2026 Tobe Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in July)

When traveling in Matsuyama, the city itinerary is usually well-defined, but there are times when you might wonder where to go for a day trip. In such cases, Dobe Zoo turned out to be a surprisingly good option. Instead of expecting a flashy theme park, think of it as a place where you can leisurely stroll through a spacious area while observing animals. The travel distance is manageable, and the viewing route is simple, making it an ideal nearby destination for a day trip from Matsuyama. 📍 Location & How to Get There · Name: Dobe Zoo · Area: Dobe Town, near Matsuyama · About 30–40 minutes by bus from Matsuyama city center · JR Matsuyama Station/Matsuyama City Station → Take a bus bound for Dobe Zoo ⏰ Operating Hours · 09:00 ~ 17:00 · Hours may vary by season · Closed on Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday) 🎟 Admission Fees · Adults: Around 500 yen · High school students: Around 200 yen · Middle school students and younger: Free → Admission fees are relatively affordable even within Japan 💡 Visiting Tips · Morning hours are recommended when animals are more active · Comfortable shoes are essential due to the large grounds · Some areas lack shade during summer ⸻ 🐘 What Kind of Place Is It? Dobe Zoo is a public zoo operated by Ehime Prefecture and has been loved by both locals and travelers since the late 1970s. While it may not be as glamorous as zoos in major cities, it is designed to allow visitors to observe each animal species in spacious enclosures. As you walk around, you'll notice that the distance between animals and visitors is relatively close, making it a great spot for photography and family visits. You can see a surprisingly diverse range of animals, including polar bears, hippos, flamingos, and red pandas. The simple layout makes it suitable for a half-day trip. ⸻ 📸 Recommended Highlights · Polar bear area featuring natural rock structures · Flamingo pond viewed from wooden decks · Red panda viewing area, a hit with kids · Photo-worthy entrance sculptures

[Tobe Ware Pottery Museum] 📍Address: 83 Miyauchi, Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun, Ehime Prefecture 《Access》 Bus Stop: Toriyaguchi / Approximately 1-minute walk from the Iyotetsu bus Bus Stop: Toriyaguchi / Approximately 1-minute walk from the JR Shikoku bus Bus Stop: Kuyodo / Approximately 3-minute walk from the Iyotetsu bus 🕰️Business Hours: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Closed Wednesdays ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ A Tobe Ware shop run directly by the potter. You can view and purchase a variety of works by the potter. There is also a cafe next door. The entire building is inlaid with ceramic tiles, The toilet in particular is designed with Tobe ware in mind, and the washbasin was beautiful ♥. Reservations are required for this experience, but you can also make reservations on the day. Choose your favorite plate or teacup, draw your favorite design with a brush, and then paint over it. Many Tobe ware pieces are white porcelain with indigo blue dyeing, but I tried painting a simple polka dot pattern. The finished product will arrive at your home at a later date. #TravelWithPochiKatsu #TobeWare #Experience #Ehime #Kiln

🇯🇵 [Ehime] Tobetobe Kawado Market! Nagashi somen and homemade vegetables (^^) Kawado Market is held on the second Sunday of every month at Tsubouchi-ya in Tobe-cho, Ehime Prefecture (^^) What! In July, in addition to the usual local agricultural products and homemade side dishes, the popular Nagashi somen will be held! (^^) Lots of fun events (^^) There's also a tasty pizza house and a terrace (^^) Please come and check it out (^^) [Location] Tsubouchi-ya, 578 Kawado, Tobe-cho, Ehime Prefecture [Access] From Matsuyama IC, take National Route 33 towards Kochi for about 15 minutes by car #AbsolutelyFreeTrip

#AbsolutelyFreeTrip [Tobe-yaki Traditional Industry Hall] A trip to the village of pottery where you can encounter gentle white and indigo🏺💙 The Tobe-yaki Traditional Industry Hall in Tobe-cho, Ehime Prefecture, is a spot where you can fully experience the charm of "Tobe-yaki", which has a history of about 240 years. Tobe-yaki, with its beautiful indigo painting on white porcelain, is a type of pottery that you will grow to love the more you use it✨ When I actually visited, the museum was filled with masterpieces from the past to works by contemporary artists. In addition to the exhibition, you can also experience painting, and I was engrossed in the fun of making my own pottery🎨💫 It is about 40 minutes by bus from JR "Matsuyama Station" and is immediately after getting off at "Tobe-yaki Traditional Industry Hall". It is easily accessible from Dogo Onsen, making it perfect for a day trip🚌 The key to success is to make a reservation for the painting experience in advance! It is especially popular on weekends, so it is best to make an early reservation. You can also tour the kilns in the area, so it's a great area for pottery lovers 🍵 Make matching pottery as a couple, or spend some time alone poring over your creations. Experience a spiritually enriching trip, soothed by the gentle texture of Tobe ware 💕 #Domestic travel #Couple travel #Solo travel #Absolutely free trip #Tobe ware #Traditional crafts #Ehime tourism #Pottery trip

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Tobeyaki Pottery Museum where you can experience Tobeyaki and Ehime's traditional crafts! Centering on Tobeyaki, we bring together the spirit of Ehime's craftsmen (^^) The main building is packed with elements that you can see, buy, make, and enjoy (^^) Please come and visit the Tobeyaki Pottery Museum where you can experience Tobeyaki and Ehime's traditional crafts ^ ^ In addition, Tobeyaki Pottery Museum offers experience menus such as hand-building and painting for foreign tourists by advance reservation, as well as an experience class where you can decorate Tobeyaki dishes with folded paper cranes and preserved flowers! (^^) #EnjoyJapan

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Tobe-yaki Tourist Center, Honoo no Sato (^ ^) A facility where you can buy, learn about, and experience Tobe-yaki, located next to Senzan-gama, which is marked by the chimney of the climbing kiln. It consists of a store that displays and sells works by about 100 kilns by kiln and item, a creative furniture workshop, a cafe, a climbing kiln, etc., and has a wide selection of products, from simple items such as teacups starting at 630 yen to works by Senzan-gama. Some works by kilns are not sold directly at the workshop. You can freely observe the pottery making process in the factory at the back of the store, and on the second floor there is a painting workshop and a clay workshop where you can experience hand-made pottery. [Location] 359 Senashi, Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun, Ehime Prefecture #0 yen trip

"Akasaka Izumi" According to the "Akasaka Kyu-ki," Akasaka Izumi is an ancient spring, which was first cultivated in 1781 in search of a spring. The underground water of the Shigenobu River flows abundantly from the spring, and is still used to irrigate the rice fields of Matsumae Town and Iyo City downstream. The park is equipped with benches and tables, allowing you to enjoy the tranquil scenery. There are 160 cherry trees planted in the surrounding area, and in spring the park is bustling with cherry blossom viewers. · Opening hours: 24 hours · Address: 135 Shigemitsu, Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun, Ehime Prefecture · Fee: Free · Parking: Free for 10 cars #0 yen trip

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Tobemori Zipline, the largest in Shikoku The popular attraction "Zipline" where you slide down a wire rope stretched in the air with a pulley will be born in Tobemori in March 2021 (^^)! ! ! ! It's okay even if you're not confident in your strength or physical strength! (^^) All you need is the courage to take a step (^^) Let's go on an adventure where you will feel like you're flying in the sky! Another attraction of the zipline that goes back and forth between "Ehime Children's Castle" and "Tobe Zoo" in Tobemori is that you can travel around the two facilities. You can play on the rides and be soothed by the animals. There are also experience facilities and restaurants, so both adults and children can play all day. #0 yen trip

"Tobe Town Toukaido Yutori Park" The 14-hectare site features sports facilities such as a multi-purpose plaza that can be used for softball and soccer, a gymnasium with three volleyball courts, and four tennis courts with all-weather sand-filled artificial turf. The park is a symbol of Tobe, with a space that can be used for a variety of purposes, including sports education and rest, with the aim of refreshing the mind and body. · Opening hours: 24 hours · Address: 400 Senashi, Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun, Ehime Prefecture · Fee: Free · Parking: Free (176 spaces for regular cars and 10 for mid-size cars) #0 yen trip

The adorable polar bear Peace is waiting for you at Tobe Zoo in Ehime Prefecture. Peace, a hand-raised polar bear, is a cute girl who loves humans. The lion triplets have grown up and are now one year old. The red panda couple are also adorable.

This time, we will introduce another great place in Shikoku, which is Ehime Prefectural Zoo. However, if you want to go to Ehime Prefectural Zoo from Takamatsu, you must first take the JR from Takamatsu to Matsuyama (about 2 hours). We chose to go to Songshan first. Although it takes a little time, it is worth it. We went to this zoo with a purpose, the main one being to visit a polar bear. He was bred by hand and still exists. He is now 25 years old and his name is Peace. He is loved by the locals. The average lifespan of a polar bear is 25 to 30 years, and although Peace is in his twilight years, he is full of energy and often plays with his ice cream cones, which is fun. In addition to Peace, you can also see beautiful scenery/red leaves and various small animals in the park along the way. If you are hungry, visitors can also eat something in a restaurant in the park before strolling around. The food in the restaurant is also of quite high quality. It is also a great choice for travel or family trip, so you may want to consider it. I hope you like my sharing, thank you! Ehime Prefectural Tobe Zoo (Closed on Mondays) 240 Uehara-cho, Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun, Ehime-gun Postcode: 791-2191 Time: 9:00~17:00, admission at 16:30 (adults: 500 yen) Transportation: Get on the train at Matsuyama City Station (Platform 3) → Get off at "Todai Zoo-mae" for Ehime Children's Castle, about 35 minutes walk to PeacePeace

📍Tobemori + Illumination [Illumination Introduction] ① Approach from the parking lot to the entrance gate Create a space that makes you feel like you're walking through a sparkling starry sky! ② In front of the main gate The gate is decorated with hearts, icicles, and spotlights to create an exciting atmosphere! ③ Near the management office Welcome visitors with a shining white monument! ④ In front of the Snake House Guide visitors with rainbow LEDs and trees! ⑤ In front of the Penguin Square Glowing animals welcome visitors with tree lights! ⑥ America Street Create a fairy-tale space that makes you feel like you're walking on a rainbow! ⑦ Near the tall tree in front of the lion house Enjoy the collaboration of light with the glowing lion parent and child, the fantastic seven-colored box object, and the blue laser. ⑧ Oasis Garden A true oasis of light! Enjoy another sparkling zoo with vivid light effects! 9. In front of the African elephant house The trees are decorated with blue LEDs. Enjoy a fantastical zoo. 10. In front of the Indian elephant house A zoo-like illumination is carried out with glowing animal objects and laser mapping. 11. Near the zip line A dream world of dancing flowers appears. Enjoy the elegant and fantastical flower performance and laser effects. #Free hotel stay

🇯🇵 [Ehime Prefecture] Recommended for traveling with children! A zoo with a fun stamp rally 🦁 A large zoo that houses about 150 species and 660 animals (^ ^) It is divided into 10 zones according to habitat and species, and if you follow the route, you can go around the world of animal kingdoms! The lions and tigers are displayed in a panoramic display using a moat instead of cages, which is very impressive (^ ^) The zoo is popular for traveling with children because you can get close to the animals (^^) [Stamp Rally] There is an administration office to the right as soon as you enter the zoo, and you can purchase a stamp sheet for 100 yen. Once you have all the stamps, go back to the administration office! You will receive a daily can badge! ※Many people do not know about the stamp rally, so please come and try it ♡ [Free Shuttle Bus] It's fun just to ride the animal designs! If you want to ride, please park in the east parking lot (^^) Zoo ⇄ East Parking Lot Operation! [Location] 240 Ueharacho, Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun, Ehime Prefecture [Price] Adults 500 yen Seniors and high school students 200 yen Elementary and junior high school students 100 yen Children and people with disabilities are free #Domestic travel strategy

📍Bake & Cafe Mogura, Ehime Prefecture The interior of the shop is gray and antique-style, and it looks as if decades have passed since then. The handrails on the stairs look quite old, and the retro atmosphere is like something out of a fairy tale, and it's enchanting. A welcome drink is prepared near the entrance of the shop, and you take a glass and move to your seat. You'll feel like a European lady. It feels special, doesn't it? Bake & Cafe Mogura's lunch menu consists of two types, "rice lunch" and "bread lunch", each of which costs 1,480 yen. This is a recommended restaurant for dates and stylish girls' nights! #0 yen trip January 2025

#HotelAccommodationEvent If transportation costs are included, it would go up to 1,500 yen, but even considering that, I was satisfied because the zoo was so well organized. There were animals that are not commonly seen, such as otters, pandas, and servals, and there were also many reptiles. And above all, each animal was well managed.

#2024wish I went on Sunday. There were a lot of people and it was very lively, and what surprised me most was the cheap entrance fee. If it's nearby, it's a zoo you'll want to visit as often as you like with your kids. The grounds are very large and you can see many famous animals. The children were very excited to see animals that can't be seen at other zoos, such as cassowaries, kangaroos, and emus. Some of the feeding experiences were limited in number and location, and some were offered on a first-come, first-served basis, so we couldn't do anything with them, but we enjoyed just watching them. Feeding the hippos is especially impressive, and I think it's worth the effort to get a numbered ticket. Also, be sure to watch the orangutan walk on a tightrope. Children will love it.

#Japan must-visit check-in spots Tobe Zoo is home to a wide variety of animals, from adorable giant pandas to mighty lions, each with its own unique charm. I walked into the animal area and saw giraffes running lightly and freely on the grassland, honest and cute giant pandas eating bamboo leisurely on the trees, and amazing lions showing their kingly demeanor in the sun. 🌴🦒 In addition to watching the animals, I also participated in some interactive experience activities. I had the opportunity to get close to some small animals, such as rabbits and birds, which made me feel the warmth and closeness of animals. I also attended an animal show and saw wonderful performances by well-trained sea lions and clever monkeys, which gave me a deeper understanding of the wisdom and talents of animals. 🐰🎪 Ehime Prefectural Tobe Zoo is a magical encounter with adorable animals that delight and amaze. If you also like the animal world, why not find a suitable time to take a fantastic trip to Tobe Zoo! 🦁🌴

Store name: Tobe-yaki Pottery Museum Address: 83 Miyauchi, Tobe-cho, Iyo-gun, Ehime Business hours: 9:00AM-5:00PM (Closed on Wednesdays) \\Points// Tobe-yaki is pottery made mainly in Tobe City, Ehime Prefecture. It has a long history, dating back to the mid-Edo period. It is also designated as a traditional craft. There are many cute white, round-shaped vessels, and each kiln has a slightly different style. This place is highly recommended because you can choose from works by various kilns. There is also an experience corner on the second floor, where you can experience hand-twisting and painting. Prices are relatively reasonable, and even tea bowls can be purchased for around 1,200 yen. I think it would make a great gift. #Domestic travel#Tobe-yaki #Tobe-yaki Pottery Museum #Ehime trip #Pottery tour #Tobe #Couple trip #Family trip