A Travel Course to Trace Suzume in Ehime Prefecture~!

It's the last day of a 4-day round trip to Matsuyama. The day starts with breakfast at the Okaido Hotel. The view here rivals that of the ANA Crown Plaza, as the restaurant is located on the top floor. Among the breakfasts I've tried in Matsuyama—Vessel, ANA, and Candeo—I've ranked them in that order. From JR Matsuyama Station, I take an unreserved seat on the limited express train to Yawatahama Station. Here, I embark on a tour of filming locations for "Suzume no Tojimari" (Suzume's Locking Up). After capturing some historical photos, I take a taxi to the ferry terminal. The anime was reportedly created around 2019. In 2020, the old terminal was demolished, and a new, modern terminal was built to the right of it. The sparkling new ferry terminal is quite impressive, and even the chair associated with Souta welcomes visitors. I try to recreate scenes from the anime as closely as possible. Having previously visited filming locations for "5 Centimeters per Second," "The Garden of Words," "Your Name," "Weathering with You," and other parts of "Suzume no Tojimari" in Bungo Mori and Kobe, I thoroughly enjoy this kind of activity. Next, I visit Yawatahama City Hall to collect a manhole card and then head to the main branch of Pain Maison, located below the city hall. It was around 10 a.m., and the bakery gave off a nostalgic vibe, reminiscent of local bakeries like Masan Goryeodang, Andong Mammoth, and Pohang Citizen Bakery. 🤣 I enjoy a salt bread (95 yen) and milk at the store, while packing the rest to take on the flight home. The salt bread is nothing extraordinary but offers great value with its soft texture and pleasant taste. On the way back to Matsuyama, I stop by Ozu Castle and capture a photo. At Iyo-Ozu Station, I have a 4-minute transfer window to board the opposite train and snap a picture of Suzume's artwork. It's a thrilling and exhilarating moment that demands precision—one shot, one kill. Returning to the hotel, I retrieve my luggage and enjoy a Matcha Cream Frappuccino at the Okaido Starbucks. I've had over 200 cups of Starbucks in Japan so far. Around 1:20 p.m., I take the limousine bus to Matsuyama Airport. My flight is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., but I arrive around 2 p.m. only to encounter a delay. The flight is postponed by an hour to 4:30 p.m., giving me an unexpected lunch break. I enjoy Hiroshima-style fried oysters and Matsuyama's local chicken karaage, accompanied by draft beer. After the meal, I head to the 2nd-floor lounge, where I sip mikan juice and cola while waiting for boarding. Finally, I return home with a VIP gift of mandarins. The seat next to me is empty, and Terminal 1 is bustling with male fans. It turns out there’s a soccer event happening. ⚽️ As I exit the gate, I unexpectedly encounter Vidic and am forced to take a photo with him. Near the meal return area, legendary soccer stars keep appearing, and the crowd's cheers reach a fever pitch. I even spot Ballon d'Or winner Kaka. I manage to snap a few photos of Kaka. This reminds me of the time I went to see Blackpink and ended up shaking hands with Beckham during my "덕계못" (a Korean term for "a life that can't escape the fandom") days. At Incheon Airport, the lights blend with the fog, creating an aurora-like, mystical atmosphere. Thank you.