Uwajima, Japan

Uwajima is a city located in Ehime, Japan. Uwajima has a famous Date Museum which features many historically important objects tied to the history of the region and the Daimyo family Date which ruled this area. Uwajima castle is also worth a visit. It occupies a strategic location at the heart of the city. Unlike most of Japan's castles, it's actually an original (dating to 1665).

Uwajima is home to an unusual fertility shrine called Taga Shrine, which features a large, realistic phallus carved from a log approximately 9 feet in length, 1 foot in diameter. Next to the shrine is a museum, filled with artifacts and paintings from around the world.

Things to See & Do

* Taga Shrine – ancient Shinto fertility shrine
* Uwajima Castle
* Warei Shrine
* Bull Sumo
* Shinju Kaikan – pearl souvenir shop

General information

Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Yen (JPY)
Language – Japanese
Population – 87,000approx
Land Area – 469.48 km2
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT plus hours nine hours
International Country Telephone Code – 81

Travel Links – Uwajima is the western terminus of the JR Yosan Line and there are regular connections north to Matsuyama. Normal trains from Matsuyama take 3 hours, with at least one change of trains required. The Uwakai Limited Express shaves the travel time down to 75-80 minutes by not stopping at every rice paddy along the way.

Okayama is about 4 1/4 hours away via two limited express trains, the Shiokaze and the Uwakai, changing trains in Matsuyama.
Infrequent trains on the JR Yodo Line (予土線) also connect Uwajima to Kochi, but you'll have to transfer at JR Kita-Uwajima Station, one stop north of the city center.

Buses from Matsuyama to Uwajima are a little faster than the regular trains.