By train

Uwajima is the western terminus of the JR Yosan Line, and there are regular connections north to Matsuyama. Normal trains from Matsuyama cost ¥1750 and take 3 hours, with at least one change of trains required. The Uwakai Limited Express adds a ¥1660 surcharge, but shaves the travel time down to 75-80 minutes by not stopping at every rice paddy along the way.
Okayama is about 4 1/4 hours away via two limited express trains, the Shiokaze and the Uwakai, changing trains in Matsuyama (¥8520).
Infrequent trains on the JR Yodo Line also connect Uwajima to Kochi, but you'll have to transfer at JR Kita-Uwajima Station, one stop north of the city center.

By bus

By remarkable coincidence, buses from Matsuyama to Uwajima also cost exactly ¥1750, but are a little faster than the regular train

Uwajima Castle

Uwajima Castle occupies a strategic location at the heart of the city. Unlike most of Japan's castles, it's actually an original (dating to 1665), not just a ferroconcrete shell. That said, the castle is comparatively small and modest. ¥200.

Dekoboko Shindo

Located on the grounds of the Taga Shrine, this is essentially a three-story sex museum devoted to fertility and its graphical expressions. Two of them are found in the name the kanji and usually mean "convex" and "concave" respectively, but the shrine's logo makes things clearer by placing the pointy bit under the one with the gap. Entry is fairly pricy at ¥800, and you need to pay a whopping ¥20,000 if you want to take photos inside. No minors allowed.

Warei Shrine

A large comparatively staid Shinto shrine, probably Uwajima's best-known attraction among the Japanese. Not worth a detour, but you'll be passing by on your way to the Taga Shrine anyway.

Taga Shrine

Although Taga doesn't get much press at the local tourist office, it's probably the most unusual sight in town  the shrine is an ancient Shinto fertility shrine, full of phalluses of all shapes and sizes, including a mighty carved log that gets carried about on festival days. It's located on the north side of the river, not far from the better known Warei Shrine. Free.

 

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