The Botchan train
Before leaving Matsuyama, the Botchan Ressha Museum at Matsuyama City Station: the little steam train from Botchan, plus a Starbucks inside (¥500).
Lunch on the road was Lotteria (¥1,560). No shame.
Ishitegawa Dam
On the drive to Imabari we stopped at Ishitegawa Dam, a quiet lake in the hills.
The Towel Museum
The Imabari Towel Museum (¥2,000 for two) is way more fun than it sounds. It starts with a Christmas tree on a curving staircase.
There’s a wall of every colour of thread they use, and art made of towels.
Downstairs you can watch the looms at work.
The Moomin house
Upstairs is a Moomin exhibition, with Moominhouse and the whole family.
The wall of thread is the photo spot.
We bought towels for the poles back home (¥3,960).
The noh stage
Back at Yamatoya Honten, the ryokan’s noh stage is open to guests for photos, free, with costumes, a fan and an umbrella. Just for fun.
Shichifukujin
Dinner was a kaiseki-style course at Shichifukujin: sashimi, a whole simmered fish, chawanmushi, gratin, tempura, rice and dessert. Our big dinner of the trip at ¥11,000.
Onward south, to Uwajima!
Information About the Imabari Towel Museum
A museum and shop for Imabari towels, Japan's best-known towel brand, in the hills south of Imabari. Walls of coloured thread, the looms at work, art made of towels, and a Moomin exhibition. About an hour's drive from Matsuyama.