Ōzu (大洲市, Ōzu-shi) is a Japanese city located in Nanyo, the region occupying the southern half of Ehime Prefecture.

Ehime Prefecture Ōzu has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) characterized by warm summers and cool winters with light snowfall.

Ōzu has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 21 members.

In terms of national politics, Ōzu is part of Ehime 3rd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

The economy is now centered on Agriculture (vegetables, livestock, citrus fruits) and forestry, with manufacturing of toothbrushes an important local product.

This resulted in a thriving urban environment of various historical layers, remnants of which are still standing: -Garyū Sansō (臥龍山荘) Set of three tea pavilions within a lavish roji (路地) -tea ceremony garden- overhanging the Hiji River.

It doubled as a Noh Theatre stage and was berth of the local kaketsukuri [ja] (懸け造り) architecture style.

Its Zen meditation hall displays a Siddhattha Gotama (釈迦如来像, Shakanyorai-zō) sculpture, flanked by elevated tatami, a rather unusual setting in zazen (座禅) dedicated spaces .