Matsuyama Transportation

The tram, although abolished in most Japanese cities, is still in use in Matsuyama and is the main method of getting around the city. The flat fare is ¥150 per trip; a one-day pass for the trams costs ¥300. There is also a special tram named the Botchan Densha, which is a recreation of the old steam powered trams.

I'll be honest, I much prefer train travel, but for these two destinations, the bus is a quicker and cheaper option, as you can go there directly, rather than having to transfer at Takamatsu and Tadotsu or Uwajima respectively.

Matsuyama is well connected by ship with Kyushu, Honshu and elsewhere.

Going to Honshu, there are ferries to Hiroshima (1-2.5 hours depending on the ship), Osaka/Kobe (overnight), , Beppu, Yanai (Yamaguchi prefecture), Iwakuni, and so on.

Going to Kyushu, there are ferries to Moji (Kitakyushu), Kokura (overnight) and Oita.

I often used the overnight ferries, as it's the cheapest way of getting to Osaka or Kitakyushu, and there are bathing facilities onboard as well.

There are two ports in town, the Mitsuhama port which has ships to Yanai, and the main Kanko-ko Port. The best way to get to Mitsu port is by bus, but it's also doable by commuter train, getting off at Mitsu, where taxis will be waiting (it should cost around 700 yen), and to the main port where ferries for Kyushu, Kobe/Osaka and Hiroshima, get off at the last station on the line (Takahama) from where a connecting bus awaits to take you the last stretch to the port. Alternatively there is a direct bus. You can't miss it, as it is a blue bus with a picture of a ship painted on it.

The Iyotetsu company dominates commuter transport within the city of Matsuyama. All train and bus timetables can be found here.

http://www.iyotetsu.co.jp/timetable/

Unfortunately it's not in English as yet, hopefully they remedy this eventually.

Matsuyama has some useful tram lines which go between the JR station, City station, Dogo Onsen, Okaido and elsewhere.

It's 150 yen per journey for adults, but a day pass is 300 yen, which makes it good value if you are going to do some sightseeing around town.

Matsuyama is served by a number of long distance buses. Various companies offer these, most leaving from Matsuyama city station, but some leaving from the main JR station.

Destinations include.

Takamatsu (15 buses a day)
Kobe (6 a day)
Uwajima (15 a day)
Tokushima (7 a day)
Fukuyama/Onomichi (many buses)
Kochi (5 a day)
Hiroshima (6 a day)
Kyoto (2 a day)
Osaka (numerous services offered by different companies)
Tokyo (3 a day offered by different companies)
Nagoya (overnight)
Okayama (6 a day)

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If you happen to be flying into Matsuyama, there is a special bus which will take you as far as the JR station, the city station, or Dogo Onsen. You can't miss it, as it's a blue bus with a big airplane on it. Last time I used it it cost 300 yen.

The tram system in Matsuyama is very good, there are enough lines to cover the whole city with it's major sights.
It's also inexpensive and easy to use. You get in at the back and leave the tram at the front. The price is a flat fare of around Yen 240 which you pay when getting off.