Saijo: Japan's Premier Sake Town Where Legendary Underground Water Springs Up

Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, is a water city known for uchinuki (artesian wells) where the abundant underground water flowing from the Ishizuchi mountain range, western Japan's highest peak, naturally springs to the surface. Clear water gushes up throughout the city, and its excellence has earned selection among Japan's 100 Famous Waters. This rich, high-quality water has long nourished the lives of the people and been treasured as essential to sake brewing that produces delicious sake. It is a bountiful town woven together by water, sake, and the nature of Mount Ishizuchi.

Highlights: The Famous Uchinuki Water

The symbol of Saijo is uchinuki, the clear groundwater that springs up naturally at various points across the city. Rain and snow that fall on the Ishizuchi range pass through the earth over long years and rise naturally to the surface on the Saijo plain. This water, which gushes out by natural pressure without pumps, is beloved as daily-use water for residents and is used everywhere in homes and at street corners. The smooth, mellow, tasty water is certified among Japan's 100 Famous Waters, and many people visit to draw water, making it a symbol of Saijo's rich water culture. Spring-water spots where you can casually taste the water are scattered about town, allowing an enjoyable water-tour stroll.

A Sake-Brewing Town Nurtured by Famous Water

Blessed with high-quality, abundant water, Saijo has long been known as a town where sake brewing thrives. The clear uchinuki water is used as brewing water essential to sake making, producing crisp, delicious local sake. Historic breweries are scattered through the city, and depending on the season, some offer brewery tours and tastings. Saijo local sake brewed with famous water pairs excellently with local seafood and regional cuisine. A flavorful journey around water and sake, unique to a water city, awaits.

Seasonal Enjoyment

Summer, when the clear water brings coolness, is a pleasant season for a water tour. In autumn (October), the spirited Saijo Festival is held, where giant floats called danjiri parade through the city, reaching a climax at highlights such as the river-entering ceremony. The festival is a traditional event representing Saijo's autumn and draws many spectators. Autumn, when the foliage of Mount Ishizuchi reaches its peak, is also recommended for combining with hiking or a drive.

Access and Basic Information

Access is via Iyo-Saijo Station on the JR Yosan Line, with spring-water spots scattered around the station too. From Matsuyama city, a limited express takes about 30 minutes. The location is also convenient as a base for climbing Mount Ishizuchi or for a drive. Since brewery tours and tastings differ by brewery in operating days and whether reservations are required, checking with each brewery before visiting is advisable. Confirm the latest information on festival dates and traffic restrictions via official sources in advance.

Practical Travel Notes

• If you wish to take spring water home, bringing an empty bottle is convenient.
• Brewery tours and tastings may require operating days or reservations, so advance confirmation is recommended.
• Lodging tends to fill up during the Saijo Festival period, so booking early is advisable.
• When driving toward Mount Ishizuchi, some mountain-road sections are narrow, so drive carefully.

A Word of Advice

Saijo is a water city where you can enjoy famous water that springs up as if from a tap, along with the local sake nurtured by that water, all at once. Stroll leisurely among the town's spring-water spots, enjoy local sake and regional flavors, and spend time in a way unique to Saijo, embraced by the majestic nature of Mount Ishizuchi. (Tabitabi Japan Editorial Team)

📚 Sources

The information here is based mainly on the public guidance from Saijo city and its tourism and products association. The information for the town's spring-water spots, the local sake breweries, the Saijo Festival, and on-site information boards are also useful references. Because the days and booking requirements for brewery tours and tastings differ by brewery, and festival dates and traffic controls change, please confirm the latest details with each brewery or Saijo city before you visit.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time needed: About 1 to 2 hours to tour the town's spring-water spots; allow around half a day if you add a brewery tour and tasting.
• What to bring: Bring an empty bottle if you want to take spring water home. If you enjoy sake tasting, plan to avoid driving, and check ahead since brewery tours may require booking.
• Suggested route: Using Iyo-Saijo Station as a base, do a water tour of the Uchinuki spring spots around town, then enjoy a tour and tasting at a historic sake brewery. It also serves as a base for hiking or driving to Mount Ishizuchi.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Number of uchinuki springs: According to the official information from Saijo City, the free-flowing artesian wells spread widely across the city are said to number about 3,000
• One of Japan's 100 Famous Waters: Selected as one of the 100 Famous Waters by the Environment Agency (now the Ministry of the Environment) in March 1985 (Showa 60)
• National water tasting contest: First place nationwide for two years running, in 1995 and 1996 (Heisei 7 and 8) (official information from Saijo City)
• Water quality: The water of Saijo is soft water (official information from Saijo City)
• Uchinuki walking course (official Saijo City route): Iyo-Saijo Station to the Cultural Center (about a 20-minute walk, roughly 600 m) to the Aquatopia waterways and the moat of the former Jinya site (about a 25-minute walk, roughly 1,500 m) to Uchinuki Plaza (about a 1-minute walk, roughly 50 m) to the Furukawa Tamatsubashi street (about a 5-minute walk, roughly 250 m). The Kobo-sui, where fresh water wells up from the seabed, is another highlight
• Water drawing point: On the south side of the Saijo City Welfare Center (completed in April 2017, Heisei 29). Available 8:00-21:00. You may fill plastic bottles and other containers and take the water home. Use the Welfare Center car park (note that the entrance is locked when the center is closed)
• Saijo Festival (example schedule for 2025, Reiwa 7): Kamo Shrine festival October 11-12 / Iwaoka Shrine festival October 14-15 / Isono Shrine festival October 15-16 / Iizumi Shrine festival October 16-17. More than a hundred floats (danjiri, mikoshi and taikodai) owned by the parishioner districts are dedicated at the shrines
• Mount Ishizuchi: The highest peak in western Japan, at an elevation of 1,982 m. The main trails are the Joju route and the Tsuchigoya route, and there is a post for submitting climbing plans just before each trailhead. Late May to late October, when the snow has completely melted, is the best season for climbing (official information from Saijo City)
• Mt. Ishizuchi Ropeway: It is operated by Ishizuchi Tozan Ropeway Co., Ltd. (listed as the facility operator in the official Saijo City information)
• Gateway station: Iyo-Saijo Station on the JR Yosan Line

* The daily volume of water flowing from the uchinuki springs is given in two conflicting ways on the official Saijo City website, as about 90,000 cubic meters and as about 130,000 cubic meters, so this article does not use either figure. * Whether the city's sake breweries can be visited, and their fees and booking methods, are not published together in any official source. Please contact each brewery directly. * The Museum of Water History is a virtual museum on the official Saijo City website and is not a facility you can visit in person. * The fares and operating hours of the Mt. Ishizuchi Ropeway are not published in the official Saijo City information. * Traffic restrictions on the trails and surrounding roads (such as the UFO Line) change from time to time, so please check the official Saijo City website for the latest information. (Sources: Saijo City official website; Ministry of the Environment, 100 Famous Waters)