English Haiku Class in Matsuyama: Compose & Share Poetry

Write haiku inspired by the hermitages where modern poetry was born.

An English-language haiku class in Matsuyama where you compose poems at Kōshin-an and Issō-an, the hermitages tied to Japan's haiku masters, then workshop your work with an instructor. The program opens with a lecture on English haiku and the spirit of Matsuyama, moves into a guided walk where you write poems inspired by the landscape and historic settings, and closes with a session where you share your haiku and receive commentary. Participants must be at least 13, able to read and write English, and have moderate physical fitness. The class runs about four and a half hours and includes transportation between venues, all materials, and bilingual support.

The experience

Matsuyama earned its name as the Haiku Capital because Masaoka Shiki, who reshaped haiku into modern literature and gave it its current name, was born here. The city is also home to Issō-an, the hermitage where Santōka Taneda, another defining figure in contemporary haiku, spent his final years. This class uses those two sites (Kōshin-an and Issō-an) as the ground for your own writing. You start with a lecture on English haiku and what makes Matsuyama central to the form, then move into the gin-kō, a haiku walk where you compose poems inspired by the landscapes and the weight of the places themselves.

The walk takes you through both hermitages over roughly two hours. You are not sightseeing. You are writing. The instructor guides you to notice seasonal details and the character of each setting, and you compose English-language haiku as you move. After the walk, you return to the conference room for the kukai, a workshop where you share what you wrote, read others' poems, and receive the instructor's commentary. Chartered taxi transportation moves the group between the castle ropeway station, where you meet at 12:50 p.m., and the two hermitages. The whole program (lecture, walk, and workshop) wraps by 5:15 p.m.

What’s included

• English-language haiku lecture and workshop instruction.
• chartered taxi transportation to both hermitages.
• all materials and equipment for the class.
• bilingual navigator support in English and Japanese.
• venue access at both Kōshin-an and Issō-an.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDeparts at 12:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (13 to 80 years) · Under 13: can't be booked

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by ＪＴＢ松山支店

Is this one for you?The class starts and ends at the Matsuyama Castle Ropeway Station with chartered transport included, so you can join without a car or knowledge of local transit. The fixed schedule (lecture, walk, and workshop all in one afternoon) fits easily into a day in the city.

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Issō-an and why does it matter for haiku?

Issō-an is the hermitage where Santōka Taneda, a major figure in modern haiku, spent his final years. It is one of two sites where you compose during the haiku walk, chosen because of its direct connection to haiku history and the contemplative atmosphere it holds.

Do I need to know haiku before I sign up?

No prior experience is required. The class begins with a lecture that introduces English haiku and its roots in Matsuyama, so you learn the form before you write. The instructor guides you through the composition process during the walk and workshop.

What happens during the haiku walk at the hermitages?

You spend roughly two hours moving through Kōshin-an and Issō-an, observing the landscapes and historic settings. As you walk, you compose English-language haiku inspired by what you see and the character of each place, with the instructor offering guidance and support.

How does the workshop at the end work?

After the walk, you gather in the conference room and share the haiku you wrote. Other participants read their poems aloud, and the instructor provides commentary on each one. It is a chance to hear how others responded to the same places and to understand your own work through feedback.

Where do I meet, and how do I get to the hermitages?

You meet at 12:50 p.m. in the conference room on the second floor of the Matsuyama Castle Ropeway Station. Chartered taxis transport the group to Kōshin-an and Issō-an, so you do not need your own transport or prior knowledge of how to reach the sites.