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From Matsuyama Airport to Uwajima Castle: the Matsuyama Expressway to Nanyo

A long drive south on the Matsuyama Expressway from Matsuyama Airport to Uwajima Castle. The prefecture's guide gives about 1 hour 30 minutes to Uwajima Station. It covers the SAs and PAs where you can rest, the night closures of the expressway, the Shiroyama-shita parking lot and the construction at the castle entrances.

From
Matsuyama Airport (松山空港)
To
Uwajima Castle (宇和島城)
Area
Matsuyama, Iyo, Uchiko, Ozu, Seiyo, Uwajima
Points
14
Toll roads
Yes
Parking
4

Summary

  • Ehime Prefecture gives about 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Matsuyama Airport to Uwajima Station. No official page gives the time to the castle.
  • The route goes from Yogominami IC onto the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road and the Matsuyama Expressway, and leaves at Uwajima-Asahi IC.
  • Official pages list 2 rest areas on the outbound lanes: Iyonada SA and Uchiko PA. No facility after Uchiko PA is listed.
  • Expressway night closures are announced by section: NEXCO West Japan's from 19:00, the Ministry's from 20:00, until 6:00 the next morning.
  • Shiroyama-shita lot: 24 hours, 100 yen per hour, 46 regular cars. The Kori Family row house gate on the north side is under construction; no cars.

This article is based on official sources and maps. A record of the operator actually driving this route will be added after the drive.

A driving video is in preparation. When it is published, it will appear here with chapters numbered the same as the points below.

Map and points

NStraight-line distance: about 20 km1234567891011121314StartArrive
This diagram shows where the points are. The line joins the points in order and is not the actual shape of the road. The numbers match the list below and will also be the chapter numbers of the video.
Point locations: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) ・ License
  1. Matsuyama Airport Passenger Terminal (松山空港 旅客ターミナルビル)

    Start

    Starting point. From here you drive Prefectural Roads 22 and 190 toward Yogominami IC.

    Location 33.829008, 132.704103 · Source OpenStreetMap(way/318914780)

  2. Yogominami IC (余戸南IC)

    Merge / split

    According to Ehime Prefecture's guide, you drive about 15 minutes from the airport on Prefectural Roads 22 and 190, enter this interchange and join the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road.

    Location 33.811195, 132.727199 · Source 松山空港から宇和島駅へ|アクセス(愛媛県内の移動)|愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】

  3. Matsuyama IC (松山IC)

    Merge / split

    You go from the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road onto the Matsuyama Expressway. The starting point of "Matsuyama IC to Ozu-kita IC", for which NEXCO West Japan announces night closures.

    Location 33.793636, 132.777405 · Source OpenStreetMap(node/1976376164)

  4. Iyonada Service Area, outbound (伊予灘SA(下り))

    Parking

    The first rest area. Its official page says paving repairs that cut the parking spaces by up to about half run until October 30, Reiwa 8 (2026).

    Location 33.771864, 132.755915 · Source 伊予灘サービスエリア(下り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt

  5. Iyo IC (伊予IC)

    Pass

    The interchange 6.2 km after Iyonada SA.

    Location 33.738502, 132.704946 · Source 伊予灘SA(下)・松山自動車道 | ドラぷら(NEXCO東日本)

  6. Uchiko Parking Area, outbound (内子PA(下り))

    Parking

    The official page lists parking for 5 large and 10 small vehicles, and toilets with 2 stalls and 3 urinals for men and 5 for women. No shop was found.

    Location 33.566586, 132.667491 · Source 内子PA(下)・松山自動車道 | ドラぷら(NEXCO東日本)

  7. Ozu IC (大洲IC)

    Pass

    According to Ehime Prefecture's guide, the western end of the opened section of the Shikoku Jukan Expressway. From here, the Ozu Road (Ozu IC to Ozu-kitamata IC) is a free motorway.

    Location 33.535268, 132.587438 · Source 高規格幹線道路(四国8の字ネットワーク・中四国連携ルート) - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路建設課)

  8. Ozu-kitamata IC (大洲北只IC)

    Pass

    According to Ehime Prefecture's guide, the northern end of the opened section of the Shikoku Odan Expressway (Uwajima-kita IC to Ozu-kitamata IC, 32.0 km).

    Location 33.485139, 132.537572 · Source 高規格幹線道路(四国8の字ネットワーク・中四国連携ルート) - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路建設課)

  9. Seiyo-Uwa IC (西予宇和IC)

    Pass

    According to Ehime Prefecture's guide, the section from Seiyo-Uwa IC to Uwajima-kita IC opened in March 2012 and connected to the Shikoku Odan Expressway. Iyokan-net writes Uwajima Castle is "about 30 minutes by car from Seiyo-Uwa IC".

    Location 33.358775, 132.530485 · Source 高規格幹線道路(四国8の字ネットワーク・中四国連携ルート) - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路建設課)

  10. Uwajima-kita IC (宇和島北IC)

    Pass

    According to Ehime Prefecture's guide, the Uwajima Road is a free motorway, and the section from Uwajima-kita IC to Uwajima-Asahi IC opened in March 1993.

    Location 33.240849, 132.565317 · Source 高規格幹線道路(四国8の字ネットワーク・中四国連携ルート) - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路建設課)

  11. Uwajima-Asahi IC (宇和島朝日IC)

    Turn

    According to Ehime Prefecture's guide, the interchange where you leave the expressway. Uwajima City guides to Uwajima Castle as "about 1 km (about 4 minutes) from Uwajima-Asahi IC".

    Location 33.229384, 132.558428 · Source 宇和島城-各種案内- - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

  12. Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot (城山下駐車場)

    Parking

    A city-run parking lot for regular cars in Uwajima. 24 hours, 100 yen per hour, 46 spaces.

    Location 33.221263, 132.565362 · Source 宇和島城-各種案内- - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

  13. Kori Family Samurai Row House Gate, north castle entrance (桑折氏武家長屋門(北側登城口))

    Pass

    Under renovation from March Reiwa 8 (2026) to March Reiwa 9 (2027). You can walk up to the castle, but vehicles cannot enter during the work.

    Location 33.220924, 132.565152 · Source 桑折氏武家長屋門の改修工事を実施します - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

  14. Uwajima Castle keep (宇和島城天守)

    Arrive

    Goal. The keep is open 9:00 to 17:00 from March to October and 9:00 to 16:00 from November to February, with no closing days. Admission is 200 yen for adults.

    Location 33.219460, 132.565247 · Source 宇和島城-各種案内- - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

Ehime Prefecture gives about 1 hour 30 minutes by car from Matsuyama Airport to Uwajima Station

We did not find an official page that says how many minutes it takes by car from Matsuyama Airport to Uwajima Castle. What we found were a guide that ends at Uwajima Station and a guide that starts at Matsuyama IC. The “If you use your own car” column of “Access (travel within Ehime Prefecture)” on Iyokan-net, the prefecture’s official tourism site, is as follows.

マイカーをご利用の場合 松山空港~宇和島駅(約1時間30分) 松山空港 県道22号線・190号線約15分 余戸南IC 松山外環状道路、松山自動車道約1時間10分 宇和島朝日IC 県道268号線、国道320号線約5分 宇和島駅

Translation: “If you use your own car. Matsuyama Airport to Uwajima Station (about 1 hour 30 minutes). Matsuyama Airport / Prefectural Roads 22 and 190, about 15 minutes / Yogominami IC / Matsuyama Outer Ring Road and Matsuyama Expressway, about 1 hour 10 minutes / Uwajima-Asahi IC / Prefectural Road 268 and National Route 320, about 5 minutes / Uwajima Station”

Source: 松山空港から宇和島駅へ|アクセス(愛媛県内の移動)|愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】

There are 3 other numbers close to Uwajima Castle. Their starting points are different, so we list them side by side.

What is written Source Starting point
About 1 km (about 4 minutes) from Uwajima-Asahi IC. Note: Matsuyama IC to Uwajima-Asahi IC is 83.5 km 宇和島市「宇和島城-各種案内-」 (Uwajima City: Uwajima Castle - Various guides) Uwajima-Asahi IC, Matsuyama IC
About 1 hour 20 minutes 宇和島市観光物産協会「アクセス」 (Uwajima Tourism and Products Association: Access) From Matsuyama IC to Uwajima-Asahi
About 30 minutes by car from Seiyo-Uwa IC いよ観ネット「宇和島城」 (Iyokan-net: Uwajima Castle) Seiyo-Uwa IC

The second line is text inside the diagram “By car from within Shikoku” on the tourism and products association’s page. The diagram says “Matsuyama IC”, “about 1 hour 20 minutes” and “Uwajima-Asahi”. The starting point is not Matsuyama Airport.

This article divides the route into 14 points, following the order of the prefecture’s guide (airport, Yogominami IC, Uwajima-Asahi IC).

From Yogominami IC, the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road, Matsuyama IC and the Matsuyama Expressway, in that order

The order of roads in the prefecture’s guide is Prefectural Roads 22 and 190, the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road, the Matsuyama Expressway, and Prefectural Road 268 and National Route 320. For Prefectural Roads 22 and 190 up to Yogominami IC, the intersections where you turn are not confirmed on official pages.

We checked the order of interchanges from entering the Matsuyama Expressway to Uwajima-Asahi IC in OpenStreetMap (map data). Map data is not an official road register. What we could confirm is the position where an interchange of that name is recorded and the order in which they line up.

Order Point Role on the Matsuyama Expressway
1 Matsuyama IC You enter the Matsuyama Expressway from the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road
2 Iyonada SA (outbound) Rest area
3 Iyo IC Next interchange
4 Nakayama Smart IC Ehime Prefecture writes that it is an ETC-only smart interchange
5 Uchiko PA (outbound) Rest area
6 Uchiko-Ikazaki IC Next interchange
7 Ozu IC Entrance of the Ozu Road
8 Ozu-kita IC, Ozu-fuji IC, Ozu-hijiminami IC, Ozu-minami IC Interchanges inside the Ozu Road
9 Ozu-kitamata IC Exit of the Ozu Road
10 Seiyo-Uwa IC Next interchange
11 Mima IC Between Seiyo-Uwa IC and Uwajima-kita IC
12 Uwajima-kita IC Entrance of the Uwajima Road
13 Uwajima-Asahi IC The interchange where you leave

The distance from Matsuyama IC to Uwajima-Asahi IC is written by Uwajima City. The original text is as follows.

 自家用車でお越しの方:宇和島朝日ICから約1キロ(約4分)※松山ICから宇和島朝日IC間は83.5キロ

Translation: “If you come by private car: about 1 km (about 4 minutes) from Uwajima-Asahi IC. Note: Matsuyama IC to Uwajima-Asahi IC is 83.5 km.”

Source: 宇和島城-各種案内- - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

Of the expressway sections, what we could confirm officially is that the Ozu Road and the Uwajima Road are free

Some sections of the Matsuyama Expressway route are free. Ehime Prefecture’s page “High-standard trunk roads” (高規格幹線道路) has the following entry.

一般国道56号大洲道路(6.3km)は、四国8の字ネットワークの一部を形成する無料の自動車専用道路として、国土交通省により整備されています。

Translation: “National Route 56 Ozu Road (6.3 km) is built by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as a free motorway forming part of the Shikoku Figure-8 Network.”

The same page also says “free motorway” for the Uwajima Road (length 17.5 km). The sections are as follows.

1993(H5)年3月に宇和島北IC~宇和島朝日IC間が開通した後、順次、部分開通(暫定2車線)し、2015(H27)年3月の津島高田IC~津島岩松IC間の開通(完成2車線)により、全線開通しています。なお、2012(H24)年3月には、西予宇和IC~宇和島北IC間の開通により、四国横断自動車道と接続しています。

Translation: “After the section between Uwajima-kita IC and Uwajima-Asahi IC opened in March 1993 (Heisei 5), it opened in parts in turn (provisional two lanes), and with the opening of the section between Tsushima-Takada IC and Tsushima-Iwamatsu IC in March 2015 (Heisei 27) (completed two lanes), the whole line is open. In March 2012 (Heisei 24), with the opening of the section between Seiyo-Uwa IC and Uwajima-kita IC, it connected to the Shikoku Odan Expressway.”

The opened sections of the Shikoku Jukan Expressway and the Shikoku Odan Expressway are as follows.

四国縦貫自動車道は徳島県境から大洲ICまでの133.7kmが供用済み、また、四国横断自動車道は香川県境から高知県境までの20.5kmおよび宇和島北ICから大洲北只ICまでの32.0kmが供用済み

Translation: “Of the Shikoku Jukan Expressway, 133.7 km from the Tokushima prefectural border to Ozu IC is open, and of the Shikoku Odan Expressway, 20.5 km from the Kagawa prefectural border to the Kochi prefectural border and 32.0 km from Uwajima-kita IC to Ozu-kitamata IC are open.”

Source: 高規格幹線道路(四国8の字ネットワーク・中四国連携ルート) - 愛媛県庁公式ホームページ(道路建設課)

The same page also says that many sections have provisional two lanes.

県内の供用中の高速道路においては、約55%の区間(延長)が暫定2車線となっています。

Translation: “On the expressways in operation in the prefecture, about 55% of the sections (by length) have provisional two lanes.”

NEXCO West Japan’s night closure notice is summarized as work on “two-way traffic sections” in Shikoku. We have not confirmed which sections of this route are two-way traffic.

There are 3 things we could not confirm on official pages.

  • The toll amounts (NEXCO West Japan’s toll search could not be read in this research)
  • A page that says whether “Matsuyama IC to Ozu IC” and “Ozu-kitamata IC to Seiyo-Uwa IC” are paid
  • A page that says whether “Seiyo-Uwa IC to Uwajima-kita IC” is free

For reference, map data has records of toll gates. There is an “Ozu main line toll gate” right next to Ozu IC, an “Ozu-matsuo main line toll gate” between Ozu-kitamata IC and Seiyo-Uwa IC, and records of toll gates at Uchiko-Ikazaki IC and Iyo IC. These only record the positions of toll gates, and we have not confirmed how much they cost. Before you leave, check the sections and tolls in NEXCO West Japan’s toll search.

You can rest at Iyonada SA (outbound) and Uchiko PA (outbound); no next facility is listed after Uchiko PA

The NEXCO West Japan SA/PA information site writes that the “outbound” side of Iyonada Service Area is “toward Uwajima”. On the outbound lanes of the Matsuyama Expressway, the rest areas listed on official pages are these 2.

Item Iyonada SA (outbound) Uchiko PA (outbound)
Position 3.7 km from Matsuyama IC, 6.2 km to Iyo IC 20.9 km from Iyo IC, 3.1 km to Uchiko-Ikazaki IC
Parking 8 large, 38 small 5 large, 10 small
Toilets Men: 2 stalls, 6 urinals. Women: 9 Men: 2 stalls, 3 urinals. Women: 5
Other facilities Snack corner and food court, shopping corner (both usually 7:00-22:00), EV quick charger (24 hours) No shop or fuel listing found

The distance between Iyonada SA and Uchiko PA is about 27.1 km. The “Previous and next service areas” on Driveplaza’s (NEXCO East Japan) Uchiko PA (outbound) page lists only Iyonada SA, and does not list a next facility toward Uwajima. There is no rest area listed after Uchiko PA toward Uwajima.

The Iyonada SA (outbound) page describes construction in the parking lot.

【大型】8 【小型】38 【兼用】0 【二輪】4 【トレーラー】2 【障がい者用大型】0 【障がい者用小型】1 以下の期間、舗装補修工事に伴い、駐車マスが最大約半分まで減少、トレーラーマスが利用不可となります。 令和8年8月24日(月曜)~令和8年10月30日(金曜)

Translation: “[Large] 8 [Small] 38 [Shared] 0 [Motorcycle] 4 [Trailer] 2 [Disabled-access large] 0 [Disabled-access small] 1. During the period below, because of paving repair work, the parking spaces will be reduced by up to about half, and the trailer spaces cannot be used. From Monday, August 24, Reiwa 8 to Friday, October 30, Reiwa 8.”

Source: 伊予灘サービスエリア(下り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt

October 13, 2026, the day this article was written, is within the construction period. After October 30, Reiwa 8 (2026), the number of parking spaces may have changed.

The shop hours at Iyonada SA are changed on the dates in the notice. The text of the notice on the NEXCO West Japan SA/PA information site is as follows.

松山自動車道及び徳島自動車道において、道路工事による夜間通行止めに伴い、各店舗の営業時間を下記のとおり変更いたします。

Translation: “On the Matsuyama Expressway and the Tokushima Expressway, because of night closures for road work, the business hours of each shop will be changed as below.”

Source: E56 松山自動車道・E32 徳島自動車道 夜間通行止めに伴う一部SAの営業時間変更について|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイト

The table of business hours is an image. The text in the image says the food and shop sections of Iyonada SA on both the inbound and outbound lanes are “7:00-19:00” (last order for food and drink 18:30, usually 7:00-22:00). The period covered by the change is from Tuesday, October 13 to Friday, October 16, with spare dates from Monday, October 19 to Thursday, October 22.

Night closures of the Matsuyama Expressway are announced; NEXCO West Japan’s start at 19:00 and the Ministry’s at 20:00

As of October 13, 2026, night closures of the Matsuyama Expressway have been announced by each operator. If your departure time falls in the evening or at night, look at these tables.

There are 2 sections that we confirmed in NEXCO West Japan’s notice. The hours are as in this 1 sentence on NEXCO West Japan’s corporate information page.

夜間通行止めは、毎夜19時から翌朝6時まで実施します。

Translation: “The night closure is carried out every night from 19:00 to 6:00 the next morning.”

Section Dates Detour
Matsuyama IC to Ozu-kita IC, both directions (42.6 km) 14 nights, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from the night of Monday, September 28, Reiwa 8 (2026) to the morning of Saturday, October 17. Spare dates: from the night of Monday, October 19 to the morning of Friday, October 23 National Routes 33 and 56
Ozu-minami IC to Seiyo-Uwa IC, both directions (16.5 km) 5 nights, from the night of Monday, October 26, Reiwa 8 (2026) to the morning of Saturday, October 31 National Route 56, Prefectural Road 29

There is no night closure on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays. The Friday night closure is lifted early on Saturday morning. If the weather or other causes delay the work, it may move to the spare dates.

In the notice of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Ozu River and National Highway Office (October 8, 2026), the hours are 20:00 to 6:00 the next morning each day, and the detour is National Route 56 (existing road).

Section Dates
Uwajima-Asahi IC to Tsushima-Iwamatsu IC From the night of Monday, October 19, Reiwa 8 (2026) to the morning of Saturday, October 24, and from the night of Monday, October 26 to the morning of Saturday, October 31
Seiyo-Uwa IC to Uwajima-Sakashitatsu IC From the night of Monday, November 2 to the morning of Tuesday, November 3, and from the night of Wednesday, November 4 to the morning of Saturday, November 7
Seiyo-Uwa IC to Uwajima-kita IC From the night of Monday, November 9 to the morning of Saturday, November 14, from the night of Monday, November 16 to the morning of Saturday, November 21, and from the night of Tuesday, November 24 to the morning of Saturday, November 28. Spare dates: from the night of Monday, November 30 to the morning of Saturday, December 5
Ozu IC to Ozu-kitamata IC From the night of Monday, November 30 to the morning of Saturday, December 5, and from the night of Monday, December 7 to the morning of Saturday, December 12. Spare dates: from the night of Monday, December 14 to the morning of Saturday, December 19

The “Uwajima-Asahi IC to Tsushima-Iwamatsu IC” in the Ministry’s notice is a section south of Uwajima-Asahi IC. We could not tell from the notice whether leaving at Uwajima-Asahi IC is affected by this restriction. “Seiyo-Uwa IC to Uwajima-Sakashitatsu IC” is a section that includes Uwajima-Asahi IC in the order of interchanges in map data.

The work is described as “paving repair work”, “planting work (tree cutting)”, “four-lane work” and “bridge inspection” in NEXCO West Japan’s notice, and as maintenance and repair of road facilities and restoration of attached structures in the Ministry’s notice. By the time you read this article, the period may have passed or the dates may have changed. The Ministry’s contact is the Ozu River and National Highway Office (0893-24-6526, direct line).

After leaving Uwajima-Asahi IC, to the Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot

The prefecture’s guide writes “Prefectural Road 268 and National Route 320, about 5 minutes” from Uwajima-Asahi IC to Uwajima Station. The guide to Uwajima Castle (Uwajima City) says about 1 km (about 4 minutes) from Uwajima-Asahi IC. The times written differ between the station and the castle.

In map data, the Uwajima Port Line (Prefectural Road 268) is just south of Uwajima-Asahi IC, and National Route 320 runs east of it. National Route 56 near Uwajima Castle is recorded in map data as a section that overlaps with National Route 320. In map data, the Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot faces National Route 56.

How to turn from the exit of Uwajima-Asahi IC onto Prefectural Road 268 and National Route 320, and which way the parking lot entrance faces, could not be confirmed on official pages. We will add this after driving it ourselves.

The Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot is 24 hours, 100 yen per hour, 46 spaces, and some descriptions differ

The parking lot that Uwajima City guides to for Uwajima Castle is the Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot. The note in “Uwajima Castle - Various guides” is as follows.

※6 普通車46台まで駐車できます。 

Translation: “Note 6: up to 46 regular cars can park.”

Source: 宇和島城-各種案内- - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

Uwajima City’s “City-run parking lots” page lists the Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot and the Chuo-cho Parking Lot side by side.

Item Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot Chuo-cho Parking Lot
Fee 100 yen per hour 100 yen per hour
Spaces 46 100
Location In front of the Uwajima Castle Shiroyama trailhead 1st floor of the Nanyo Bunka Kaikan
Business Open 24 hours Open 24 hours

Source: 市営駐車場 - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

The Chuo-cho Parking Lot has the following note.

※中央町駐車場について  お祭り等のイベント開催により、正面入出庫口のゲート式精算システムを閉鎖する場合には、1日料金(1日500円)を適用します。

Translation: “About the Chuo-cho Parking Lot: when the gate-type payment system at the front entrance and exit is closed because of events such as festivals, the daily rate (500 yen per day) applies.”

The details of the Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot are written differently depending on the source. We list both.

The “Uwajima Castle” page of the Uwajima Tourism and Products Association says the following.

普通車100円(1時間)/46台/高さ2.7m 幅2.2m 長さ5.0m 二輪車進入禁止 国道沿いに二輪車専用駐輪場あり 大型車/乗降場のみ

Translation: “Regular cars 100 yen (per hour) / 46 spaces / height 2.7 m, width 2.2 m, length 5.0 m. Motorcycles may not enter; there is a motorcycle-only parking area along the national road. Large vehicles / drop-off and pick-up only.”

The “Uwajima Castle” page of Iyokan-net says the following.

あり 普通車46台/大型車3台 普通車100円/1時間/大型車600円/1時間

Translation: “Available. 46 regular cars / 3 large vehicles. Regular cars 100 yen/hour / large vehicles 600 yen/hour”

The handling of large vehicles is described differently: the tourism and products association says “drop-off and pick-up only”, while Iyokan-net says 3 large vehicles and 600 yen/hour.

Source: 宇和島城 - うわじま観光ガイド、宇和島城|愛媛のスポット・体験|愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】

Uwajima City’s “City-run parking lots” page says, about tour buses, “Please get on and off at the tour bus drop-off point. Please refrain from parking for a long time.” The places for buses to park are the Roadside Station Kisaiya Square and the Date Museum (closed every Tuesday); there is no usage fee, and an inquiry to each facility in advance is required. This does not concern people in cars, but since only Iyokan-net differs from the other 2 in how large vehicles are handled, we note it here.

To go up to the castle, use the north row house gate; the south Noboritachi-mon route is open only in part

Uwajima Castle stands on a hill 73 m above sea level. The keep is one of the 12 surviving keeps. By the positions in map data, the Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot and the Kori Family Samurai Row House Gate are next to each other.

There are 2 castle entrances, 1 each on the north and south. In 2026, both have traffic restrictions.

North side (Kori Family Samurai Row House Gate side)

Uwajima City announces the renovation work of the row house gate as follows.

 北側登城口にある市指定有形文化財(建造物)『藩老桑折氏武家長屋門』を令和8年3月から令和9年3月にかけて修理します。  工事中でも北側登城口からの徒歩での登城は可能です。

 また、工事中はお体の不自由な方であっても車両の進入はできません。ご了承ください。

Translation: “We will repair the “Kori Family Samurai Row House Gate of the Domain Elder”, a city-designated tangible cultural property (structure) at the north castle entrance, from March Reiwa 8 (2026) to March Reiwa 9 (2027). Even during the work, you can walk up to the castle from the north entrance. Also, during the work, vehicles cannot enter, even for people with physical disabilities. Thank you for your understanding.”

Source: 桑折氏武家長屋門の改修工事を実施します - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

The same notice also says there may be traffic restrictions because of the dismantling of the roof and other work.

South side (Noboritachi-mon side)

A notice of July 4, 2026 closed the south castle path because of a slope collapse, and guided people to go up from the north side.

  斜面崩壊発生のため当面の間、南側(上り立ち門側)登城道を通行止めといたします。  北側登城道(桑折氏武家長屋門側)からの登城には支障ございません。

Translation: “Because of a slope collapse, the south (Noboritachi-mon side) castle path is closed for the time being. Going up from the north castle path (Kori Family Samurai Row House Gate side) is not affected.”

After that, a notice of July 31 opened part of it.

 7月4日より通行止めとしておりました、南側(上り立ち門側)登城道について、応急措置と安全対策が完了したため、一部区間を暫定通行開始といたします。  なお、児童公園に繋がる一部区間につきましては、引き続き通行止めとなります。

【 期  間 】令和8年8月1日(土)~ 【暫定通行区間】上り立ち門から城山郷土館に通じる登城道(下図青点線部分) ※上り立ち門から児童公園に通じる登城道(下図赤破線部分)は引き続き通行止めとなります

Translation: “As for the south (Noboritachi-mon side) castle path, which had been closed since July 4, emergency measures and safety measures have been completed, so we will start provisional passage on part of it. The part leading to the children’s park remains closed. Period: from Saturday, August 1, Reiwa 8 (2026). Provisionally open section: the castle path from the Noboritachi-mon to the Shiroyama Local Museum (blue dotted part in the diagram below). Note: the castle path from the Noboritachi-mon to the children’s park (red dashed part in the diagram below) remains closed.”

Source: 上り立ち門側登城道 通行止めのお知らせ - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町、宇和島城南側登城口(上り立ち門側)の暫定通行開始について - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

For the time needed to go up to the castle, Uwajima City writes a number counted from the station.

 JRでお越しの方:JR宇和島駅から徒歩約15分(約1キロ)※天守までは約35分

Translation: “If you come by JR: about 15 minutes on foot (about 1 km) from JR Uwajima Station. Note: about 35 minutes to the keep.”

Source: 宇和島城-各種案内- - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

The Uwajima Tourism and Products Association’s “Gururi Uwajima Castle Map” lists 3 courses. The names and times are “standard recommended course (about 1 to 1.5 hours)”, “Mankitsu course (about 2 hours)” and “strong-legged shortest course (about 40 to 50 minutes)”. We have not read the contents of the map.

The keep has no closing days, and Shiroyama opens at 6:00 in the morning

We confirmed the hours and fees in the table of Uwajima City’s “Uwajima Castle - Various guides”. The numbers of the city and the tourism and products association are the same.

Item March to October November to February
Keep 9:00 to 17:00 9:00 to 16:00
Shiroyama (gate open) 6:00 to 18:30 6:00 to 17:00
Shiroyama Local Museum 9:00 to 17:00 (free) 9:00 to 16:00 (free)

The keep has no closing days, and the keep lighting is from sunset to 22:00. October 13, 2026 is in the “March to October” period. From November 1, the hours become shorter.

Admission is 200 yen for adults, free for high school students and under, 160 yen for ages 65 and over, free with a disability certificate, and 160 yen for groups (20 or more). High school students and under and ages 65 and over need to show something that proves their age. About payment, there is the following note.

※1 観覧料の各種割引は併用できません。観覧料は当日現金のみでの対応となります。

Translation: “Note 1: the various admission discounts cannot be combined. Admission is handled in cash only on the day.”

Source: 宇和島城-各種案内- - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町

It says the Top 100 Castles stamp is inside the keep, and is not handled by phone, email or post. The same page also has a note that the castle may close temporarily in bad weather such as typhoons. All of Shiroyama is non-smoking, and pets cannot be taken into the keep or the local museum (except assistance dogs).

What comes next for this article

The positions of the points and the order of interchanges are checked with OpenStreetMap. The point numbers will match the chapter numbers of the driving video. This article is written only from official pages and map data, and we have not driven it yet. After driving it, we will add the sign at the Yogominami IC entrance, the road that enters the Matsuyama Expressway at Matsuyama IC, how to turn from the Uwajima-Asahi IC exit to the Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot, and which way the parking lot entrance faces.

These are the things we could not confirm on official pages.

  • The driving time from Matsuyama Airport to Uwajima Castle (the prefecture gives about 1 hour 30 minutes to Uwajima Station)
  • An official page that gives the toll amounts of the Matsuyama Expressway and the boundaries between paid and free sections
  • The specific route of Prefectural Roads 22 and 190 from Matsuyama Airport to Yogominami IC
  • Whether there is a shop at Uchiko PA
  • The business hours of roadside stations (in map data, “Donburi-kan” near Seiyo-Uwa IC and “Mima” near Mima IC)
  • How to turn from the Uwajima-Asahi IC exit onto Prefectural Road 268 and National Route 320
  • Whether the Ministry’s full night closure of Uwajima-Asahi IC to Tsushima-Iwamatsu IC extends to the Uwajima-Asahi IC exit
  • The names and fees of the 3 facilities in Uwajima Castle’s “3-facility combined ticket”

Parking (4)

NameSpacesFeeHoursNotesSource
Shiroyama-shita Parking Lot (Uwajima city-run, regular cars) (城山下駐車場(宇和島市営・普通車))
宇和島城城山登山口前
46100 yen per hour24 hoursThe Uwajima Tourism and Products Association gives the dimensions "height 2.7 m, width 2.2 m, length 5.0 m", and says motorcycles may not enter (there is a motorcycle-only parking area along the national road). For large vehicles, the association says "drop-off and pick-up only", while Iyokan-net says "3 large vehicles" and "600 yen/hour", so the descriptions differ.市営駐車場 - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町
Chuo-cho Parking Lot (Uwajima city-run, regular cars) (中央町駐車場(宇和島市営・普通車))
南予文化会館1階
100100 yen per hourOpen 24 hoursUwajima City says that when the gate-type payment system at the front entrance and exit is closed for events such as festivals, the daily rate (500 yen per day) applies.市営駐車場 - 宇和島市ホームページ | 四国・愛媛 伊達十万石の城下町
Iyonada Service Area, outbound, Parking Lot (伊予灘SA(下り)の駐車場)
愛媛県伊予市宮下2517-1
———[Large] 8 [Small] 38 [Shared] 0 [Motorcycle] 4 [Trailer] 2 [Disabled-access large] 0 [Disabled-access small] 1. From August 24 to October 30, Reiwa 8 (2026), paving repairs cut the parking spaces by up to about half, and the trailer spaces cannot be used.伊予灘サービスエリア(下り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt
Uchiko Parking Area, outbound, Parking Lot (内子PA(下り)の駐車場)———5 large and 10 small spaces; 1 small space for people with disabilities.内子PA(下)・松山自動車道 | ドラぷら(NEXCO東日本)

Sources

How we cite sources and use map data is explained in Sources and map data. Most sources are in Japanese.

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