This excerpt was taken from BBC travel. In Ozu, you can stay at a hotel dispersed across an ancient castle, samurai residences and old merchant homes, while supporting the town’s award-winning model of sustainable tourism. I arrived at Ozu via a narrow pass winding through the mountains of western Shikoku, the smallest of Japan‘s four main islands. As I descended into a basin formed by a horseshoe bend of the Hiji River, Ozu Castle appeared: a four-tiered, timber-clad fortress dating to the 14th Century perched atop a central hill. Nestled protectively behind it, hugging the riverbank, lay the ancient town. The scene’s allure was heightened by a gentle mist rising from the river that swirled around the snow-dusted mountains. I’d previously visited Ozu in 2018, making a quick stop to see its castle while on a trip further south. At that time many of the old town’s buildings were neglected, some were abandoned, with a few even demolished. The city was fairly deserted and, after a quick stroll around, I continued on my way. However, on my latest trip in February 2024, I was amazed by Ozu’s remarkable transformation. The old town was bustling with life and the plaza in front of Ozu Machi-no-Eki Asamoya, which serves as a tourist information centre and local crafts and food emporium, resembled a lively village square, with local families mingling among the visitors. Heading to my hotel, I passed a row of elegant samurai residences with large gardens. One housed Shun, a restaurant serving Ozu’s specialty of imotaki, a traditional stew of chicken, taro and other vegetables, where a queue stretched out for lunch. On the opposite side of the street, in traditional castle town configuration, were merchants’ establishments; their storehouses newly plastered and white-washed and now home to cafes, bars and a local history museum. Often referred to as a “little Kyoto” thanks to a similar historical appeal, Ozu was once the capital of the old Iyo feudal domain (much of present-day Ehime prefecture) from 1617 to 1868, and its merchants became wealthy from the production and trade of wax, silk, paper and timber. However, Ozu’s economic decline over the past century, like many river towns worldwide, led to decaying heritage sites and the exodus of residents to major cities. In order to preserve the medieval townscape and revitalise the local economy, in 2019, Ozu embarked on an ambitious plan centred on sustainable tourism, swiftly working to conserve and convert its heritage structures into attractive accommodations and new businesses. The goal was to restore Ozu as the cultural heart of the region and attract both tourists and residents… Read the full BBC article HERE.

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