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Listings
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Airlines
ANA, 5 Minato-machi (tel 089/948-3131); JAL, 4 Chifune-machi (tel 089/943-6111); JAS, 5-2-2 Minato-machi (tel 089/973-0711).
Banks and exchange Ehime Ginko and Iyo Ginko have several branches in downtown Matsuyama. There's also a Ehime Ginko branch by the Dogo tram terminus. Bookshops Kinokuniya, 5 Chifune-machi, has an extensive range of English books and magazines on the fourth floor. Open daily 10am-7pm. Car rental Budget Rent-a-car (tel 089/973-0543) is at the airport. Hospital and clinics The central prefectural hospital, Ehime Kenritsu Chuo Byoin (tel 089/947-1111), is in Kasuga-machi, south of the Shi-eki Station. Internet access There's free Internet access at the Matsuyama Youth Hostel , if you're staying there. Otherwise the best deal is at COMS, 6-4-20 Sanbancho; go the second-floor library and sign up at the desk. It's A?100 per hour and is open Tues-Sat 9am-8.30pm, Sunday and holidays 9am-5pm. Laundry Okaya Coin Laundry, 43 Minami-Mochida, is open daily from 6am to 10.30pm. Police The main police station is at 2 Minami Horibata (tel 089/941-0111). Post office Matsuyama's main post office is at 3 Sanban-cho. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm & Sun 9am-12.30pm. There's also a branch in Dogo (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm), to the west of the shopping arcade. Pottery Tobe-Yaki pottery is distinguished by its robust feel and simple blue-and-white glaze. The centre of the local pottery industry is Tobe-cho, 13km from Matsuyama. Take a bus here from the Shi-eki station (45min; A?650) to visit the Tobe-Yaki Kanko Centre (tel 089/962 2070), where you can watch the pottery being made and make or decorate some pieces yourself. Modelling 1kg of clay costs A?1500, while glazing ready-made plates and cups starts from A?600. Sports There's an open-air public swimming pool in the park beside EPIC (closest tram stop is Shiyakusho-mae). Open July & Aug only; A?200. Shopping Local products to look out for include iyo-gasuri , an indigo dyed cloth; hime temari , colourful thread-covered balls that bring good luck; and Tobe-yaki , distinctive blue-patterned pottery. Check out the Okaido and Gintengai arcades for souvenir shops. Also try the Mitsukoshi and Sogo department stores. There's a branch of Muji, the trendy, no-brand goods shop, in the Laforet building next to Mitsukoshi. Hamasho, a large shop specializing in basket-weaving, is close by Ishite-ji, on the way from Dogo. Taxis Daiei Taxi can be called for free on tel 0120-015151.
Travel agents
For cheap international flights, try HIS, Yasui Biru 3-2, Hanazono-machi (tel 089/931 6121). For domestic travel arrangements, JTB's main office, where English is spoken, is at 4 Sanban-cho (tel 089/931-2281). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Japan,
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