An Introduction to Ozu, Ehime This video, titled "A Journey to the Good Old Days of Japan - Ozu, Ehime Prefecture (5-minute version)" (古き良き、往年の日本を訪ねる旅～愛媛県大洲市～（英語：5分Ver)), is a promotional video uploaded by the official channel of Ozu. Ozu, Ehime, located in Japan's Shikoku Region (四国地方, Shikokuchiho), is known as the "Little Kyoto of Iyo" for its beautiful scenery and tasteful vibe. Nagahama Bridge (長浜大橋, Nagahamaohashi) astrides the Hiji River (肱川, Hijikawa) that runs through Ozu, at its estuary. It's a drawbridge that opens and closes in the center. Under the cold winter sky, a crisp wind known as the Hiji River Storm (肱川嵐, Hijikawa Arashi), a hallmark of the season for Ozu, and it is followed by a vast fog. This can be seen from 0:12 in the video through time-lapse footage. The video introduces all of the must-see tourist locations in Ozu, Ehime. The attractions of the city are packed into this 5-and-a-half minute video. More About Ozu, Ehime - An Introduction to Beautiful Sightseeing Spots Photo：Ohanahan Street In the city, rickshaws run on cobblestone of Ohanahan Street (おはなはん通り, Ohanahandori), along the historical housings from the Meiji Period (1868-1912). The cobblestone streets can be seen in the video from 1:11. Pokopen Alley (ポコペン横丁, Pokopen Yokocho), a nostalgic and instagrammable side street, as well as the exotic Ozu Red Brick Building (おおず赤煉瓦館, Ozu Akarengakan), are two popular tourist destinations. We recommend visiting Nagahama Port (長浜港, Nagamahako) in Ozu if you fancy yourself some gourmet seafood! You can also travel to Aoshima Island (青島, Aoshima) in the Seto Inland Sea from the beach. Amago no Satsuma, a specialty of Ozu, is a must-eat local cuisine. Relaxing at Hiji River Wind Museum – Utamaro Building (肱川風の博物館・歌磨館, Hijikawa Kaze no Hakubutsukan – Utamarokan) is another great option. It passes on locally cultivated history, culture and tradition to the next generation. Historical Tourist Sites in Ozu, Ehime! Photo：Ozu Castle Ozu Castle (大洲城, Ozujo), built during the Kamakura Period (1185-1333) by governor Shugo, the castle was rebuilt by Takatora Todo more than a century later. It is designated as one of the hundred best castles of Japan. The castle is shown in the video from 2:42. Ozu is also home to many temples and shrines such as Myoho Temple (妙法寺, Myohoji) (from 2:05), Zuiryu Temple (瑞龍寺, Zuiryuji) (from 2:29), Shusseki Temple (出石寺, Shussekiji) and Sukunahikona Shrine (少彦名神社, Sukunahikona Jinja). Garyu Sanso(臥龍山荘,Garyu Sanso) (from 2:49), surrounded by the tasteful scenery of a Japanese garden, is known for its characteristic Sukiya Style (数寄屋建築, Sukiya Kenchiku). It has a different feel depending on the season. Obie Bridge (帯江橋, Obiebashi) (from 3:23) is a wooden, covered bridge, not often seen in Japan, beloved by locals as a social hub. Ozu is home to tons of delicious food as well. Amago no Satsuma, shown in the video from 3:52, is a traditional cuisine consisting of grilled salmon served with a miso-based soup poured on rice. Other Tourist Destinations in Ozu, Ehime Photo：Aoshima's cats There are many sightseeing spots uncovered in the video. Iyo Ozu Sukunahikona Shrine, Aoshima, Tomisuyama Park (冨士山公園, Tomisuyama Koen), Yanetsukibashi Covered Bridge (屋根つき橋, Yanetsukibashi) (also known as Roman Yatsuhashi (浪漫八橋, Romanyatsuhashi)) and Sambaidani Waterfall (三杯谷の滝, Sambaidaninotaki) are just a few places to visit in Ozu. The "Kanko Sakura Festival" (観光さくらまつり, Kanko Sakura Matsuri), "Hataki Sakura Festival" (八多喜さくらまつり, Hataki Sakura Matsuri), "Suitengu Fireworks Festival" (水天宮花火大会, Suitengu Hanabi Taikai), "Nagahama Akahashi Summer Festival" (ながはま赤橋夏まつり, Nagahama Akahashi Natumatsuri), "Dragon Boat Festival" (ドラゴンボート大会, Dragon Boat Taikai), "Ozu Festival" (おおずまつり, Ozu Matsuri), "Ebisu Festival" (えびすまつり, Ebisu Matsuri) and "Gion Festival" (祇園まつり, Gion Festival) are some of the popular festivals in Ozu, Ehime. We recommend scheduling your trip around these events. You can't go wrong staying in Ozu, thanks to its abundant supply of Onsen Ryokan and hotels. Summary of Ozu, Ehime A lot of attractive tourist destinations are captured in this video. If you're interested, we recommend riding the all-red tourist train "Iyo-Nada Monogatari," shown in the video from 4:11, to access Iyo-Ozu Station. Ozu and the surrounding area was badly damaged by severe flooding in 2018, but the people are working together to restore the city. Be sure to go on a sightseeing trip to Ozu, Ehime to support the recovery effort! 【Official Website】Ozu, Ehime Prefecture City Hall Homepage http://translate.google.co.jp/translate?hl=ja&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.city.ozu.ehime.jp%2F&sandbox=1 【Tripadvisor】Ozu, Ehime https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g1022355-Ozu_Ehime_Prefecture_Shikoku-Vacations.html

Introducing "Cat Paradise" in Aoshima, Ehime Prefecture "JG☆☆☆4K 愛媛 青島(十数人の住民と百匹のネコ） Ehime, Aoshima (10+ residents and 100+ cats)" produced by "JAPAN GEOGRAPHIC" is a sightseeing video introducing the charms of Aoshima, an island floating in the Seto Inland Sea. In this video, the many cats of Aoshima, Ehime Prefecture, located in Japan's Shikoku region, are filmed for over an hour. This is a must watch for cat lovers! See how many cats you can count while sightseeing at Aoshima's "Cat's Paradise." Sightseeing in Aoshima, Ehime Prefecture Photo：Aoshima Located in Nagahamacho, Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, Aoshima is only 0.49 square kilometres, about the size of 10 Tokyo Domes. as of 2019, only three families with a total of six people live there. Aoshima, Ehime Prefecture, is also called "Nekojima" (Cat Island), and there are more than 200 cats on the island. A cat called “Dokin-chan”, which is particularly popular among the other felines, has had a photo book made about it, and it is loved by many fans. Around Aoshima, net fishing and single-line fishing are thriving, so you can enjoy gourmet seafood made with the freshest catches. In August, the historic festival "Aoshima Bon Odori," which is designated as an Ehime Prefecture Intangible Folk Cultural Property, is held, and it is very popular. Highlights of Aoshima's "Cat Paradise" Photo：Cats at Aoshima There are plenty of highlights in this hour long video! Hundreds of cats are seen throughout the video. As we said before, it's the perfect place for cat lovers. At 3:34 in the video, you can see several cats gathering near a docked ship, looking for some treats no doubt. At around 10:33 in the video, you can see cats playing with fish and at 20:41, we see a large number of cats gathering up to be fed by the islands visitors. Aoshima Shrine on the island is also home to cats. This can be seen at 31:09 in the video. You can see various things in the video, such as cats basking in the sun, and sometimes they even get into some quarrels. Try to find your favorite scene! How to Get to Aoshima Source :YouTube screenshot You can get to Aoshima by heading to Nagahama Port, a one-minute walk from JR Iyo Nagahama Station, and taking the local ferry. The only way to access Aoshima is the regular ferry which has a capacity of 34 people. The fare is 700 yen one way and 1360 yen round trip. (As of November 2019) The timetable is as follows: Departure from Nagahama at 8: 00/14: 30, and departure from Aoshima Port at 8: 45/16: 15 (* As of November 2019). Restrooms are located at the docking area, and there are also day trips to see Aoshima and its surroundings. The ferry may be canceled due to inclement weather, so if you don't want your trip to be interrupted, we recommend staying at a hotel in Nagahama, Ehime Prefecture and gathering information there. Please note that there are no accommodations or shops on the island. The Problem With the "Cat Paradise," Aoshima Most cats that live on Aoshima are strays, so many cats have not been fixed, and you can still see kittens, as you can see at 7:35 in the video. An increase in the number of cats and the deterioration of the environment are 2 of the island's major problems. Aoshima has a small population, and it's possible that ferries to the island may be stopped in the future. If there is no one left on the island, cat management and feeding problems may occur. Because of this, immediate action is required. When tourists travel to Aoshima by ferry, they must follow rules, such as cleaning up their garbage and feeding limits.