Farmland views from the days of yore

Adorable wooden waterwheels turn rhythmically along a stretch of parkland on the outskirts of Shimanto City. Although they are largely ornamental now, it’s easy to imagine the old days when the entire area was dotted with many such waterwheels, which helped feed water into the surrounding paddy fields

The Yasunami Waterwheels are definitely a hidden spot, but only 10 minutes by car (or 20 minutes by rental bicycle) from Nakamura Station. It’s certainly worth dropping by on your way to visiting some of the many iconic chinkabashi (submersible bridges) along the Shimanto River. At this time of year especially, the area is blooming with stunning hydrangeas, which offers a lovely contrast to the freshly-planted rice fields

Continue the retro theme back in Shimanto City at venerable Cafe Watch. An entirely different vibe from shiny new coffee chains, this is a local haunt that has been serving delicious coffee and food for around 50 years. The decor is warm and cozy, and the ambience is supplemented by relaxing sounds from an incredible sound system that will have audiophiles looking and listening with heart-shaped eyes

Learn more about cycling along the Shimanto River: https://visitkochijapan.com/en/highlights/cycling

Yasunami Waterwheels (安並水車の里)
https://goo.gl/maps/L2SwiW8L2agz8LAt7

Cafe Watch (喫茶ウオッチ)
https://goo.gl/maps/oKn72dD6TRkpnuDGA
11AM to 8PM
Closed on Sundays and Mondays