00-19:00
[Closed] Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Address: Fuji Corporus 1F, 5-1 Dogokitashiro, Matsuyama, EhimeView on Google Map

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0.8km Point

Dogo Onsen

Said to be one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, it appears in the “Nihon Shoki” (The Chronicles of Japan) and has a legend that Prince Shotoku also visited. It is a historic hot spring resort where you can enjoy a retro atmosphere. Furthermore, there are several free foot baths, so you can easily enjoy the hot springs even in the middle of your cycling trip. It is also famous as the setting for Soseki Natsume’s novel “Botchan,” featuring the Botchan Train, Botchan Karakuri Clock, and Botchan Dango.

Address: Dogoyunomachi, Matsuyama, EhimeView on Google Map

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5.3km Point

Iyotetsu Komachi Station – Iyotetsu Takahama Station

Ride through the city for about 5km from Dogo Onsen, and then use the cycle train from Iyotetsu Komachi Station to Takahama Station. By using the cycle train for the city area with heavy traffic, you can go to the suburbs stress-free. The cycle train operates on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays. The required fare is the regular train fare for your section plus a 500 yen cycle train ticket.

Address: 6-98 Heiwadori, Matsuyama, Ehime to 1-chome Takahamamachi, Matsuyama, Ehime
*Boarding and alighting with bikes are not allowed at Otemachi Station, Ishitegawa Park Station, and Takanoko Station.

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7km Point

Gogoshima Funakoshi Port

Get off at Takahama Station and take a ferry from Takahama Port right in front of the station, heading to Gogoshima, an island famous for its beautiful sea and citrus fruits. The boat ride takes about 10 minutes, but getting on the boat instantly raises the travel mood. The island is about 21km in circumference, but on this day, we cycled about 8km to Yura Port, admiring the beautiful sea on the west coast and hill-climbing inland while looking at the abundant mandarin orange orchards. Enjoy a relaxed island time taking pictures and admiring the scenery.

Address: Tomarimachi, Matsuyama, EhimeView on Google Map

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15km Point

Shima no Eki Gogoshima (Yura Port)

On the way back, return to Takahama Port from Yura Port (about 15 minutes by boat). At “Shima no Eki Gogoshima” located right in front of the port, you can not only rent bicycles and get tourist information but also purchase local specialties and processed products such as mandarins and lemons harvested on the island, premium citrus “Harehime” juice, lemon gelato, and soft-serve ice cream. It is the perfect shop to spend time while waiting for the ferry’s departure.

Address: 1215-5 Yuramachi, Matsuyama, EhimeView on Google Map

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17km Point

Mitsu no Watashi (Mitsu Ferry)

On the way from Takahama Port to Mitsuhama Port, “Baishinji Station”, the closest station to the Seto Inland Sea and the setting for the final scene of the TV drama “Tokyo Love Story”, is a must-see spot. Then, finally, load your bicycle onto the highly anticipated “Mitsu no Watashi” (Mitsu Ferry) and cross to the opposite shore. When you press the call button, a boat will come from the opposite shore to pick you up (boarding is free). Incidentally, Mitsuhama Port is the port where the protagonist of the novel “Botchan” first landed when he came to Matsuyama as a junior high school teacher.

Address: 1-11 Mitsu, Matsuyama, EhimeView on Google Map

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20km Point

fork_spoon Mitsuhama-yaki Nasu

Mitsuhama-yaki is a type of okonomiyaki, a soul food of Mitsuhama where noodles and ingredients are wrapped in a thin batter and folded in half like a crepe to be baked. “Nasu”, which we visited this day, is a well-established shop with a 54-year history. The famous landlady taught us that the key points are boiling the noodles only after an order is placed and the thinness of the batter. It is a famous shop where you will undoubtedly be engulfed in a vortex of laughter by the landlady’s light-hearted talk, not to mention the delicious taste. After filling your stomach, you can head back by cycling, or you can return by cycle train from Iyotetsu Mitsu Station to Komachi Station.

Address: 2-12-2 Sumiyoshi, Matsuyama, EhimeView on Google Map