The regional train took us to the small towns of Uchiko and Uwajima today. The trains and stations here are only labelled in Japanese. You hardly get any tourists wandering out here anymore.
In Uchiko we visited the Uchiko-za, an old kabuki theatre from 1916. During the day you can explore the theatre, take a look backstage and check out the stage tech. The local History Museum recreates everyday situations from the 19th and 20th centuries using life-sized dolls.
The regional train ends in Uwajima. We took a quick look at the castle there before heading back to Matsuyama.
Japan’s small towns have their own special charm. The people here are really friendly, helpful and curious about their visitors. For us, that’s always a welcome excuse to leave the big cities behind every now and then.
Tomorrow we’re continuing our journey on the main route. Next stop: Ōsaka.
