Ōzu’s cultural highlights include a preserved Edo-period streetscape, a story from Japanese television, and an ensemble of Buddhist architecture. On おはなはん通り, the faithfully preserved town layout and rows of houses meet the memory of an NHK morning drama filmed there in 1966. The adjoining 思ひ出倉庫 displays vehicles, furniture, and toys from that era. Several historic buildings stand on the grounds of 如法寺; behind the main building, a pond garden dating from around the middle of the Edo period has also been preserved. These distinct highlights can help you explore Ōzu’s cultural side according to your interests.

An Edo-period streetscape

おはなはん通り lies at the eastern end of the Hijinami district. What has been preserved there is not just a collection of individual houses, but the town layout and rows of houses as an integrated streetscape. This combination makes the place interesting from a different perspective than a single historic façade: the inherited street plan and its buildings together make up what survives here from the Edo period.

The name おはなはん通り refers to a later, clearly dated story. The street was given this name because the NHK morning drama “おはなはん” was filmed there in 1966. Two different periods therefore come together here: the preserved Edo-period streetscape and the history of filming in 1966. The date refers to when the drama was filmed, not when the street layout was created.

Film history and memorabilia

The 思ひ出倉庫 is part of the ensemble at ポコペン横丁. It displays vehicles, furniture, and toys from that era. The exhibition thus adds objects to the story of the street, while おはなはん通り itself represents the connection between the town layout and its rows of houses. If this subject interests you, you can distinguish between these two aspects: the preserved built form on the one hand, and the objects on display and the memory of the television production on the other.

The time periods referenced are also different. The street is associated with the Edo period; the drama was filmed in 1966. The objects in 思ひ出倉庫 are described as items from that era. These details do not all tell the same story; rather, they bring together architectural heritage, television culture, and everyday objects to offer several perspectives on Ōzu’s cultural history.

Buildings and a garden at 如法寺

The grounds of 如法寺 include a Buddha hall designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan, as well as the main building, a residence, a Jizō hall, a bell tower, and an entrance gate. The named buildings show that the interest here is not limited to a single structure. The Buddha hall has the designated cultural-property status; the other buildings listed are also part of the grounds, but are not thereby described as having the same designation.

Behind the main building, a pond garden dating from around the middle of the Edo period has been preserved. The date is explicitly approximate: unlike the general reference to the Edo period for the streetscape, here the middle of the Edo period is given as an estimate. Considered together, these cultural highlights have distinct focuses: おはなはん通り represents the town layout, rows of houses, and film history, while at 如法寺 the religious buildings and garden shape the focus.

This distinction offers a practical guide for making your choice: the street and adjoining 思ひ出倉庫 combine architectural heritage with television and everyday history, while 如法寺, with its Buddha hall, other buildings, and pond garden, offers an architectural and horticultural focus. The details listed are therefore not merely different sights of the same kind, but different ways to explore cultural history in Ōzu.

Discover more destinations: Ikata, Saijō, Kumakogen, Matsuyama, Shikokuchuo, Imabari, Futami, Uwajima

See the full travel guide: Ehime Prefecture.