Matsuyama – Be a good cat in japan

Hiroshima (広島) – Matsuyama (松山)

Today I would depart for the smallest of the islands that make up Japan. Shikoku had lots that caught my interest
1. Home of Udon noodles
2. Easy access to Naoshima and Teshima
3. Kinashi Bonsai village in Takamatsu
4. A chance to see how different people in Shikoku are to their main island counterparts

Matsuyama is Shikoku’s largest city easily and cheaply accessible by ferry from Hiroshima. Ferry is possibly one of the less conventional ways of traveling for most international travelers or even Japanese travelers it seems.

Hiroshima Port –> Matsuyama Kanko Port (via Kure)

As usual, a slower method of transport brings in a wealth of scenery. I would arrive at Kanko port and figure out that the ‘Bus Limousine’ departs 3mins BEFORE the ferry arrives, leaving me with a 1.5 hour wait for the next one. However if I took the more expensive and faster ferry from Hiroshima I would be on time to every possible connecting bus. Perhaps a way to entice people to spend more money?

Prior to Matsuyama, I had organised a few days stay with a couchsurf host and her family. My host was Kiyoka Shimuzu, a mother of 3 children, a vocal trainer and such an open minded family . This would be one of the most pleasant experiences as of so far. More on that as we progress through Matsuyama!

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