Uchiko Onsen Ehime

Uchiko Onsen, in the historic merchant town of Uchiko in Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku, draws on bicarbonate and chloride thermal waters in one of Japan's best-preserved Edo and Meiji-era commercial townscapes — a National Preservation District whose white-walled merchant houses, kabuki theatre, and traditional wax and lacquer workshops have been maintained in exceptional condition along the main Yokaichi street. The naturally warm mineral waters, combining the skin-softening properties of bicarbonate with the circulatory stimulation of chloride minerals, complement the contemplative atmosphere of a town that rewards slow exploration on foot through its immaculately preserved historic quarter. Uchiko's position on the Shikoku pilgrimage circuit between Matsuyama and Kochi, and its easy accessibility from Dogo Onsen, makes it a natural stopping point for visitors traversing Shikoku's extraordinary combination of sacred, scenic, and historic landscapes.