Experience traveling around old town in Japan

Uchiko Town is a small town in the mountains of Ehime Prefecture, about 25 minutes by train from Matsuyama City.

Tourists walk around in kimono. Photo source: Uchiko Town Tourism Association

Uchiko flourished with the wax industry from the late Edo period to the Meiji period. After nearly 300 years, many houses, factories and the Uchikoza theater are still preserved quite perfectly. The beautiful landscape makes this place an extremely attractive tourist destination.

Time Travel in Uchiko Town

The attractions are all located close to each other, so visitors can walk to fully experience the beauty of the old streets. Or for a more interesting experience, visitors can rent kimonos from shops in town to feel the ancient atmosphere of the town as well as take beautiful pictures.

One of the highlights of Uchiko is Yokaichi-Gokoku. This is a 600m long street lined with traditional old houses and mansions of wealthy merchants, still intact as in ancient times.

Ancient architecture of Uchiko - Photo source: Ehime Box Content

At the Kamihaga mansion built 150 years ago, while walking through the townscape, visitors can get a feel for the lifestyle of wealthy merchants.

This is a typical building for the townscape with thick plaster walls, the exterior as well as the interior of the mansion exudes the prestige of the owning family.

The mansion also has a beautiful garden that is a great place for photos, especially in the fall when the leaves turn a captivating red.

Uchiko Town Today

Uchiko is a famous tourist spot in Ehime Prefecture with many interesting experiences. Here, the skilled techniques of wax and washi paper artisans are still preserved and passed down through many generations.

Visitors can participate in various hands-on workshops and experience the charm of Uchiko through traditional techniques. The items created are perfect for visitors to take home or give as gifts to friends and family.

A famous candle wax factory in the town - Photo source: Ehime Box Content

Further afield, visitors will find the town's iconic Uchikoza theater, built in 1916. Uchikoza is one of the few theaters from this period in Japan that is still in operation.

Today, performances of operas and plays such as bunraku, kyogen and rakugo are still regularly held here. During your visit, you can stand on the wooden stage and the view looking up at the audience from the stage is very solemn.

Uchikoza Theater is open to tourists for a fee of 400 yen - Photo source: Ngo Tran Hai An (Quy Coc Tu)

If you want to find a place to rest after exploring the town, you can stop by some lovely little cafes located in old houses and enjoy a cup of tea and peaceful and poetic moments.

Explore beautiful nature

Not only is Uchiko town famous for its traditional crafts and exquisite mansions, it is also a beautiful town surrounded by beautiful mountains and rich nature. The town is filled with beautiful rural and mountainous landscapes.

Therefore, when coming here, visitors should not just stop in the center of the old town, but also try wandering in the small alleys, discovering the interesting things of this nearly 300-year-old ancient town.

It features a covered bridge that blends into the idyllic mountain village setting, a stone-paved clear stream garden with a watermill and a beautiful flowing river.

In addition, during the cherry blossom season, visitors can enjoy many splendid flower scenes such as rows of cherry blossom trees along the river, cherry blossoms standing on the mountain and ancient weeping cherry trees decorating a charming corner of Uchiko.

Cherry blossoms bloom in the middle of town

In the nearby Odamiyama Valley, visitors can take in the beauty of nature throughout the four seasons.

It is the beauty of flowers blooming every season, it is the autumn with red and yellow leaves dyeing the whole valley, it is the peaceful murmuring water and the mountains in the distance.

Ehime and the town of Uchiko have many hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. Come here to experience a traditional yet new Japan!

The shops have a wide variety of kimonos in different colors and patterns.

The shops also offer dressing and hairdressing services. Kimono rentals cost around 3,000 to 4,500 yen and hairdressing costs around 1,700 yen.

If you want to enjoy the scenery of Uchiko by bicycle, you can rent a bicycle at the Uchiko Station Tourist Information Center or the Uchiko Town Visitor Center for about 500 yen for 3 hours or 700 yen for a day.

PN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/kinh-nghiem-vi-vu-pho-co-nhat-ban-2024032913495814.htm