Ozu Historical District

Ozu Historical District

Ozu in Iyo Area, currently Ehime Prefecture, is a castle town. As Iyo-Ozu Castle was the seat of the Ozu Domain Government, Ozu Town was developed in the Edo Age (1603-1868) .

Please refer the page of "Ruins of Iyo-Ozu Castle" for more detail:
http://handejapan19.html.xdomain.jp/TravelDestinations/Shikoku/OzuCastle_E.html

In the third bailey, which was located in the southern part of Iyo-Ozu Castle, retainer's residences were located. The view of the Main Castle Tower of Iyo-Ozu Castle from the third bailey was very impressive.

The "Minami" Turret remains in the site of the third bailey of Iyo-Ozu Castle. Next to the turret, the KATO Residence is located. The residence of NAKAE Tojyu is located to the west of Ozu high school.

KATO Residence is the residence of KATO Clan, who used to be castle lords of Iyo-Ozu Castle since 1617 until the end of the Edo Age in 1868. KATO Yasuaki (1846-1927) , the last castle lord of IYO-Ozu Castle, built the house in 1925.

NAKAAE Tojyu (1608-1648) was a "Yomei" scolar at the beginning of the Edo Age. He was born in Ohmi Area, currently Shiga Prefecture. He was adapted by a retainer of KATO Sadayasu (1580-1623) , then moved to Ozu in 1617. But, he ran away from Ozu to Ohmi in 1634 and started to run his private school.

To the south of the "Minami" Turret, "Sokei-Zenin" Temple is located.

This temple is the family temple of KATO Clan. It was built at the beginning of the seventeenth century as soon as KATO Sadayasu moved from Yonago.

After passing through the middle gate, you will see the main hall and the red gate to the mausoleums of KATO clan. Unfortunately, the red gate was closed when I visited.

If you walk to the east from "Sokei-Zenin" Temple, the Ozu historical town is located. The below picture shows the view of Ozu Town from Ozu Shrine.

Along narrow streets, there are a couple of historical houses. These houses were built between the late of nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.

To the further east from the historical district of Ozu Town, the "Garyu-Sanso" is located. The "Garyu-Sanso" was originally built as a garden in the middle of 1590s. In the Edo Age, castle lords often visited the "Garyu-Sanso".

After the Edo Age was ended in 1868, the "Garyu-Sanso" was ruined. KAWAUCHI Torajiro, who was a wealthy merchant, rebuilt the houses and garden in the "Gary-Sanso" from 1901 to 1907. The "Garyu-Sanso" is located by the Hiji River. The view of the Hiji River from the "Garyu-Sanso" was very beautiful.

It was in the middle of summer and was very hot, when I visited the "Garyu-Sanso. The wind from the river was very comfortable. Three houses in the "Garyu-Sanso" were designated as important properties of Japan.

How to get there
From Tokyo, take a Tokaido Shinkansen, "Nozomi" or a "Hikari" for Japan Rail Pass travelers to Okayama. Take a Limited Express "Shiokaze" to Matsuyama. Then, take a Limited Express "Uwakai" to Iyo-Ozu. Or, you can fly to Matsuyama Airport and take a "Uwakai" from Matsuyama.

Other Historical Sites near by:
Ruins of Matsuyama Castle
Uchiko Historical District
Ruins of Iyo-Ozu Castle
Ruins of Uwajima Castle