The Dogo area of Matsuyama is known for many things: What Dogo has not been famous for are its bars—until now. With the opening of Wani to Sai, Dogo can now correctly boast that it has one of the most interesting and unique bars in Matsuyama. The area itself is dotted with crumbling, beautiful old wooden merchant buildings and brothels evoking a murky past, and massive stone torii gates demarcating the many shrines and temples in the area.
This neighborhood oozes with history and a prospect for the future that is easily felt. Wani to Sai also serves very good ramen and yaki-niku donburi.
The night that my wife, some of our guests from Sen Guesthouse , and I went there, we had both dishes and they did not fail to deliver—everything was extremely good. Also, everyone who orders a drink is given a tsukidashi, a complimentary starter dish served at most izakaya, which was also excellent. After graduating high school, he left for Italy to study visual arts.
He stayed in Europe for a total of eight years, in Italy and other counties, as a street marionette performer, before moving back to Japan a couple of years ago. He's fluent in both English and Italian, along with his native Japanese. His interests and experiences clearly make themselves apparent in Wani to Sai. He also has a couple of his marionettes on display and if the night is slow, and the music is right which it always is you just might be able to convince him to bring one of his friends to life.
He often has live music and art events. This is one of the main reasons my wife and I decided to open our guesthouse and offer advice and support for folks who wish to attempt all or part of the 88 temple pilgrimage around Shikoku or explore Dogo Onsen and the historic castle town of Matsuyama. Hailing from south Texas, I have always been drawn to other cultures and their respective religions-which lead to me studying cultural Anthropology and religious studies in university.
