Ehime Roads of Shikoku

Yokaichi Historical Road

Yokaichi Historical Road

This course is still home to the historical Yokaichi/Gokoku Townscape and Uchiko-za, which shows traces of Uchiko's glory. The streets of Yokaichi give a vibe of time captured in the very era and continues down to Mitomori Pass. This 7.3-km leisurely walk is designed to give visitors a historical experience.

Yokaichi Historical Road(7.3km)

※下記表はスクロールしてご覧ください。

Spots to photograph

Yokaichi/Gokoku Townscape [The Japanese Wax Museum]

If you wish to receive a certificate, please take a photo that includes yourself at the designated photo point for each course.

Nearby sightseeing spots

  • 1
    Uchiko Athletic Park

    Uchiko Athletic Park has a variety of sports facilities, as well as promenades, observation decks, and rest areas. In addition, 1,000 cherry trees have been planted, making it a popular place to relax. The houses spreading east from here are called "Hatsukaichi district", and this place was the entrance of the old highway leading from Ozu to the village open since ancient times. On the right hand side, there is Ganjoji Temple, which enshrines Yugyo Shonin, and directly below, on the side of Dama Pond, is the Shiando Hall, which has a connection with Kobo Daishi and conveys its history to the present.

  • 2
    Uchiko-za

    Uchiko-za is a two-story wooden building with a tiled roof and gabled roof built by local volunteers in 1916 to celebrate the enthronement of Emperor Taisho, and it is a playhouse with a revolving stage, a passage through audience to stage, and seating boxes. There was a risk of demolition due to its aging, but it was restored with the enthusiasm of the residents, and it is still in use today, and you can also visit it. As a building, while inheriting the traditional form since the early modern period, it is said to have great historical value as a playhouse in the transitional period of the modern era, when it began to adapt to performing arts, such as the appearance that emphasizes the front, the extensive use of glass windows, and the audience seating that is conscious of viewing the stage from the front. Note that the long-term renovation work will start in the autumn of 2023, so you cannot visit during this period.

  • 3
    Yokaichi Gokoku Traditional Buildings Groups Preservation District

    The Yokaichi Gokoku district is a townscape where many solid buildings with plastered baskets flourished as a center of Japanese wax production from the late Edo period to the Meiji period, and it used to be a place where Konpira worshipers and Ohenro-san came and went. In 1982, it was selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government for the first time in Shikoku and even today, the townscape, full of historical atmosphere, has been preserved through the efforts of the locals. It is characterized by white or yellow stucco walls, and there are 93 traditional buildings and 3 national important cultural properties along the road of about 600 m.

  • 4
    Japanese Wax Museum and Kamihaga Residence

    The Kamihaga Residence is the residence of the Kamihaga family, the head branch of the Honhaga family, which was one of the largest wax manufacturers in Japan. Currently, it is maintained as a Japanese wax museum, and telling us about the Japanese wax industry that supported the prosperity of Uchiko from the Edo period to the Taisho period. Japanese wax is the wax taken from the wax tree and was used for various purposes such as candles, hair oils, brightening agents and cosmetics. On the premises, buildings and wax tools of those days are displayed. The exhibition hall provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the wax industry that laid the foundation for the prosperity of Uchiko.

  • 5
    Overlooking the Matsuyama Expressway

    After passing through the old streets of Yokaichi, cross the Nakayama River, head for Mitomori Pass, pass under the highway and walk for a while, you can see the Matsuyama Expressway below. This route is the old Pilgrimage road, and the current Pilgrimage road runs along the Odagawa River towards Karari Roadside Station.

  • 6
    Old Pilgrimage Road Mitomori Pass

    Mitomori Pass has height difference only about 100 m, and is located almost in the middle of the Meisekiji Temple No. 43 and Daihoji Temple No. 44, and is also known as the "Yasuba Pass". Note that, there is an animal-free fence near the pass, so remove the fixed wire to go.

  • 7
    Shiki no Utakoen

    There are about 500 cherry blossom trees that were created by local tree-planting activities for about 30 years. In addition, there are rape flowers, golden bell flowers, spiraea, and magnolia, and you can enjoy it throughout the four seasons.

Special System to recognize The Roads of Shikoku travelers

Travelers who have completed a prefectural route
Under this system, a certificate is issued to everyone who has completed all the routes of the The Roads of Shikoku on foot in a single prefecture.
If you wish to receive this certificate, please take a photo of yourself (the applicant) at the designated photo checkpoints (the mark for photo checkpoints) along each route. After gathering the required photos for all the routes, write a simple comment on your thoughts regarding the route on each photo as well as your address, full name, age, and the dates on which the photos along the route were taken, and submit them to the representative for the prefecture where the route is found.
After reviewing your application, we will issue you a certificate for having completed the prefectural course.
Travelers who have completed all routes in Shikoku
If you have completed all the routes in the four prefectures of Shikoku, please submit your certificate for each of the four prefectures to the representative for any prefecture.
After reviewing your application, we will issue you a certificate for having completed all routes in Shikoku.

Click here to contact the representative for each prefecture

Ehime Prefecture / Kagawa Prefecture / Tokushima Prefecture / Kochi Prefecture