Matsuyama

After Hiroshima it was time to change from main island to smaller one. In Shikoku I spent one day and one night in the "small" city called Matsuyama (population half million almost same as in Helsinki...). Matsuyama had a nice castle and oldest onsen in Japan. BTW, this onsen, called Dougo-onsen, was the original model for the bath house in Miyazaki's famous animation "Spirited Away".


Boat trip from Hiroshima to Matsuyama.


Inside the boat my "seat"...nice, I could sleep couple of hours in this room.


Drinkable or not?


First sights of the Matsuyama.


Trams are getting older. :)


Met these fellows on my way to the castle. They didn't speak much but looked funny.


First walls of the fortress.


The Matsuyama castle.


Japanese clothing.


Getting in to the castle itself.


Old school fire extinguisher.


Nice view...window was quite small though...


Previous inhabitant.


This time walking all the way down. Next time rope way ALSO down...


Foot bath in front of the shopping street near the Dougo-onsen.


The Dougo-onsen.


And from the other side.


Does it remaind something?


Once more.


Inside the onsen-house.


Resting place for tired traveller.


Big tatami rooms for guests to rest...but only for 1.5h max. No time limit in the hot bath itself.


Tea and a cookie after bathing.


Lots of people wearing yukatas aroud the onsen.


Funny clock (maybe funniest what I have seen so far).


Stayed the next night in youth hostel. Didn't need to wait long to fall a sleep. Hehe, when checking mail I was chatting with a nice old lady next to me. After 10 min. she asked "where am I from?". When I answered that from Finland, she replied: "Oh, no miks mei sitte puhutakkin suomee..." She had quite strong british accent...so I supposed it with out asking that she is from there...which was partly true (married to british man and living in England at the moment).

Ok, time to sleep now. Many postings to come...just be patient. BTW, for those who didn't know returned from Finland yesterday (only 9 days trip).