Moopon

1. Once visitors exit immigration and customs at Kansai Airport, visitors will be on the 1st floor. Follow the signs for “Railways”, taking one of the 4 escalators or 3 elevators to arrive at the 2nd floor.

2. Once on the 2nd floor, follow the signs to one of several walkways and walk across the road to Kansai-airport Station. Visitors need to exit the air terminal building to arrive at the JR Station (two separate buildings connected by a walkway). Two train companies use Kansai-airport Station: JR (blue/green) and Nankai (orange). Only JR can take visitor to the platform Haruka departing from. DO NOT use Nankai.

3. Before entering tickets gate, find JR Ticket Office where visitors can purchase ticket or reserved ticket for JR train.(there is a huge sign in English above their head).JR ticket office staff may or may not speak English, but they can read place names and train types written in the Roman alphabet. 

4. With one’s tickets, go through JR ticket gate and take an escalator to get to Platform 4.

Dogo Onsen (道後温泉, Dōgo Onsen) is one of Japan's oldest and most famous hot springs. It is located to the east of central Matsuyama in Ehime prefecture. The area is popular with tourists for its beautiful bath house and many ryokan,Japanese- style hotel. Dogo Onsen has also been a frequent destination for Japan's most prestigious guests, the Imperial Family. 
The main attraction in Dogo Onsen is the Dogo Onsen Honkan, a Meiji Period wooden public bathhouse, dating from 1894. The interior of the Honkan is a maze of stairways, passages and rooms, all of which bustle with bathers and staff. It is said to have served as inspiration for a popular animated film "Spirited Away"produced by Hayao Miyazaki. 
The Dogo Onsen area also features many other attractions such as a shopping arcade, the secondary bath house Tsubaki no Yu, interesting shrines and temples, Dogo Park and a museum about Masaoka Shiki, one of Matsuyama's most celebrated figures. Ryokan guests often walk around the streets in their yukata, giving the onsen town a very pleasant atmosphere.

Dogo Onsen Honkan
Hours: 6:00 to 23:00 (Last entry 22:30) 
Admission: 410 to 1550 yen
The Honkan has two indoor baths: Kami no Yu is the larger public bath and Tama no Yu is the smaller, more grand and less crowded bath. Four different options provide visitors with varying levels of access to the Honkan's facilities, with some price plans including a snack and some green tea. Visitors on the highest price level can view the exclusive bathing facility reserved for visiting emperors.

Tsubaki no Yu
Hours: 6:30 to 23:00 (Last entry 22:30) 
Admission: 360 yen
Located less than 100 meters away from the Honkan is Dogo Onsen's secondary bath house, Tsubaki no Yu. It offers gender separated indoor baths using the same hot spring water that the Honkan does.

Ishiteji Temple (石手寺) located in Matsuyama City, Shikoku, is a popular destination for pilgrims who visit the many Buddhist temples located on this island.  Ishiteji Temple is number 51 on the Shikoku Pilgrimage Map and the most famous temple in Matsuyama.

According to legend, an aristocrat held onto a stone very tightly on deathbed seeking the priest Kobo Daishi.  Though he was unable to receive a visit from priest Kobo Daishi, when the aristocrat was reincarnated, the stone was in his infantile hand. Thus the name Ishiteji (ishi=stone; te=hand; ji=temple) was also born.

Ishiteji temple is a very unique and special temple. From the statue of Kobo Daishi, an important figure in Japanese Buddhism, standing above the temple, to the Niomon Gate, a designated National Treasure, there are many cultural sites within the temple.  The temple’s main hall and three-storied pagoda are also designated Important Cultural Properties.  In addition, there is an inner temple which is connected to the main grounds by a cave.

Visitors will see the typical Kamakura Period architectural style within the structures in Ishiteji Temple.  Though this temple has various statues and historical objects, statues and religious objects are periodically added to its collection.  Visitors are able to see some of the temple’s most important artifacts in the treasure house.

Treasure House
Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 200 yen

Behind the main hall, visitors can walk through a dimly lit 200 meter long cave.  Within the cave, visitors will find many Buddhist statures, carvings and drawing. After passing through the cave, visitors need to cross the street to the inner temple grounds. Here there is a large, golden-dome hall. Visitors will find the inner grounds to have a different atmosphere than the main grounds.  There are various statues, carving and drawing here as well.  There are scenes of the historical Buddha Shaka just before he has gained enlightened.
 
Ishiteji Temple Grounds
Hours: Always open
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: Free

Access Information
1.  From JR Matsuyama Station, take tram line 5 to Dogo Onsen Tram Stop (journey is about 20 minutes with a fare of 160 yen).
OR
   From Matsuyama-shi Station, take tram line 3 to Dogo Onsen Tram Stop (journey is about 15 minutes with a fare of 160 yen).
2.  From Dogo Onsen Tram Stop, a 5 minutes bus ride. There are many departures to Ishiteji Temple from Dogo Onsen and the fare is 160 yen.
OR
A 15 to 20 minute walk from Dogo Onsen to Ishiteji Temple.

Visitors coming to the World Famous Dogo Onsen Hot Springs in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture will probably be using the Dogo Onsen Station, a tourist attraction in itself!!
Functioning as the terminal station to three tram lines, the station gives its visitors the feeling as though they have arrived to the Meiji Period. With the stations architecture reflecting the Meiji Period, it seem natural a steam locomotive, “Botchan” train, is still in use at this station.
At the station front visitors can find the clock-tower as well as a free hot springs foot bath.  The Dogo Shopping Arcade is nearby as well for visitors to shop and enjoy the local cuisine.

Built in 1895, Dogo Onsen Station is a nice representation of Meiji Period architecture. It serves as the terminal station to three tram lines. A "Botchan" steam locomotive is often exhibited in front of it.

Minamidera 
Architecture by Ando Tadao, Artwork by James Turrell
Minamidera, built on the former site of a temple, is a new structure designed by Ando Tadao, the star architect who also designed the art museums on Naoshima. Inside is James Turrell's "Backside of the Moon", an intriguing art piece that plays with your perception of light.

 Haisha【はいしゃ】
Architecture and Artwork by Otake Shinro
Haisha (literally "dentist"), once the home and office of a local dentist, has been completely transformed by artist Shinro Ohtake into a sculptural or graphic artwork some of which can be viewed from different floors of the two storied house. The artworks include a replica of the Statue of Liberty. Otake also designed the I Love You bath house. Dreaming Tongue, the title of the artwork, represents the process of calling to mind a dream from the tastes and aromas of a morsel in one's mouth.

Shinro Ohtake
He is a Japanese artist who was born in Tokyo and lives in Uwajima, Japan. He paints, creates installations and designs record covers and book covers. He has published dozens of books, such as a dream diary, a picture book, essays and art books.

Closed: Mondays  Open on Mondays for national holidays but closed the next day
Hours: 10a.m-4:30p.m
Admission: 410yen

Known for the bridges at the Hiroshima Peace Park, garden at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and many others, Isamu Noguchi is an important Japanese American artists, sculptor and landscape artist.  The Isamu Noguchi Museum in Mure Town near central Takamatsu is Noguchi’s former Japanese residence and workshop.  Though this museum features his art, work and living space, it can only be entered through a guided tour with advance reservation.

Within the grounds is a storehouse from the Edo Period.  Outside the storehouse are about 150 stone sculptures, the majority of which are unfinished. The finished sculptures are stored in a warehouse from the Meiji Period.  Visitors can see the 3.6 meter tall black Swedish granite sculptor named “Energy Void” on the premises.

From his work area, tour members are taken across the street to Noguchi’s former residence.  Noguchi redesigned his Edo Period merchant residence to accommodate his preferences while maintaining Japanese traditional aesthetic elements. Visitors are also able to see the garden Noguchi designed for his 80th birthday. The garden is located on the hill behind his house.
 
Tours are conducted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10am 1pm and 3pm. There are no tours during New Years and Japanese Obon Holidays (mid August).

To make a reservation:
Outside of Japan:
Please fax the following information to  (+81 87 845 0505) at least 2 weeks before the intended visit. Visitors will receive confirmation of their tour date.

Please fax:
*number of people in group
*names of people in group
*ages of people in group
*contact address
*preferred tour time and two alternative tour time

Within Japan:
Please write the same information on a self-addressed , stamped return postcard ("ofuku hagaki"). The request must arrive at the museum (Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, 3519 Mure, Mure-cho, Takamatsu-shi, Kagawa-ken, 761-0121) at least two weeks before the date of your intended visit.  Visitors will receive a reply with the tour time written on the return envelope.

The cost of admission 2160 yen per person.

Access Information:
Via Kotoden train
From Takamatsu-Chikko Station board a train to Kawaramachi Station (5 minutes) and change to the Kotoden Shido Line to Yakuri Station (20 minutes). The cost is 340 yen. 
From Yakuri Station, visitors can walk (25 minutes) or take a taxi (5 minutes).

Via JR train
From Takamatsu Station board a local train to Furutakamatsu Minami Station (20 minutes). The cost is 260 yen.
From the station, visitors can walk (30-40 minutes) or take a taxi (10 minutes). 

Via bus
From Takamatsu Station board the number 73 Kotoden Bus bound for Aji Onsen (庵治温泉) and disembark at Inori Iwa Yoichi Koen-mae (祈り岩与一公園前). The one way journey takes about 30 minutes and the cost is 490 yen. 
From Inori Iwa Yoichi Koen-mae bus stop, the museum is a 5-10 minute walk.

Known as the “Olive Island”, Shodoshima Island, located in the Seto Inland Sea off the coast of the Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku, is the birthing place of olive cultivation in Japan. Being blessed with a Mediterranean climate, the island successfully grew olives in 1908. Since then, Shodoshima olives and olive oil are highly regarded throughout Japan.

Olive Park, a tourist attraction site, is a working olive grove where the first olives were grown.  Visitors can enjoy the walkways throughout the hillside surrounded by olive trees.  Within the park is a windmill presented to the park from Milos, Greece.

Visitors interested in olive cultivation best visit the small museum within Olive Park.  In addition, there is a restaurant, a cafe and some shops which allow visitors to sample as well as purchase olive related merchandise such as olive oil, olive candy, olive cosmetics, olive noodles and olive ice cream. 
Olive Museum and Shops
Hours: 8:30 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: Free

Sun Olive is a hot springs bathhouse within the park. The baths are separated by gender with eight different types of baths.  Some of the baths allows bathers to enjoy beautiful views while soaking in the natural hot springs.
Sun Olive Bath House
Hours: 12:00 to 21:45 (entry until 21:00)
Closed: Wednesdays (except national holidays) and New Year holidays
Admission: 700 yen

Access Information:
Via Bus
From Tonosho Port, board a bus bond for Sakate (坂手), Fukuda Port (福田港) or Eigamura (映画村). There are 2 buses every hour. The bus fare is 560 yen (one way) and it should take about 25 minutes. Disembark at Olive ga Oka (オリーブヶ丘) bus stop.  Olive Park is a short walk from the bus stop.
From Kusakabe Port, board a bus bound for Tonosho Port (土庄港). There are 2 buses every hour. The bus fare is 210 yen (one way) and it should take about 5 minutes. Disembark at Olive ga Oka (オリーブヶ丘) bus stop.  Olive Park is a short walk from the bus stop.
From Fukuda Port, board a bus bound for Tonosho Port (土庄港) along the island's southern coast (南廻り福田線). There is 1 bus every 2 hour. The bus fare is 780 yen (one way) and it should take about 40 minutes. Disembark at Olive ga Oka (オリーブヶ丘) bus stop.  Olive Park is a short walk from the bus stop.

Via Car or Taxi
From Tonosho Port, the journey should take about 20 minutes.  The taxi cost should be about 4000 yen.
From Kusakabe Port, the journey should take about 5 minutes.  The taxi cost should be about 1200 yen.

Naruto, part of Tokushima Prefecture, is the northeastern most city on Shikoku Island.
The city is known for its swirling whirlpools.
You can see them in the Strait of Naruto underneath the Onaruto Bridge which connects Tokushima to Awaji Island. 
Naruto is also the starting point of the Shikoku Pilgrimage or Henro. which is a religious pilgrimage where one goes around visiting the 88 holy temples on Shikoku.
 

Otsuka Museum of Art
It was built in Naruto Park on the occasion of the Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group's 75th anniversary.
It is the largest museum in Japan. Inside, there are more than 1,000 replicas of priceless masterpieces of Western art selected by a committee of 6,
from ancient murals to modern paintings, and collection from more than 190 art museums in 25 countries worldwide.
These masterpieces are reproduced to their original size using special techniques Visitors will able to appreciate the true artistic value of the original works,
and experience art museums of the world while being in Japan.

Access Information 
The Otsuka Museum of Art stands in Naruto Park, several kilometers outside central Naruto. 
Via Bus:
Buses between Naruto Station and Naruto Park make a stop in front of the museum along the way.
The one way journey from Naruto Station takes about 15 minutes with a cost 280 yen.
There is one departure per hour.
The museum is also about a ten minute walk from the Naruto Koen bus stop.

Naruto, part of Tokushima Prefecture, is the northeastern most city on Shikoku Island.
The city is known for its swirling whirlpools.
You can see them in the Strait of Naruto underneath the Onaruto Bridge which connects Tokushima to Awaji Island. 

Naruto is also the starting point of the Shikoku Pilgrimage or Henro,
which is a religious pilgrimage where one goes around visiting the 88 holy temples on Shikoku.

About Naruto whirlpools 
Because of the change of tides, the whirlpools occur roughly every six hours and can typically be seen once in the morning and once in the afternoon for an hour or two.
 
Under ideal conditions, whirlpools of up to 20 meters in diameters can be seen.
On the other hand, there is not much to see outside of the peak times or on calm days.
So it always helps to check the tide schedule before heading out.
(English and Chinese time table available on the internet.)

The whirlpools are great ways to view from sightseeing cruises which get right up next to and among the whirlpools.

The next best views are from “Uzu no Michi”, an enclosed walkway that stretches under the Onaruto Bridge and overlooks the whirlpools.
The walkway's observation room is placed 45 meters above the whirlpools below which can be observed through glass windows set in the floor.

Naruto Park has a number of walking trails and viewpoints found around it with views of the whirlpools and Onaruto Bridge.
There are two good viewpoints. One is the Senjojiki Observatory. Another is Eska Hill.

Also found in the park is the Onaruto Bridge Museum Eddy, which is devoted to the construction of the Onaruto Bridge,
its whirlpools and the strait.

Access Information

Naruto Park is placed about seven kilometers north of central Naruto City.
One or two buses per hour run between Naruto Station and Naruto Park.
The one way ride takes 25 minutes with a cost of 310 yen. Buses stop near the “Naruto Kosoku” bus stop along the way,
where it is possible to transfer to highway buses.
Highway buses traveling in the direction of Tokushima also stop at “Naruto Koen-guchi” bus stop in Naruto Park along the expressway.

Uzushio Kankosen Boat Tours
Hours: 9:00am to 4:20pm (boat tours depart every 30 to 40 minutes)
Closed: Open year-round
Admission: Aqua Eddy: 2260 yen 
Wonder Naruto: 1580 yen (2580 yen for the upper deck) 

Uzushio Kisen Boat Tours
Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm (boat tours depart every 30 minutes)
Closed: Open year-round
Admission: 1550 yen