Well, actually it is not such a different Japan… Shikoku is one of the four major islands of Japan, but for some reason ´less visited… I took the fairy from Hiroshima to Matsuyama and found myself in a much slower paced Japan… although still a considerable city with half a million inhabitants, it is less visited than other places… however, if you have seen the enourmous castle overlooking this city you wonder why… it is an original castle from the Edo period (actually much older, but it was burned down many times, so that the last reconstruction is from the Edo period)… if you are into castles, this is a must see on your tour… besides this, the city hosts also the oldest Onsen of Japan… an Onsen is a bath or spring of natural hot water… and not only to soak your bones in it is fun, the entire procedure is superfun (or not, cause at one time a little Japanese girl ask you to undress – right in front of her) to get into your Yukata (kind of bathrobe)… but once you find out how and when, it is just fun… a super hot soak and a great tea – what more can you expect of life…