How long are you ashore in Matsuyama?

For a 6-hour call or longer · 4 hr door to door

The castle by ropeway

Calls with five hours or more ashore, any day of the week. Start by 12:30 so that you reach the keep before its last entry at 16:30 (16:00 in December and January)

Fits a 6-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

1. +0:00
   Shuttle or taxi from the quay to Iyotetsu Mitsu Station (2 km)

   Princess ran a paid shuttle in 2026; other lines: check the daily programme

2. +0:20
   Train to Matsuyama-shi Station, 15 min, ¥400

   Every 15 minutes through the day

3. +0:40
   Tram towards Dogo Onsen; get off at Okaido, ¥250
4. +0:55
   Walk up Ropeway Street to the Shinonome-guchi station, about 5 min

   Tourist information on the ground floor, 08:30–17:00

5. +1:05
   Ropeway or chairlift up, ¥520 return, then about 8 min uphill to the keep

   The chairlift does not run in rain

6. +1:25
   Matsuyama Castle keep, ¥520, and the view over the city to the Inland Sea

   09:00–17:00; to 16:30 in December and January

7. +2:25
   Down by ropeway and back to Okaido
8. +2:50
   Tram to Matsuyama-shi Station and the train to Mitsu

   Trains at :00, :15, :30 and :45

9. +3:25
   Shuttle or taxi from Mitsu Station to the quay
10. +3:45
    Back at the gangway

Running late? Short of time? Skip the keep’s interior: the hilltop enclosure is free and has the view. From the ropeway station a taxi straight to the quay is about ¥2,700 by our estimate.

Transport spend: train ¥400 and tram ¥250 each way; ropeway ¥520 return; keep ¥520. Shuttle or taxi to Mitsu Station extra (taxi about ¥1,000, our estimate). Full route, map and photos

For a 7.5-hour call or longer · 5 hr 30 min door to door

Dogo Onsen: the Honkan bath, the clock and lunch

Calls with six hours or more ashore, any day of the week. The Honkan takes no reservations for the ¥700 bath and can have a queue

Fits a 7.5-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

1. +0:00
   Shuttle or taxi from the quay to Iyotetsu Mitsu Station
2. +0:20
   Train to Matsuyama-shi Station, 15 min, ¥400
3. +0:40
   Tram to Dogo Onsen, the end of the line, about 20 min, ¥250
4. +1:05
   Botchan Karakuri Clock and the free footbath in Hojoen square

   On the hour; every 30 min at weekends and holidays, and daily in March, April, August, November, 28 Dec–5 Jan and 1–5 May

5. +1:25
   Through the arcade to Dogo Onsen Honkan: Kami-no-Yu, ground floor, ¥700, 60 min

   06:00–23:00. The official site shows the current waiting time

6. +2:40
   Lunch in the arcade: Gansui Dogo for Uwajima tai-meshi

   11:00–15:00, no reservations; closed Wednesdays. Kadoya Dogo Tsubakizaka opens every day

7. +3:40
   Tram back to Matsuyama-shi Station

   On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays the Botchan train leaves Dogo Onsen at 13:19 and 14:59, ¥1,300

8. +4:10
   Train to Mitsu, about 15 min
9. +4:35
   Shuttle or taxi to the quay
10. +4:55
    Back at the gangway

Running late? Queue at the Honkan? Asuka-no-Yu, Dogo Onsen’s annex 3 minutes away, is ¥610. A taxi from Dogo to the quay takes about 40 minutes by the port’s own figure; about ¥2,800–4,100, our estimate.

Transport spend: train ¥400 and tram ¥250 each way. Honkan ground-floor bath ¥700; towel hire ¥110. Full route, map and photos

For a 9-hour call or longer · 7 hr door to door

The castle in the morning, Dogo Onsen after lunch

Calls of nine hours, such as 08:00–17:00: ashore at 08:30 and back at the gangway by 15:30. On a 07:00–16:00 call start at 07:30 and reach the ropeway for its 08:30 opening

Fits a 9-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

1. +0:00
   Shuttle or taxi to Iyotetsu Mitsu Station, then the train to Matsuyama-shi, 15 min
2. +0:40
   Tram to Okaido and 5 min on foot to the castle ropeway
3. +1:05
   Ropeway up, 8 min on foot to the keep; Matsuyama Castle, ¥520

   Keep from 09:00, ropeway from 08:30

4. +2:25
   Ropeway down and the tram on to Dogo Onsen

   Gansui’s main shop, for tai-meshi from 11:00, is at 3-7-8 Okaido

5. +3:05
   Lunch in the Dogo arcade, then the karakuri clock on the hour
6. +4:05
   Dogo Onsen Honkan: Kami-no-Yu, ¥700, 60 min

   No reservations

7. +5:20
   Tram to Matsuyama-shi Station, about 20 min
8. +5:50
   Train to Mitsu, about 15 min
9. +6:15
   Shuttle or taxi to the quay
10. +6:35
    Back at the gangway

Running late? Behind after the castle? Drop the bath and keep the footbath and the arcade, or take a taxi from Dogo to the quay: about 40 minutes. With an hour more, Ishite-ji is about 20 minutes on foot beyond the Honkan.

Transport spend: train ¥400 each way; three tram rides ¥750; ropeway ¥520. Keep ¥520; Honkan bath ¥700. Full route, map and photos

Rainy day · 6 hr door to door

Under a roof: the Honkan bath, Bansuiso and the museum next door

A wet day, except a Monday, when Bansuiso and the museum are closed. The castle chairlift stops in rain; the ropeway runs

Fits an 8-hour stop with nothing to add (off the ship 30 minutes after arrival, back at the gangway an hour before all-aboard). A longer call gives you the extra time; on this one, do not add a stop.

1. +0:00
   Shuttle or taxi to Iyotetsu Mitsu Station, then the train to Matsuyama-shi, 15 min
2. +0:40
   Tram to Dogo Onsen, about 20 min; the arcade to the Honkan is covered
3. +1:10
   Dogo Onsen Honkan: Tama-no-Yu with the second-floor rest room, ¥2,000, 60 min

   Yukata, towels and tea included; the Yushinden imperial rooms can be viewed

4. +2:25
   Lunch in the arcade

   Gansui Dogo closes on Wednesdays; Kadoya Dogo Tsubakizaka opens every day

5. +3:20
   Tram to Okaido; 5 min on foot to Bansuiso, ¥400

   09:00–18:00

6. +4:05
   Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum, next door, ¥500

   09:00–18:30, last entry 18:00; closed Mondays and for a period each February–March

7. +4:50
   Tram to Matsuyama-shi Station and the train to Mitsu
8. +5:30
   Shuttle or taxi to the quay
9. +5:50
   Back at the gangway

Running late? A Monday? Keep to Dogo: the Honkan, Asuka-no-Yu and the arcade are open, and the castle keep is indoors once you are up the hill by ropeway.

Transport spend: train ¥400 each way; three tram rides ¥750. Honkan Tama-no-Yu course ¥2,000; Bansuiso ¥400; Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum ¥500. Full route, map and photos