Why you should visit Japan's small but mighty 'little Kyoto'
The ancient castle town of Ozu is often referred to as a "little Kyoto" (Credit: Ozu City Tourism) In Ozu, you can stay at a hotel dispersed across an ancient castle, samurai residences and old merchant homes, while supporting the town's award-winning model of sustainable tourism. I arrived at Ozu via a narrow pass winding through the mountains of western Shikoku, the smallest of Japan's four main islands. As I descended into a basin formed by a horseshoe bend of the Hiji River, Ozu Castle appeared: a four-tiered, timber-clad fortress dating to the 14th Century perched atop a central hill. Nestled protectively behind it, hugging the riverbank, lay the ancient town. The scene's allure was heightened by a gentle mist rising from the river that swirled around the snow-dusted mountains. I'd previously visited Ozu in 2018, making a quick stop to see its castle while on a trip further south. At that time many of the old town's buildings were neglected, som...