Kumakogen: Art, Pilgrimage Traditions and Skiing

Kumakogen offers several reasons to visit: art at the Kuma Art Museum, the pilgrimage tradition around Daiho-ji and slopes at KUMA SKILAND. There are also horse-riding activities in the forest of Kuma Kogen Furusato Travel Village and a restaurant serving a buffet of seasonal wild herbs, highland vegetables and mushrooms. When choosing where to stay, first consider which of these aspects of Kumakogen interests you most. This can help you tailor your search for a holiday apartment or holiday home to the kind of trip you have in mind.

Art at the Kuma Art Museum

The Kuma Art Museum is housed in an unusual museum building made of locally sourced Kuma cedar. The collection also offers a specific reason to visit: the museum preserves and displays around 920 works. These include oil paintings from the Taishō period of modern Japanese painting by Murayama Kaita and Yorozu Tetsugorō, as well as Japanese paintings and ceramics. Those interested in different forms of expression will find paintings and ceramics here, along with the distinctive architecture of the museum building. The museum also hosts gallery talks and concerts.

Daiho-ji and the pilgrimage tradition

Kuma is known as the temple town of Daiho-ji, the 44th temple on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. The approach to the temple passes through an avenue lined with giant cedars that are several centuries old. This brings two aspects into focus: Daiho-ji’s place on the pilgrimage route and the impressive approach, shaped by its ancient trees. If you are interested in temple history and pilgrimage traditions, you can take this cultural focus into account when planning your trip. It is quite different from a stay focused mainly on museum art or winter sports.

Ski slopes and horse-riding activities

KUMA SKILAND has numerous slopes, including a children’s slope and a beginner slope for new skiers and practice. Illuminated slopes also make night skiing possible. These details can help you assess winter sports as a distinct focus for your trip: those just starting to ski can take note of the designated beginner slope, while the children’s slope is another specific option for families. Night skiing adds another time of day to the offering.

Kuma Kogen Furusato Travel Village offers a different kind of experience. Horse-riding activities take place in its forest. The experience-focused facility is suitable for families, couples and solo travellers. This makes it relevant to different types of travel groups, without limiting a stay to any one kind of trip. Those travelling with children can consider the Travel Village as one of the family-friendly options in Kumakogen; it is also described as suitable for couples and solo travellers.

Local cuisine and getting your bearings

Tenku-no-Sato Restaurant Sansan serves a buffet of homemade dishes made with seasonal wild herbs, highland vegetables and mushrooms. The ingredients mentioned connect the food to the produce highlighted in the offering. Another point of reference is the Michi-no-eki roadside station Tenku no Sato Sansan, about a 30-minute drive from the Matsuyama Interchange. This approximate driving time refers to the roadside station and the interchange. It can help you get a general sense of your journey, but does not indicate the distance between individual attractions or possible accommodation.

The experiences described offer different points of focus; you do not have to fit them all into a single itinerary theme. Other places to explore include Saijō, Ōzu, Uwajima, Matsuyama, Futami, Ikata, Seiyo and Shikokuchuo.

For an overview of the wider area: Ehime Prefecture.