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Ohanahan Street

Little knownBarely documented in English. This is the kind of place the site exists for.

Researched and written by Hinato

Ohanahan-doriOzured brickcastle townMeiji architecture

Photo: yano@mama.akari.ne.j… / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · original

Ehime keeps its history in places like Ohanahan Street rather than in museums about it.

Ozu was a castle town on the Hiji river and kept its Edo street plan, and Ohanahan-dori is the best-preserved lane in it — earthen walls, white plaster, black boarding, no through traffic. The name comes from a 1966 NHK morning drama that was filmed here and which the town has cheerfully never stopped mentioning.

It is free, open nine to five, and holds a shop and gallery. Beside it Pokopen Yokocho recreates an early Showa street on set weekends. The whole quarter is a short walk from Garyu Sanso.

Plan your visit

Hours

Streets open at all times | Ozu Red Brick Hall 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Closed: Red Brick Hall closed 29–31 December

Time to allow

60–90 minutes

Admission

Free | Red Brick Hall free

Best time to visit

Year-round | June–September for cormorant fishing on the Hiji river

Reaching the site

Access notes

Ozu 60, Ozu, and the surrounding Ohanahan-dori quarter. By car from Ozu IC on the Matsuyama Expressway. Streets free to walk. Pokopen Yokocho, a recreated early Showa street, operates beside it on set days. Phone.

Historical notes & tips

**The brick hall is free.** 1901, English bond, Japanese tiles, and the character for commerce on the ridge. Nine to five, closed only over the New Year. **Walk the whole quarter.** Ohanahan-dori is short; the surrounding lanes of earthen wall and plaster are what make it a townscape rather than a photo stop. **Pokopen Yokocho runs on set days.** A recreated early Showa street beside the brick hall, with stalls and games. Check the schedule — it is not open daily. **It connects to Garyu Sanso.** The villa on the river is a short walk and a combined ticket exists with other Ozu sites. **Cormorant fishing in summer.** Ozu runs ukai on the Hiji river from June to September, which is the other reason to be here.

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