Uchiko and Ozu Old Town Stroll Course

This nostalgic walking course links the white walled townscape of Uchiko, which prospered from wood wax, with the castle town of Ozu along the Hijikawa River. Stroll leisurely while visiting historic buildings.

Course Route

9:30 Start in the Uchiko townscape Walk the town of Uchiko, once prosperous from wood wax production. The playhouse Uchiko za, built in 1916, is a well known wooden structure, but it has been closed for a long term preservation and repair project since 2024. During the work the backstage Uchiko za gakuya is open, so check in advance whether it can be visited and what is on display.

10:30 Yokaichi Gokoku townscape Walk through the preservation district lined with white walls and lattice doors. Merchant houses of the wealthy wood wax traders still remain, giving a sense of the town in its heyday.

12:30 Move to Ozu for lunch Head to the castle town of Ozu and enjoy local flavors at an atmospheric shop. You can travel from Uchiko to Ozu by the JR Yosan Line or by car.

14:00 Visit Ozu Castle Climb Ozu Castle, whose keep was lost in the Meiji era and faithfully reconstructed in wood in 2004, and gaze over the Hijikawa River and the town. Admission is around 550 yen for adults.

16:00 Stroll Ohanahan Street Walk Ohanahan Street lined with old merchant houses and soak in the retro atmosphere. Pairing it with a visit to Garyu Sanso is also recommended.

Highlights

Uchiko za, famous as a Taisho era structure and currently closed for repairs, and the traditional townscape of Yokaichi Gokoku are the highlights. The keep of Ozu Castle, faithfully reconstructed in wood, should not be missed either.

Access and Tips

You can travel from Uchiko to Ozu by the JR Yosan Line or by car. Each townscape is compact enough to explore on foot. A combined ticket for Ozu Castle and Garyu Sanso lets you visit the two sights at a saving.

Practical Travel Notes

Time guide: Allow about two hours for strolling the Uchiko townscape and about two to three hours for the castle and town walk in Ozu. The route covers both towns in a single day.

Getting there: Uchiko Station and Iyo Ozu Station on the JR Yosan Line are the starting points. Travel between Uchiko and Ozu by train or car. Both town centers are compact enough to cover on foot.

Fare guide: Admission to Ozu Castle is about 550 yen for adults, and the combined ticket for Ozu Castle and Garyu Sanso is about 880 yen for adults as of 2025. Uchiko za cannot be viewed as usual due to the repair work, and the open gakuya has a separate fee and content.

Note: Because Uchiko za has been closed for a long term preservation and repair project since 2024, always confirm the latest closure and reopening status if an interior visit is your goal.

Budget: The Ozu Castle combined ticket, lunch, and transport come to roughly 2000 to 2500 yen per person.

A Quick Tip

The townscapes have slopes and cobblestones, so comfortable shoes are recommended. Timing your visit with the seasonal festivals makes it even more enjoyable. There are plenty of alternative sights during the Uchiko za repair period, so the trick is not to overpack the schedule.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Visiting hours (Ozu Castle and Garyu Sanso): Both are open 9:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Both are open year-round
• Admission (Garyu Sanso): Admission on its own is 550 yen for adults and 220 yen for children (junior high school age and younger). A combined ticket for all three sites, Garyu Sanso, Ozu Castle and Bansen-so, is 1,100 yen for adults and 440 yen for children
• Visiting hours and admission (Uchikoza dressing rooms): The dressing rooms, open to the public during the preservation and repair works, can be visited 9:00 to 16:30 for 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for junior high school students and younger (150 yen for adults and 80 yen for junior high school students and younger in groups of 20 or more). Closed 29 December to 2 January
• Visiting hours and admission (Japan Wax Museum and Kami-Haga Residence): Open 9:00 to 16:30, with admission of 500 yen for adults and 250 yen for elementary and junior high school students (380 yen for adults and 200 yen for elementary and junior high school students in groups of 20 or more). Closed 29 December to 2 January
• Parking: The No. 1 Tourist Car Park in the Ozu castle town is free of charge, with 47 spaces for ordinary cars and 4 for buses, open 24 hours. On weekends and public holidays you can also use the multi-storey car park at the Ozu City Hall building (free of charge, 60 spaces for ordinary cars, 7:30 to 21:00, with vehicle size restrictions)
• Enquiries: 0893-24-3759 (Garyu Sanso) / 0893-44-2118 (Uchiko Town, Townscape and Regional Promotion Division, for Uchikoza) / 0893-44-2771 (Japan Wax Museum and Kami-Haga Residence)
• Official information: Ozu Castle official website; Ozu City official website (Garyu Sanso and Ozu castle town parking information); Uchiko Town official website, "On the Public Opening of the Uchikoza Dressing Rooms"; Uchiko Town Tourism Association official website

The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Times and prices are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.