Ozu Castle Town — Preserved Edo Architecture

Published: Jun 3, 2026

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Ozucastle townEdo periodmerchant housespreserved architecture

Ozu Castle Town — Preserved Edo Architecture

Ozu Castle Town — Preserved Edo Architecture 2

Ozu is a well-preserved castle town along the Hijikawa River, featuring Edo-period merchant houses, samurai residences, and a reconstructed castle keep built using traditional wooden construction methods. The riverside district retains its historical layout with narrow streets, whitewashed warehouses, and traditional machiya townhouses converted into cafes, craft shops, and guesthouses.

The Ohanahan Street area preserves merchant architecture from the 1800s, where wealthy traders built elaborate wooden homes with interior gardens and tea rooms.

Opening Hours

Ohanahan Street: free walking all hours. Ozu Castle: 9:00–17:00. Merchant house museums: 9:00–17:00. Cormorant fishing boat departures: 19:30 (June–September).

Closed: Ozu Castle open daily. Some merchant houses closed Mondays. Cormorant fishing (ukai) runs June–September only.

Entrance Fee

Ozu Castle ¥550. Merchant house museums ¥300–500 each. Cormorant fishing viewing boat ¥3,500/person. Ohanahan Street walking: free. Machiya guesthouse stays ¥8,000–15,000/night.

Best Season

April–May for spring greenery and mild walking weather. June–September for cormorant fishing on the Hijikawa River. Autumn (October–November) for foliage along the river and castle grounds.

Visit Duration

Walking the historic street and 1–2 merchant houses: 2 hours. Full day including castle, all museums, and riverside walk: 4–5 hours. Overnight guests experience the town after day-trippers leave at 17:00.

Getting There

Access Information

Ozu City, 35 min by JR from Matsuyama. Ozu Castle entry: ¥550. Ohanahan Street: free walking area. Poccori Arukou rental kimono: ¥3,500/day (book ahead). Walking tour: 2–3 hours covers main sites.

Insider Guide

Premium

**Ozu Castle reconstruction:** The castle keep was rebuilt in 2004 using authentic Edo construction techniques — entirely wooden structure with traditional joinery (no nails), hand-carved beams, and c