Parking at sightseeing spots in Ehime
- Matsuyama Castle Parking Lot charges ¥420 for 2 hours for a standard car, then ¥100 per 30 minutes.
- Dogo Onsen's city-run car parks take ordinary passenger cars at ¥100 per 30 minutes, with the first hour free if you bathe.
- On the Shimanami Kaido, the Murakami Kaizoku Museum lot and others are free; Kameroyama Observation Park's first car park is under construction until January 10, 2027 (planned).
PR: This page contains one advertising link (section 5).
Driving to Ehime’s main sights is easy to plan, but parking works differently at each one. Matsuyama Castle has a city car park at the foot of the hill and you go up by ropeway or lift. Dogo Onsen has three city-run car parks that take ordinary cars only, and the price changes if you bathe. On the Shimanami Kaido (the cycling and driving route across the islands to Imabari), most car parks are free, but one viewpoint has a car park closed for building work. This page compares rates and space counts, and shows what a 3-hour stay costs.
In short
- Matsuyama Castle: the Kiyo-cho car park is ¥420 for the first 2 hours, then ¥100 per 30 minutes. No reservations (section 1).
- Dogo Onsen: three city-run car parks, ordinary cars only. ¥100 per 30 minutes, and the first hour is free if you bathe at one of three public baths (section 2).
- Shimanami Kaido, Imabari side: the Murakami Kaizoku Museum car park is free (50 cars). The first car park at Kameroyama Observation Park is closed until January 10, 2027 (planned) (section 3).
- Busy day: some services let you reserve a space by date and time (section 5).
Checked with official pages on October 12, 2026.
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Parking rates and spaces in the three areas
Tap an area name to jump to its section. Rates are for a standard car.
| Area | Main lots | Rate | Spaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matsuyama Castle | Kiyo-cho car park | ¥420 for 2 hours, then ¥100 per 30 min | Not stated (standard cars and buses) |
| Dogo Onsen | Three city-run lots | ¥100 per 30 min (first hour free if you bathe) | 93, 43 and 60 |
| Shimanami Kaido | Murakami Kaizoku Museum and others | Free | 50, and others |
1. Where do I park for Matsuyama Castle?
Matsuyama City
The castle car park is “Matsuyama Castle Parking Lot (Kiyo-cho)”, about a 2-minute walk from the ropeway station, and a standard car pays ¥420 for the first 2 hours. After 2 hours it is ¥100 per 30 minutes, so 3 hours costs ¥620 (our calculation). It is first come, first served and takes no reservations (see the Matsuyama Castle access and parking page, Japanese).
Buses pay ¥1,050 for the first 2 hours, then ¥200 per 30 minutes. If the bus spaces are full, the castle’s page directs buses to the Ehime Prefecture Minami-machi car park.
The Ninomaru Historic Garden car park has 31 spaces for ordinary cars and is free. Its closing time changes with the season and the gate is locked outside open hours. There is no car park in the Horinouchi area of Shiroyama Park, so use public transport or a paid lot nearby.
To reach the top of the hill, take the ropeway (ロープウェイ) or the lift. The ropeway runs from 8:30 to 17:30 (to 18:00 in August, to 17:00 in December and January) and a round trip is ¥520 for an adult. The lift runs from 8:30 to 17:00 and stops in the rain (see the Matsuyama Castle visitor guide, Japanese).
Matsuyama Castle Parking Lot: 1-6-11 Kiyo-cho, Matsuyama City. Open from 8:00 until 30 minutes after the ropeway closes. Google Maps · Phone: 089-921-4873
Ninomaru Historic Garden car park: 5 Marunouchi, Matsuyama City. Open 9:00 to 17:15 (February to July, September to November), to 17:45 (August), to 16:45 (December and January; closed on the third Wednesday of December). Google Maps · Phone: 089-921-2000
| Name | Matsuyama Castle Parking Lot (Kiyo-cho) |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-6-11 Kiyo-cho, Matsuyama City, Ehime |
| Hours / Closed | 8:00–30 min after ropeway closing |
| Phone | 089-921-4873 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Ninomaru Historic Garden Car Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 5 Marunouchi, Matsuyama City, Ehime |
| Hours / Closed | 9:00–17:15 (Feb–Jul, Sep–Nov), 9:00–17:45 (Aug), 9:00–16:45 (Dec–Jan; closed 3rd Wed of Dec) |
| Phone | 089-921-2000 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
2. Where do I park for Dogo Onsen?
Matsuyama City
Dogo Onsen has three city-run car parks, and they take ordinary passenger cars only: no buses or trucks. The Dogo Onsen website lists the spaces and rates (see the Dogo Onsen access page, Japanese).
Dogo Onsen Parking is on Kanmuriyama hill, south of Dogo Onsen Honkan, and has 93 spaces. It costs ¥100 per 30 minutes. If you bathe at one of the three public baths (Honkan, Asukanoyu-Onsen and Tsubaki-no-yu), run your parking ticket through the machine inside the bath and the first hour is free. You can only enter by turning right from the south side (the Shiki Memorial Museum side), and you must stop once when leaving. Three hours costs ¥600, or ¥400 if you bathed (our calculation). For an overnight stay, ¥100 per 30 minutes applies from 8:30 to 20:30 and ¥720 from 20:30 to 8:30 the next morning, with no bath discount.
Dogo Onsen Iwaidani-higashimachi Parking has 43 spaces and is about 400 m north of the entrance of Dogo Onsen Parking. It costs ¥100 per 30 minutes, and the first hour is free whether or not you bathe. You do not need to run the ticket through a machine. Three hours costs ¥400 (our calculation).
Dogo Onsen Tourist Temporary Parking has 60 spaces and is free. It opens only on set days, so check the open-day calendar on the Dogo Onsen website for your travel date.
You can also reach Dogo Onsen by tram. A tram bound for Dogo Onsen takes about 25 minutes from the JR Matsuyama Station stop and about 20 minutes from the Matsuyamashi Station stop (see the Dogo Onsen access page, Japanese). For how to pay, see Matsuyama Tram and Bus Fares (2026).
Dogo Onsen Parking: 4-30 Dogo Yunomachi, Matsuyama City. Open 5:30 to 23:30. Google Maps · Phone: 0120-72-8924
Dogo Onsen Iwaidani-higashimachi Parking: 437-1 Iwaidani-higashimachi, Matsuyama City. Open 24 hours. Google Maps · Phone: 0120-72-8924
Dogo Onsen Tourist Temporary Parking: 22-1 Himezuka, Matsuyama City. Open 5:30 to 23:30 on open days only. Google Maps · Phone: 0120-72-8924
| Name | Dogo Onsen Parking |
|---|---|
| Address | 4-30 Dogo Yunomachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime |
| Hours / Closed | 5:30–23:30 |
| Phone | 0120-72-8924 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Dogo Onsen Iwaidani-higashimachi Parking |
|---|---|
| Address | 437-1 Iwaidani-higashimachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime |
| Hours / Closed | 24 hours |
| Phone | 0120-72-8924 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Dogo Onsen Tourist Temporary Parking |
|---|---|
| Address | 22-1 Himetsuka, Matsuyama City, Ehime |
| Hours / Closed | 5:30–23:30 on open days |
| Phone | 0120-72-8924 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
3. Where do I park on the Shimanami Kaido?
Imabari City
The Murakami Kaizoku Museum on Oshima island, Imabari City, has a free car park for 50 standard cars and 3 large buses or similar. The car park is around the museum and there is no charge. By car it is about 3 km from the Oshima-kita IC (for drivers from the Honshu side) and about 10 km from the Oshima-minami IC (for drivers from Imabari and Shikoku). Both interchanges are half interchanges, so drivers coming from Imabari cannot exit at Oshima-kita, and drivers coming from Honshu cannot exit at Oshima-minami (see the museum access page, Japanese). Admission is ¥310 for general visitors (see the museum page, Japanese).
Four of the five cycling-hub car parks on the Imabari side are free. Michi-no-Eki Tatara Shimanami Park (Omishima), Michi-no-Eki Hakata S-C Park (Hakatajima), Michi-no-Eki Yoshiumi Ikiiki-kan (Oshima) and Imabari Itoyama Rental Cycle are free. Only the Imabari Station Front hub charges a fee. The official list gives neither the number of spaces nor the fee (see the Shimanami rental cycle hub list, Japanese).
At Kameroyama Observation Park, the first car park is closed for construction from September 24, 2026 to January 10, 2027 (planned). The second car park is open to cars, and the third is for bicycles. A temporary toilet is set up at the third car park (see the Imabari City notice, Japanese).
For rental bike prices and one-way returns, see Shimanami Kaido Rental Bikes on the Ehime Side.
Murakami Kaizoku Museum car park: 1285 Miyakubo, Miyakubo-cho, Imabari City. Google Maps · Phone: 0897-74-1065
Michi-no-Eki Tatara Shimanami Park: 9180-2 Iguchi, Kamiura-cho, Imabari City. Google Maps
Michi-no-Eki Hakata S-C Park: 1668-1 Kanoura-ko, Hakata-cho, Imabari City. Google Maps
Michi-no-Eki Yoshiumi Ikiiki-kan: 4520-2 Myo, Yoshiumi-cho, Imabari City. Google Maps
Imabari Itoyama Rental Cycle: 2-8-1 Sunaba-cho, Imabari City. Google Maps
| Name | Murakami Kaizoku Museum Car Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 1285 Miyakubo, Miyakubo-cho, Imabari City, Ehime |
| Phone | 0897-74-1065 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Michi-no-Eki Tatara Shimanami Park Car Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 9180-2 Inokuchi, Kamiura-cho, Imabari City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Michi-no-Eki Hakata S-C Park Car Park |
|---|---|
| Address | Ko 1668-1 Kanoura, Hakata-cho, Imabari City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Michi-no-Eki Yoshiumi Ikiiki-kan Car Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 4520-2 Myo, Yoshiumi-cho, Imabari City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Imabari Itoyama Rental Cycle Car Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 2-8-1 Sunaba-cho, Imabari City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Imabari Station Front Rental Cycle Car Park |
|---|---|
| Address | Ko 773-8, 2-chome Kitahorai-cho, Imabari City, Ehime |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
| Name | Kameroyama Observation Park Car Park |
|---|---|
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
4. How do I choose a lot?
Depends on the provider
The three areas differ in what decides your choice. At Matsuyama Castle you park at the foot of the hill and go up. At Dogo Onsen the price changes if you bathe. On the Shimanami Kaido you use a free car park on each island.
At Dogo Onsen, one car park gives the first hour free if you bathe, and another gives the first hour free whether or not you bathe. Decide where to park by whether you plan to bathe.
Opening times also differ. The Ninomaru car park at Matsuyama Castle closes in the evening, depending on the season. The Dogo Onsen temporary car park opens only on set days. Kameroyama’s first car park is closed until January 10, 2027 (planned).
The table compares a 3-hour stay entered in the daytime (our calculation).
| Car park | Area | 3 hours | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matsuyama Castle | Matsuyama Castle | ¥620 | ¥420 for 2 hours + ¥100 x 2 |
| Dogo Onsen Parking | Dogo Onsen | ¥600 | ¥400 if you bathe |
| Iwaidani-higashimachi | Dogo Onsen | ¥400 | First hour free |
| Murakami Kaizoku Museum | Shimanami Kaido | Free | 50 spaces |
For Matsuyama Castle, the extra time is added to the ¥420 base fee for 2 hours. For Dogo Onsen, the free hour is taken off the per-30-minute charge.
5. Can I reserve a car park on a busy day?
Depends on the provider
Some services let you reserve a space by date and time. Tokup (“Tokupii”) is one example. To see whether there is a space near a sight, enter your travel date on the map of the booking site.
PR · Ad / affiliate link. Tokup is one of several ways to reserve a car park. The site is in Japanese; check the date, time and price on the confirmation screen.
Common questions
Can I reserve a space at the Matsuyama Castle car park?
No. It is first come, first served and takes no reservations. If the bus spaces are full, the castle’s page points buses to the Ehime Prefecture Minami-machi car park.
Can a bus park at the Dogo Onsen city car parks?
No. The city-run car parks take ordinary passenger cars only. Buses and trucks cannot use them.
When can I use the Dogo Onsen temporary car park?
Only on open days. Check the open-day calendar on the Dogo Onsen website for your date.
Are there free car parks on the Shimanami Kaido?
Yes. The Murakami Kaizoku Museum car park is free, and so are three michi-no-eki (roadside station) car parks and Imabari Itoyama among the Imabari-side rental cycle hubs.
Next steps
- If you would rather take the tram to Dogo Onsen: Matsuyama Tram and Bus Fares (2026): ¥250 in Cash, ¥230 by IC Card.
- Cycling the Shimanami Kaido: Shimanami Kaido Rental Bikes on the Ehime Side: 5 Terminals Compared (¥3,000 a Day, One-Way Return).
Sources (checked October 2026)
4 pages we checked
- Access and parking (Matsuyama Castle, Japanese), Visitor guide (Matsuyama Castle, Japanese)
- Access (Dogo Onsen, Japanese)
- Access (Murakami Kaizoku Museum, Imabari City, Japanese), Museum page (Imabari City, Japanese)
- Rental cycle hubs (Shimanami rental cycle, Japanese), Notice on the Kameroyama Observation Park car park (Imabari City, Japanese)
Rates, hours and closures can change. Pages marked “Japanese” have no English version. Photos: Wikimedia Commons (credited under each photo).
