What to know
Ozu City (大洲, Ōzu) is located in Ehime Prefecture on the western coast of Shikoku. The city emerged during the Edo Period (1603-1867) as a castle town. A section of the old town remains today with nostalgic alleys and old-fashioned houses, serving as a reminder of both the Edo Period and the Meiji Period (1868-1912). The recently reconstructed Ozu Castle stands proudly in the city center as the local icon.
The picturesque Hijikawa River flows through the heart of Ozu City. It is reputedly one of the three best places in Japan to see cormorant fishing (ukai) in summer, along with the Nagaragawa River in Gifu Prefecture and the Mikumagawa River in Oita Prefecture. Garyu Sanso, a villa that superbly combines aestheticism and serenity, stands just east of the old town on the banks of the Hijikawa River.
