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From Matsuyama Airport to Michi-no-Eki Kirinomori, taking the Matsuyama Expressway and exiting the Kochi Expressway at Shingu IC

A route from Matsuyama Airport to Michi-no-Eki Kirinomori (道の駅 霧の森) in Shikokuchuo, using the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road, the Matsuyama Expressway, and Shingu IC on the Kochi Expressway. It covers the official travel time of 80 minutes, the car navigation warning, night closures, parking, the Monday closures from September to March, and the temporary shop.

From
Matsuyama Airport
To
Michi-no-Eki Kirinomori (道の駅 霧の森)
Area
Matsuyama, Toon, Saijo, Niihama, Shikokuchuo
Points
15
Toll roads
Yes
Parking
1

Summary

  • Kirinomori's official site says it is 80 minutes by car (Matsuyama Expressway and Kochi Expressway) from Matsuyama Airport to Kirinomori.
  • The official site asks visitors not to use car navigation and to aim for Shingu IC on the Kochi Expressway.
  • Ikado IC to Higashi-Habu IC on the Outer Ring Road is fully closed from 21:00 to 6:00 the next morning on October 13 to 16 and 19 to 22.
  • Kirinomori is closed on Mondays from September to March. The October closed days are the 19th and 26th, and the Shingu main store is open in a temporary shop.
  • Parking numbers differ on four pages: Shikoku Regional Development Bureau, the liaison council, the tourism association, and Iyo Kan Net.

This article is based on official sources and maps. A record of the operator actually driving this route will be added after the drive.

A driving video is in preparation. When it is published, it will appear here with chapters numbered the same as the points below.

Map and points

NStraight-line distance: about 20 km123456789101112131415StartArrive
This diagram shows where the points are. The line joins the points in order and is not the actual shape of the road. The numbers match the list below and will also be the chapter numbers of the video.
Point locations: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) ・ License
  1. Matsuyama Airport Passenger Terminal Building (松山空港 旅客ターミナルビル)

    Start

    The starting point. In its "Access to the Airport", the airport's official page writes "Matsuyama Airport" at the end of the car route for the Niihama direction.

    Location 33.829008, 132.704103 · Source 空港までのアクセス|交通アクセス|松山空港

  2. Traffic-light intersection where Prefectural Road 18 and Prefectural Road 22 split (県道18号と県道22号が分かれる信号交差点)

    Turn

    In the map data, Prefectural Roads 18 and 22 continue as one overlapping road. At this traffic-light intersection, Prefectural Road 22 (Iyo-Matsuyama Port Line) splits off to the south.

    Location 33.828160, 132.713179 · Source OpenStreetMap(node/666978631)

  3. Higashi-Habu IC (東垣生IC)

    Merge / split

    An interchange on the Airport Line of the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism writes that the section of the Airport Line from Yogominami IC to Higashi-Habu IC opened on February 24, Reiwa 6 (2024).

    Location 33.818788, 132.718162 · Source 松山外環状道路空港線(余戸南IC〜東垣生IC)開通1年後の交通状況と整備効果について(国土交通省、PDF)

  4. Ikado IC (井門IC)

    Pass

    The section of the night full closure announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is the motor-vehicle-only road part from this Ikado IC to Higashi-Habu IC, from 21:00 to 6:00 the next morning on October 13 to 16 and 19 to 22.

    Location 33.802489, 132.777686 · Source 松山外環状道路インター線及び空港線の夜間全面通行止めのお知らせ(松山河川国道事務所、PDF)

  5. Matsuyama IC (松山IC)

    Merge / split

    The airport's official diagram lists Niihama IC, the expressway, Matsuyama IC, the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road, and Matsuyama Airport in this order (the direction toward the airport).

    Location 33.793636, 132.777405 · Source 空港までのアクセス|交通アクセス|松山空港

  6. Sakurasanri Parking Area (inbound) (桜三里PA(上り))

    Parking

    The parking has 7 spaces for large vehicles, 16 for small vehicles, and 0 shared, and the only shop is vending machines.

    Location 33.801865, 132.935536 · Source 桜三里パーキングエリア(上り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt

  7. Ishizuchi-san Service Area (inbound) (石鎚山SA(上り))

    Parking

    The parking has 20 spaces for large vehicles and 88 for small vehicles. The food court, shopping corner, and EV quick charging are open 24 hours, and the gas station is self-service from 7:00 to 22:00.

    Location 33.885691, 133.106160 · Source 石鎚山サービスエリア(上り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt

  8. Irino Parking Area (inbound) (入野PA(上り))

    Parking

    It is in Doi-cho, Shikokuchuo, Ehime. The parking has 24 spaces for large vehicles, 35 for small vehicles, and 7 shared. "Irino-tei" (いりの亭) is open 7:00 to 21:00, and the convenience store is open 24 hours.

    Location 33.947870, 133.419272 · Source 入野パーキングエリア(上り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt

  9. Mishima-Kawanoe IC (三島川之江IC)

    Pass

    The diagram on Kirinomori's official site connects Matsuyama and Mishima-Kawanoe by 60 minutes on the Matsuyama Expressway, and Mishima-Kawanoe and Shingu IC by 10 minutes on the Kochi Expressway (read from the diagram).

    Location 33.977544, 133.572989 · Source 霧の森へ | アクセス | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト

  10. Kamibun Parking Area (inbound) (上分PA(上り))

    Parking

    Driveplaza writes the previous IC as Mishima-Kawanoe (2.3 km) and the next IC as Shingu (11.7 km). The parking has 9 spaces for large vehicles and 20 for small vehicles.

    Location 33.982713, 133.585118 · Source 上分PA(上)・松山自動車道 | ドラぷら(NEXCO東日本)

  11. Kawanoe JCT (川之江JCT)

    Merge / split

    The name of the point in the map data where the Matsuyama Expressway connects to the Kochi Expressway.

    Location 33.997666, 133.596258 · Source OpenStreetMap(node/262303130)

  12. Kawanoe-higashi JCT (川之江東JCT)

    Pass

    The name of the point in the map data where the Kochi Expressway and the Tokushima Expressway connect.

    Location 33.997278, 133.613942 · Source OpenStreetMap(node/262303150)

  13. Shingu IC (toll gate) (新宮IC(料金所))

    Toll gate

    The position of the Shingu IC toll gate in the map data.

    Location 33.928591, 133.640001 · Source OpenStreetMap(node/295357647)

  14. Point where the Shingu IC access road meets Prefectural Road 5 (新宮ICの連絡路が県道5号に出る地点)

    Turn

    In the map data, the point where the access road continuing from the Shingu IC toll gate connects to Prefectural Road 5 (Kawanoe-Otoyo Line).

    Location 33.929041, 133.638923 · Source OpenStreetMap(node/295357671)

  15. Michi-no-Eki Kirinomori, Parking Lot 1 (道の駅 霧の森(第1駐車場))

    Arrive

    The official site says it is 1 minute from Shingu IC to Kirinomori on Prefectural Road 5. The link for the "route map" on the same page sets the end point to "Michi-no-Eki Kirinomori Parking Lot 1" (道の駅霧の森第一駐車場).

    Location 33.922819, 133.641753 · Source 霧の森へ | アクセス | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト

The official travel time is 80 minutes by car from the airport to Kirinomori

Kirinomori’s official site lists the car travel time from each airport in Shikoku to Kirinomori. The row for Matsuyama Airport is 80 minutes by the Matsuyama Expressway and the Kochi Expressway. The same “To Kirinomori” page also has numbers for each section.

Section Official number Page with the number
Matsuyama Airport to Kirinomori (car, Matsuyama Expressway and Kochi Expressway) 80 minutes Kirinomori access page (アクセス(霧の森へ))
Matsuyama to Shingu IC (car, Matsuyama Expressway and Kochi Expressway) 70 minutes (it does not say from where in Matsuyama) Same as above
Matsuyama and Mishima-Kawanoe (Matsuyama Expressway) 60 minutes (diagram. No direction given) Same as above
Mishima-Kawanoe to Shingu IC (Kochi Expressway) 10 minutes (diagram) Same as above
Shingu IC to Kirinomori (Prefectural Road 5) 1 minute Same as above
Matsuyama IC to inside Shikokuchuo (Matsuyama Expressway) About 60 minutes Tourism association access page (アクセス(四国中央市観光協会))
Matsuyama IC and Matsuyama Airport About 13 minutes (no direction given) MLIT report on traffic one year after opening (開通1年後の交通状況(国土交通省))

Source: 霧の森へ | アクセス | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト、アクセス | 四国中央市観光協会 ~愛媛県四国中央市の観光情報をご紹介~、松山外環状道路空港線(余戸南IC〜東垣生IC)開通1年後の交通状況と整備効果について(国土交通省、PDF)

The “Access” page of the Shikokuchuo Tourism Association (四国中央市観光協会) writes the car route from Matsuyama IC together with the names of the interchanges in the city.

(市内IC:三島川之江・土居・新宮) 松山自動車道 松山IC→四国中央市内(約60分)

Translation: “(ICs in the city: Mishima-Kawanoe, Doi, Shingu) Matsuyama Expressway, Matsuyama IC to inside Shikokuchuo (about 60 minutes)”

Source: アクセス | 四国中央市観光協会 ~愛媛県四国中央市の観光情報をご紹介~

Adding the airport to Matsuyama IC (about 13 minutes), Matsuyama to Mishima-Kawanoe (60 minutes), Mishima-Kawanoe to Shingu IC (10 minutes), and Shingu IC to Kirinomori (1 minute) gives 84 minutes. This is this site’s own calculation, not an official total. The numbers added together do not have the same starting point or direction. The reason for the difference from the official 80 minutes is not written on the pages. Time for rests and traffic jams is not included.

Kirinomori’s official site asks visitors not to use car navigation and to aim for Shingu IC

Kirinomori’s official site has a page called “Beware of car navigation!” (カーナビにご注意!). The page shows no date. The opening reads as follows.

ふだんはたいへん便利なカーナビではありますが、霧の森・霧の高原にご来場の際は、カーナビを使用しないでください!

Translation: “Car navigation is usually very convenient, but please do not use car navigation when you visit Kirinomori and Kirinokogen!”

Source: カーナビにご注意! | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト

As the reason, it writes that in mountain areas one street number covers a wide area, so the destination can be set to a different place several kilometers away. For a visit to Kirinomori, the problem it describes is as follows.

電話番号(0896-72-3111)で目的地設定すると、霧の高原へのルートをガイドしてしまうため、インターから1分ほどで着くところ、ナビを使うと永遠に着かない。

Translation: “If you set the destination with the telephone number (0896-72-3111), it guides you on the route to Kirinokogen, so a place that takes about 1 minute from the interchange can never be reached if you use the navigation.”

Source: カーナビにご注意! | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト

Kirinokogen (霧の高原) is a different place from Kirinomori. The same page writes that it takes about 30 minutes from the interchange to Kirinokogen. The same page also has a note that says “it is not known whether all car navigation systems give this result.”

The landmark for the route is written on the “To Kirinomori” page.

高知自動車道・新宮ICを目指してください(一般道利用の場合も)。

Translation: “Please aim for Shingu IC on the Kochi Expressway (also when you use ordinary roads).”

Source: 霧の森へ | アクセス | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト

The points in this article also run in the order Shingu IC (point 13), the point where the road from Shingu IC meets Prefectural Road 5 (point 14), and Parking Lot 1 of Kirinomori (point 15). Decide the destination to enter in the car navigation or the map app before you leave, or have a passenger do it, by comparing it with the route map on the official site.

The Matsuyama Outer Ring Road runs from the airport to Matsuyama IC. Ikado IC to Higashi-Habu IC is fully closed at night

The road from the airport to Matsuyama IC is the same as in the Minetopia Besshi article. In its “Access to the Airport”, the airport’s official page lists the car route for the Niihama direction in this order: Niihama IC, the expressway, Matsuyama IC, the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road, and Matsuyama Airport. The diagram is for traveling toward the airport, so for leaving the airport, the order is the reverse.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism describes the Airport Line of the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road as follows.

〇国道56号 松山外環状道路空港線は、愛媛県松山市都市圏内の交通混雑の緩和及び交通安全確保を図るとともに、 松山自動車道松山ICと松山空港等とのアクセス向上を目的とする道路です。

Translation: “The Matsuyama Outer Ring Road Airport Line of National Route 56 is a road whose purpose is to ease traffic congestion and ensure traffic safety within the Matsuyama urban area of Ehime Prefecture, and to improve access between Matsuyama IC on the Matsuyama Expressway and Matsuyama Airport and other places.”

Source: 国道56号松山外環状道路空港線余戸南IC〜東垣生IC 開通式の資料(国土交通省、PDF)

When we looked up the road from the airport to Matsuyama IC in map data (OpenStreetMap), it goes from Prefectural Road 18 to Prefectural Road 22, then continues through the Airport Line of the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road (Higashi-Habu IC, Yogominami IC) and the Inter Line (Ichitsubo IC, Furukawa IC, Ikado IC), in this order. The guide of the official tourism site of Ehime Prefecture (Iyo Kan Net, いよ観ネット) to Imabari Station writes the part from the airport to Yogominami IC as “Prefectural Roads 22 and 190” and “about 15 minutes”. We have not found an official guide that describes the turns from the airport to the entrance of the Outer Ring Road. We also could not confirm the fee for using the Outer Ring Road on an official page.

The Matsuyama River and National Highway Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced a night full closure of the Outer Ring Road, dated September 28, Reiwa 8 (2026). The section is as follows.

井門IC~東垣生IC(自動車専用道路部)

Translation: “Ikado IC to Higashi-Habu IC (motor-vehicle-only road part)”

Source: 松山外環状道路インター線及び空港線の夜間全面通行止めのお知らせ(松山河川国道事務所、PDF)(In the original, spaces are placed between the characters. The quote is only the part for the section.)

Higashi-Habu IC, Yogominami IC, Ichitsubo IC, Furukawa IC, and Ikado IC, which you pass on the route above, are all in this section. The schedule is as follows.

Date Hours
October 13 (Tuesday) to 16 (Friday) Every night, 21:00 to 6:00 the next morning
October 19 (Monday) to 22 (Thursday) Every night, 21:00 to 6:00 the next morning
Reserve day: October 23 (Friday) 21:00 to 6:00 the next morning

The announcement also says the following.

※作業終了次第、規制は解除します。

Translation: “The restriction will be lifted as soon as the work is finished.”

松山外環状道路側道部をご利用ください。

Translation: “Please use the side road part of the Matsuyama Outer Ring Road.”

Source: 松山外環状道路インター線及び空港線の夜間全面通行止めのお知らせ(松山河川国道事務所、PDF)(The second quote is part of the detour column.)

We have not read the detour diagram (Attachment 2). The entrance to the side road and the way to reach it have not been confirmed.

On the Matsuyama Expressway, drive east. Places to rest are Sakurasanri PA, Ishizuchi-san SA, Irino PA, and Kamibun PA

After you enter the Matsuyama Expressway at Matsuyama IC, you head east as far as Kawanoe JCT. By the positions in the map data, they are in this order: Matsuyama IC, Toon Smart IC, Kawauchi IC, Sakurasanri Parking Area, Iyo-Komatsu JCT and IC, Ishizuchi-san Service Area, Iyo-Saijo IC, Niihama IC, Irino Parking Area, Doi IC, Mishima-Kawanoe IC, Kamibun Parking Area, and Kawanoe JCT. These are the distances on the Service Area and Parking Area pages of Driveplaza (NEXCO East Japan).

Section (inbound) Distance Page with the number
Kawauchi IC to Sakurasanri PA 4 km Sakurasanri PA inbound (桜三里PA(上))
Sakurasanri PA to Ishizuchi-san SA About 19.2 km Sakurasanri PA inbound (桜三里PA(上)), Ishizuchi-san SA inbound (石鎚山SA(上))
Ishizuchi-san SA to Irino PA About 31.9 km Irino PA inbound (入野PA(上))
Niihama IC to Irino PA 9.3 km Irino PA inbound (入野PA(上))
Irino PA to Doi IC 4 km Irino PA inbound (入野PA(上))
Irino PA to Kamibun PA About 17.2 km Irino PA inbound (入野PA(上))
Mishima-Kawanoe IC to Kamibun PA 2.3 km Kamibun PA inbound (上分PA(上))
Kamibun PA to Shingu IC 11.7 km Kamibun PA inbound (上分PA(上))

Source: 桜三里PA(上)・松山自動車道 | ドラぷら(NEXCO東日本)、石鎚山SA(上)・松山自動車道 | ドラぷら(NEXCO東日本)、入野PA(上)・松山自動車道 | ドラぷら(NEXCO東日本)、上分PA(上)・松山自動車道 | ドラぷら(NEXCO東日本)

Adding Sakurasanri PA to Shingu IC gives about 80 km (19.2 km + 31.9 km + 17.2 km + 11.7 km). This is this site’s own calculation, adding the “about” numbers between the SAs and PAs and the numbers from the PA to the IC. Driveplaza does not write this total. We have not confirmed the distance from Matsuyama IC to Kawauchi IC, or the distance from Iyo-Saijo IC to Niihama IC.

These are the inbound facilities at four places listed on the NEXCO West Japan Service Area and Parking Area information site.

Item Sakurasanri PA Ishizuchi-san SA Irino PA Kamibun PA
Parking Large 7, small 16, shared 0 Large 20, small 88, shared 0 Large 24, small 35, shared 7 Large 9, small 20, shared 0
Toilets Men: 2 stalls and 4 urinals; women: 6 Men: 3 stalls and 8 urinals; women: 17 Men: 3 stalls and 8 urinals; women: 10 Men: 2 stalls and 3 urinals; women: 5
Shops and food Vending machines only Snack corner / food court, and shopping corner (both 24 hours) “Irino-tei” (いりの亭) 7:00 to 21:00, convenience store 24 hours Vending machines only

Source: 桜三里パーキングエリア(上り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt、石鎚山サービスエリア(上り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt、入野パーキングエリア(上り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt、上分パーキングエリア(上り)(サービス・営業時間・配置MAP)|NEXCO西日本のSA・PA情報サイトt

For small vehicles at the Ishizuchi-san Service Area inbound, Driveplaza gives 76 spaces, and this differs from NEXCO West Japan’s 88. For Irino PA inbound, too, Driveplaza gives 23 large and 30 small, which differs from NEXCO West Japan. No reasons are given. The table of fuel and EV charging is in Service Areas and Parking Areas in Ehime.

At Kawanoe JCT, move from the Matsuyama Expressway to the Kochi Expressway. Exit at Shingu IC

In the map data, the Matsuyama Expressway connects to the Kochi Expressway beyond Kawanoe JCT. The Kochi Expressway goes east, separates from the Tokushima Expressway around Kawanoe-higashi JCT, and heads south to Shingu IC. From Kamibun PA to Shingu IC, Driveplaza writes 11.7 km.

Shingu IC is the interchange that Kirinomori’s official site asks visitors to aim for. The Michi-no-Eki page of the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau (四国地方整備局) also writes the nearest access IC of Kirinomori as “Shingu IC (Kochi Expressway)”. We have not confirmed the wording of the guide signs at Kawanoe JCT, Kawanoe-higashi JCT, and the Shingu IC exit.

Umadate PA (Kochi Expressway) is, in the map data, on the south side of Shingu IC. It is not on the road that comes from the Matsuyama side and exits at Shingu IC.

Night closures: Matsuyama IC to Ozu-kita IC until the morning of October 17, and the Tokushima Expressway from the night of October 19

On NEXCO West Japan’s page on night closures in Shikoku (checked on October 14, 2026), there are two sections related to this route. The hours are written as follows.

夜間通行止めは、毎夜19時から翌朝6時まで実施します。

Translation: “Night closures will be carried out every night from 19:00 to 6:00 the next morning.”

Source: 四国内の高速道路の対面通行区間において秋季夜間通行止めを実施します | お知らせ・ニュースリリース | NEXCO 西日本 企業情報

Section Schedule Detour
Matsuyama Expressway, Matsuyama IC to Ozu-kita IC, both directions (42.6 km) 14 nights from the night of September 28 to the morning of October 17, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Reserve nights: night of October 19 to morning of the 23rd National Routes 33 and 56
Tokushima Expressway, Donari IC (土成IC) to Kawanoe-higashi JCT, both directions (72.9 km) 10 nights from the night of October 19 to the morning of October 31, excluding Saturdays and Sundays National Routes 192 and 318

Source: 四国内の高速道路の対面通行区間において秋季夜間通行止めを実施します | お知らせ・ニュースリリース | NEXCO 西日本 企業情報

The section from Matsuyama IC to Ozu-kita IC runs from Matsuyama IC to the southwest, to Ozu-kita IC. The eastern direction is not part of this announcement. The announcement does not say whether the Matsuyama IC entrance can be used on the nights of this closure.

The Tokushima Expressway section ends at Kawanoe-higashi JCT. In the map data, this route passes around Kawanoe-higashi JCT on its way to Shingu IC. The announcement does not say whether the closure of the Tokushima Expressway from the night of October 19 reaches the Kochi Expressway from Kawanoe-higashi JCT toward Shingu IC. For the Kochi Expressway, only the night closure between Kochi IC and Susaki-nishi IC (not in Ehime Prefecture) is listed, and as of October 14, 2026, we did not find a closure announcement up to just before Shingu IC.

There is no night closure on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The work may be moved to the reserve days because of weather and other reasons. Before you leave, check NEXCO West Japan’s traffic information. The rain and wind criteria are in the article on road restrictions on heavy rain and typhoon days.

We could not confirm the toll. Niihama IC and Doi IC are ETC-only, and you pass them without exiting

We have not confirmed the toll from Matsuyama IC to Shingu IC on an official page. Before you leave, check it with NEXCO West Japan’s toll search.

NEXCO West Japan’s list of ETC-only toll gates (as of September 1, 2026) shows Doi and Niihama on the Matsuyama Expressway in Ehime Prefecture. On this route, you pass both interchanges without exiting. Shingu IC, where you exit, Matsuyama IC, where you enter, and Mishima-Kawanoe IC, which you pass, are not in this list. How to borrow an ETC card and what to do if you enter an ETC-only entrance are in the article on ETC and toll gates.

From Shingu IC to Kirinomori, the official site says 1 minute on Prefectural Road 5

The “To Kirinomori” page of Kirinomori says it is 1 minute from Shingu IC to Kirinomori on Prefectural Road 5. The page about car navigation also says you arrive in about 1 minute from the interchange.

In the map data, the access road continuing from the Shingu IC toll gate connects to Prefectural Road 5 (Kawanoe-Otoyo Line). When we searched in the map data for the route from the toll gate to Parking Lot 1, it was about 0.2 km on the access road and about 0.8 km on Prefectural Road 5, about 1 km in total. Because this is the result of a route search, we do not write it as official guidance. We have not confirmed the road width or the wording on the guide signs.

The link for the “route map” on the “To Kirinomori” page goes to a route on a map service, and its end point is set to “道の駅霧の森第一駐車場” (Michi-no-Eki Kirinomori Parking Lot 1). This article uses that Parking Lot 1 as the end point (point 15).

Prefectural Road 5, the Kawanoe-Otoyo Line, has a road restriction section for abnormal weather (7.6 km) set by Ehime Prefecture, at Shingu-cho Umadate Hechidoko (新宮町馬立辺地床). We have not confirmed whether this section overlaps with the part between Shingu IC and Kirinomori. The table is in the article on road restrictions on heavy rain and typhoon days.

Parking is written as free on one page. The number of spaces is four different numbers on four pages

The number of parking spaces at Kirinomori is written on the following four pages, and all of them differ.

Page Parking numbers written
Shikoku Regional Development Bureau (道の駅情報) Regular cars 253, large vehicles 2, for people with disabilities 7 (available 24 hours)
National Michi-no-Eki liaison council (全国「道の駅」連絡会) Large 2, regular cars 145 (7 for people with disabilities)
Shikokuchuo Tourism Association Large 2, regular cars 142, for people with disabilities 7, quick charging equipment available (1 unit)
Iyo Kan Net 151

Source: 道の駅情報|霧の森、道の駅 公式ホームページ 全国「道の駅」連絡会、道の駅 霧の森 | 遊ぶ | 四国中央市観光協会 ~愛媛県四国中央市の観光情報をご紹介~、道の駅 霧の森|愛媛のスポット・体験|愛媛県の公式観光サイト【いよ観ネット】

The pages do not say which number is the current one. Kirinomori’s official site does not give the number of spaces.

Iyo Kan Net writes the parking fee as “free” (無料). We did not find a note on the parking fee on the Development Bureau’s page, the liaison council’s page, the tourism association’s page, or Kirinomori’s official site.

The layout diagram on Kirinomori’s official site shows Parking Lot 1, Parking Lot 2, Parking Lot 3, and an overnight-guest-only parking lot. The numbers of spaces and the fees are not written on the diagram. The official site says an open-air market “Kahori” (青空市「かほり」) is held in Parking Lot 1 every Sunday, and the business hours list gives Sunday 9:00 to 15:00 (it may close early when sold out).

A list of roadside stations to visit is in 29 Roadside Stations (Michi-no-Eki) in Ehime.

Hours and closed days: closed on Mondays from September to March, and the Shingu main store is open in a temporary shop

Kirinomori’s closed days are written in the notice dated August 26, 2026, as follows.

霧の森は9月~3月は月曜定休とさせていただきます。 … ※月曜祝日の場合は翌日火曜日休

Translation: “Kirinomori is regularly closed on Mondays from September to March. … If a Monday is a holiday, it is closed on the next day, Tuesday.”

Source: 霧の森の定休日について | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト

In the calendar on the official site, the “Kirinomori closed days” in October are the 5th, 13th, 19th, and 26th. The 5th and 13th have passed. The closed days after October 14, when this article was written, are the 19th and 26th. In the business hours and fees list, “open” for the tea cafe and others is written as “all year (closed on Mondays; if a Monday is a holiday, closed on Tuesday; no closed days from April to August)”.

The Shingu main store is under renovation. The notice (dated September 3, 2026) writes as follows.

誠に勝手ながら、新宮本店店舗改修工事のため、9月29日より当面の間、仮店舗(ふれあい館)にて営業いたします。 【仮店舗(ふれあい館)での営業期間】 2026年9月29日(火)~2027年3月中旬(予定) ※ふれあい館での営業期間中は、一部の仕入れ商品の販売を休止いたします。(焼き鯖寿司、水引、紙製品等) … なお、期間中はその他の施設(レストラン、茶フェゆるり、新宮茶体験コーナー、コテージ、交湯~館)は通常通り営業しております。

Translation: “We apologize for the inconvenience. Because of the renovation of the Shingu main store, from September 29 and for the time being we will operate in the temporary shop (Fureai-kan). [Operating period in the temporary shop (Fureai-kan)] Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to mid-March 2027 (planned). * While we operate in Fureai-kan, the sale of some purchased products (grilled mackerel sushi, mizuhiki, paper products, and so on) is suspended. … During this period, the other facilities (the restaurant, Cha Cafe Yururi, the Shingu tea experience corner, the cottages, and Koyu-kan) are open as usual.”

Source: 新宮本店改修工事中の営業について | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト

The main hours in the business hours and fees list are as follows.

Facility Hours
Kirinomori Cha Cafe (霧の森茶フェ) 10:00 to 17:00
Confectionery Workshop Shingu Main Store (菓子工房 新宮本店) (temporary shop in Fureai-kan) 10:00 to 17:00
Fureai-kan (ふれあい館) 10:00 to 17:00 (9:00 to 17:00 on the Fureai-kan page)
Kaido Chamise (街道茶店) (Shingu tea experience corner) 10:00 to 16:00
Kirinomori Restaurant (霧の森レストラン) Lunch 11:00 to 17:00 (last order 16:30), dinner 17:00 to 20:00 (last order 19:30)
Kirinomori Koyu-kan (霧の森交湯~館) Hot spring and rest floor on the 1st floor 10:00 to 21:00 (entry until 20:30). The bath fee is 400 yen for adults

Source: 営業時間・料金一覧 | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト、霧の森ふれあい館 ※仮店舗営業中 | 霧の森 | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト

The hours of Fureai-kan differ by 1 hour between the list and the Fureai-kan page. The Michi-no-Eki page of the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau writes the tourist information (Fureai-kan) as 9:00 to 17:00. The tourism association and the business hours and fees list both write that dinner is by reservation until the day before. In the notice in the calendar, the closed days of the Shingu tea experience corner after October 14 include days other than Monday (the 16th, 18th, 23rd, and 30th). The same notice writes the hours as “10:00 to 16:00 on weekdays, 10:00 to 17:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays”, and the closing time on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays differs from Kaido Chamise (10:00 to 16:00) in the business hours and fees list. Check the exact days on the official site’s calendar (Source: カレンダー | 霧の森・霧の高原オフィシャルサイト).

As an autumn event, the official site writes that the “8th Kirinomori Autumn Harvest Festival” (第8回霧の森秋の収穫祭) will be held at the Kirinomori event plaza on Sunday, November 1, 2026, from 9:00 to 15:00. How to use the parking is not written on the page.

What comes next for this article

The latitude and longitude of each point and the road names and route numbers have been checked with OpenStreetMap information. The position of Parking Lot 1 is the one specified by the link of the route map on Kirinomori’s official site. The point numbers will be the same as the chapter numbers of the driving video. This article is written only from official pages and map data, and we have not driven the route yet. After we drive it, we will add the turns from the airport onto the Outer Ring Road, the guide signs at Matsuyama IC, the branches at Kawanoe JCT and Kawanoe-higashi JCT, the Shingu IC exit, and the condition of Prefectural Road 5.

These are the things we could not confirm on official pages.

  • The tolls for Matsuyama IC to Shingu IC and for the Outer Ring Road
  • Written directions and guide signs from the airport to the entrance of the Outer Ring Road
  • The way from the Outer Ring Road onto the inbound Matsuyama Expressway
  • The guide signs at Kawanoe JCT, Kawanoe-higashi JCT, and the Shingu IC exit
  • The distance from Matsuyama IC to Kawauchi IC, and from Iyo-Saijo IC to Niihama IC
  • Whether the Matsuyama IC entrance can be used on the nights of the Matsuyama IC to Ozu-kita IC night closure
  • Whether the closure of the Tokushima Expressway from the night of October 19 reaches the Kochi Expressway from Kawanoe-higashi JCT toward Shingu IC
  • How many parking spaces there are, the number of spaces in each of Parking Lots 1 to 3, and the parking fee (on the official site)
  • Whether the abnormal-weather road restriction section on Prefectural Road 5 overlaps with the part between Shingu IC and Kirinomori
  • When the “Beware of car navigation!” page was written, and whether it still applies

Parking (1)

NameSpacesFeeHoursNotesSource
Michi-no-Eki Kirinomori Parking (道の駅 霧の森の駐車場)
愛媛県四国中央市新宮町馬立4491-1
—Free (as written by Iyo Kan Net. We have not found a fee on the other pages)—The Shikoku Regional Development Bureau writes 253 regular cars, 2 large vehicles, and 7 for people with disabilities. The national Michi-no-Eki liaison council writes 2 large and 145 regular cars (7 for people with disabilities). The Shikokuchuo Tourism Association writes 2 large, 142 regular cars, and 7 for people with disabilities. Iyo Kan Net writes 151. All of them differ. The Development Bureau writes that the parking is available 24 hours. The layout diagram on the official site shows Parking Lots 1, 2, and 3 and an overnight-guest-only parking lot.道の駅情報|霧の森

Sources

How we cite sources and use map data is explained in Sources and map data. Most sources are in Japanese.

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