Matsuyama was the 4th city we visited during our journey through Japan. It is a charming little city that was a refreshing change from the hustle-bustle of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.

We arrived at Matsuyama station. There's a little underpass if you follow the path from the exit to the station past the bus terminals. Go down the pass and take the first exit on your right to the street car station. The street car costs 150yen/person/trip. Make sure you take the one that stops at Okkaido station and the hotel is just across the street from Okkaido station.

This was a great location to stay because it was very convienently located. The ropeway to Matsuyama castle (a must-see) is just a street corner away and that street to the ropeway is lined with great cafes, restaurants and shops. Opposite is the Laforet shopping plaza where you'll be able to find anything you could need during your stay. And it's only a 10min streetcar ride to the famous Dogo Onsen and its surrounding shopping area.

The staff did not speak a word of English but they tried extremely hard to answer all our queries. There was a restaurant in the hotel lobby. I didn't eat there but from what I could see, it looked like a decent restaurant. The room itself were very clean but small but that's normal for a standard room in Japan. It has everything you need for your stay and we even got an air purifier in our room. You can pick smoking and non-smoking floors. So that was a great plus for non-smokers like myself. My only qualm was the decor was a little dated and uninviting but that's only a tiny complaint when considerd in the context of the convenience that staying here offerred.

All in all, Matsuyama was definitely a highlight in my Japanese journey and staying here certainly made it much easier to do and see all the things I did there. Highly recommended!