Niihama Travel Guide

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There's a fair bit to do up here. Goldpanning, exploring the old mines, bathing in a hot spring, going on an old train, and generally just learning about the mining history of the area.

It is the main tourist attraction in Niihama.

Nankoku is a restaurant on the main drag. In Japanese style it's run and operated by the owner himself, who cooks as patrons sit around the bar.

This place gets a mention as the karaage (fried chicken) is absolutely fantastic. If I ever go back to Niihama, I will visit Nankoku.

When I was in Niihama there weren't a great deal of options as far as nightlife went. There are a few bars, but most tend to be the 'snack' places where exorbitant sums are charged to sit down for a few drinks.

There are though some good izakaya type options about town.

Niihama frankly has very little to recommend to the average tourist, in reality there's virtually nothing, but one exception is the yearly taikodai festival, where large groups of men carry around huge portable drums. There's an element of danger to the festival, with the occasional fatality, and numerous injuries to participants each year. It's also not uncommon for fisticuffs to break out between people from the different groups.