I decided to continue on to Matsuyama, the major city in these parts - a bit further at 40-odd kilometers away. Although the ride is along a major highway (and therefore recommended to only those who will not be bummed out by so many cars after such a wonderful bike route), it has its rewards - like this farm woman doing the Dance-Of-The-Rice-Seedlings while planting her crops. That one can see scenes like this right next to a major route is evidence of Japan's huge population and the scarcity of level farmland.

Journey's end: downtown Matsuyama, and the principal reason many people come here: Dogo Onsen, one of Japan's oldest - and most famous - hot springs. This ancient wooden building is at least part of the draw, but the water itself is the real treasure: even though the baths themselves are antiquated and surpisingly non-ornate, you really do feel different when you come out - as the old beer ads said, "it's the water." Matsuyama also has a nice castle, and it's the starting point to areas further south that include Uchiko, Uwajima and the Ashizuri peninsula. For more information, see the Shikoku route of this site.