Ehime

Travel Guide

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Best Events

• Festivals

  

  • Uwajima Ushi-oni Festival
  • Niihama Taiko Festival

• Cherry Blossom

  

  • Matsuyama Castle Park

• Fireworks Festivals

  

  • Mitsuhama Fireworks Show
  • Onmaku Fireworks

Top Things to do

• Dogo Onsen Honkan

  Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Dougoyunomachi 5-6

  This is a public bathhouse of the historical Dogo Onsen. The three-tiered wooden building has been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. It sprung to fame after it was mentioned in Natsume Soseki’s novel, Botchan. The dark interior with its pillars, beams and wooden lockers oozes with antiquated charm. The Honkan has two indoor baths, the Kami no Yu and the Tama no Yu, where visitors can relax and enjoy a pleasant soak. At extra charge guests can use the resting room complete with a hired yukata and some tea and cake. The nearest station is Dogo Onsen Station.

• Matsuyama Castle

  Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Marunouchi

  Matsuyama Castle is the only castle among the surviving 12 castles which now has a keep. It was selected as one of the 100 best castles of Japan in 2006. Kato Yoshiaki started the castle construction in 1602, and it is the last complete castle to have been constructed in Japan, which was completed over the longest length of time (approximately a quarter century) in Japanese architectural history. The inner citadel of the castle is located on the summit of Mt. Katsuyama at an altitude of 132 meters, while an outer citadel and a third citadel are at the base of the mountain; it is a huge castle and is counted as one of the coalition of the three largest flatland mountain castles in Japan. You can see from Mt. Ishizuchi to Iyo-nada with one sweep of the eye from the top floor of the large castle keep—that scenery is magnificent.

• Shikoku Karst

  Ehime Prefecture/Kochi Prefecture

  Shikoku Karst is a scenic spot noted as being one of the three largest karsts (geological feature) in Japan. The karst stretches for about 25 kilometers east to west and sits at a height of 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea level. The Shikoku Karst is also the source of the Shimanto River, said to be the last clear stream in Japan on account of there not being any dams on the river. The sight of the Tosa Red cows grazing on the land is both tranquil and beautiful.

• Imabari Castle

  4.0

  277 Reviews

  Ehime Pref. Imabarishi Torichou 3-1-3 Imabari castle management office

  Imabari Castle was built in 1602 by Takatora Todo, a military commander who did well in the famous Battle of Sekigahara and consequently controlled a large territory in the province of Iyo. The castle sitting on the coast is unique in Japan with its seawater moat and entrance for ships. Most of the buildings were destroyed after the Meiji Restoration with only the inner moat and the stone wall of the castle remaining, but the castle tower and the iron gates were reconstructed after 1980 restoring the castle to its former glory. Inside the castle itself visitors will find many important artifacts on display including armor worn by the feudal lords and pictures and writings, etc.

• Uwajima Castle

  4.0

  205 Reviews

  Ehime Pref. Uwajimashi Marunouchi 1

  This castle was constructed by Todo Takatora in 1601. The outer walls of the castle are a pentagon with irregular sides when they are viewed from the sky; it is a castle where Takatora’s ingenuity can be seen everywhere (He was said to be an expert on castle fortification). The white walled castle keep is beautiful against the blue sky and the green mountains, and the castle is also called Tsurushima castle. The castle’s keep is one of 12 keeps in existence and has also been designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

• Tobe Zoological Park of Ehime Prefecture

  4.5

  110 Reviews

  Ehime Pref. Iyoguntobechou Kamiharamachi 240

  This prefectural zoo, located within the Ehime Prefectural Sports Complex in Tobe Town, Iyo County, Ehime Prefecture, has the largest site area of any zoo in Western Japan. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views without the hindrance of cages and fences due to the use of natural features around the site. Visitors can see about 180 species and 1,000 animals in the zoo including Peace, the first successfully hand-reared polar bear in Japan, African elephants, and some clever chimpanzees. The zoo also holds events throughout the year including the Night Zoo, where visitors can observe the animals at night.

• Oyamazumi Shrine

  4.5

  213 Reviews

  Ehime Pref. Imabarishi Omishimachoumiyaura 3327

  Oyamazumi Shrine is the head shrine overseeing the nationwide Yamazumi Shrine and Mishima Shrine dedicated to the god, Oyamatsumi. The shrine is located in Mishima Town, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. Since ancient times the shrine has been used as a place of worship for the gods of the mountains, sea and war. It has been visited by naval commanders, Japan’s first Prime Minister, Hirobumi Ito, Isoroku Yamamoto of the former Imperial Navy, as well as leaders from the Maritime Self Defense Force and the Japan Coast Guard. As well as the sacred camphor tree said to be 2,600 years old in the grounds of the shrine, visitors can also see a group of ancient trees, the oldest in Japan and designated as a National Natural Treasure. The main shrine building, worship hall and Hokyoin pagoda have been designated as national important cultural properties. There are also many important cultural properties including some national treasures stored and on display in the treasure hall.

• The Towel Museum

  4.0

  1 Reviews

  Ehime Pref. Imabarishi Asakurakami

  This is a specialist towel museum located in Japan’s leading towel production area, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. Housed within a building reminiscent of a European castle there is also a 33,000 square meter European style garden with flowers blooming throughout the year. Inside the museum visitors will find a whole range of items on display made out of towel and cloth by the writer, painter and product designer Atsuko Matano. Visitors can also take a look around the place where towels are made and have their own unique embroidery stitched into a towel they’ve purchased. There is also a shop which sells Shikoku souvenirs with a focus on towel products.

• Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido

  Hiroshima Prefecture Onomichi City - Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture

  There are three expressways connecting Honshu (the main island of Japan) with Shikoku (the smallest of the four main islands of Japan), and Nishiseto Expressway, also known as Shimanami Kaido, which is one of them. It connects Onomichi in Honshu with Imabari in Shikoku, and covers the west route. As you cross the islands, there are many beautiful scenic locations and tourist spots along the way including temples and historical landmarks. This is also the location of Japan’s first cycling road to cross over the strait, drawing numerous cycling tourists.