A high school building in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture

Hidden Japan Guide

Imabari Travel Guide: Towels, Castles and the Shimanami Coast

11/08/2026

Written by:

A practical English guide to Imabari in Ehime: the towel town, the castle and access to the Shimanami Kaido.

Operational details such as opening hours, admission fees, and train times can change. Prefer official pages and reconfirm before you travel (sources checked on 08 November 2026).

Why visit

Imabari is a coastal city in northern Ehime, famous for towels and as the Shikoku gateway to the Shimanami Kaido cycling route across the Geiyo islands to Hiroshima. The harbour, the castle and the bridge approaches define the city’s skyline.
Beyond cycling, Imabari has textile shops, a castle keep and a practical centre around the station. It works as a start or end point for island hopping, or as a craft stop on a Shikoku itinerary.
Imabari is on the JR Yosan line and linked by highway buses, with rental cycles widely available for the Kaido.

Top places and highlights

Another high school campus in Imabari, Ehime — Photo: Fffkk · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

The central library in Imabari, Ehime — Photo: Asturio Cantabrio · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Shimanami Kaido

The bridge cycling route starting from the Imabari coast.

Towel shops

Specialty stores for Imabari’s textile craft.

Imabari castle

A coastal castle keep and moat area.

Harbour centre

Ferry and bridge approaches on the Seto Inland Sea.

Food and drink

Getting there and around

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Where to stay

Best time to visit

Practical tips

Bridge winds can be strong; check weather before cycling.
Towel factory visits may need appointments.
Ferry and bus times change seasonally.

Suggested day-trip outline

Morning: arrive at Imabari station.
Late morning: castle and towel shops.
Lunch: seafood near the harbour.
Afternoon: start the Kaido, or a short island hop.
Late afternoon: return or continue across the bridges.
Evening: dinner in Imabari.

Before you go

Timetables, fares, admission fees, and seasonal access rules can change. Check the official tourism and transport sites linked below for the latest information before you travel.

Explore More of Japan

Published guides that pair with this one:

Browse every Shikoku guide on this site for the rest of the region.

Sources

city.imabari.ehime.jp (checked 2026-11-08)
shikoku-tourism.com (checked 2026-11-08)