Uwajima, Castle town in Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Uwajima is a castle town in Ehime Prefecture on the southwestern coast of Shikoku, lying along Uwa Bay on the Seto Inland Sea. The old town sits at the foot of a wooded hill where the castle still rises above the rooftops.
During the Heian period, the settlement grew from a center of maritime activity into a stronghold for the Fujiwara clan's rebellion against imperial authority. Later, under the rule of the Date family, the town became a major trading center for fishing and agriculture.
The Date Museum displays collections of objects and documents that record more than four centuries of rule by the Date family. Visitors can view personal items belonging to the feudal lords and trace how they shaped the town across generations.
Travelers reach the town by taking the Shinkansen to Okayama, then transferring to a limited express train through Shikoku. The journey through mountains and along the coast takes several hours and offers views of rice paddies and small harbors.
The Tensha-en garden features a central pond shaped like the Japanese character for heart, created under the direction of the seventh Date lord in 1866. The symbolism was meant to express connection with the people and still defines the garden today.
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