Travel Plans
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- Island hopping by bicycle along Shimanami Kaido–Oshima, Hakatajima, and Omishima
![Island hopping by bicycle along Shimanami Kaido–Oshima, Hakatajima, and Omishima]()
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- Leave Imabari in Shikoku and head across Seto Inland Sea by bicycle, crossing three islands to reach the Honshu mainland. On the way, enjoy an exquisite lunch of fresh fish and stop by a store that sells liqueur homemade from local lemons. The climax of the trip is soaking in Shimanami Kaido’s only natural hot spring.
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- A popular zoo and a town of white walls are just part of this family drive through the Tobe and Uchiko area.
![A popular zoo and a town of white walls are just part of this family drive through the Tobe and Uchiko area.]()
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- It takes only 30 minutes by car from Matsuyama to the town of Tobe. After interacting with wild animals at a popular zoo, you head to the historical town of Uchiko for a step back in time that both adults and children will enjoy. This trip ends with a visit to a secluded railway station and a stunning ocean view.
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- Dogo Onsen and Local Sightseeing Luxury Plan
![Dogo Onsen and Local Sightseeing Luxury Plan]()
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- Dogo Onsen in the city of Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture is Japan's oldest hot spring. Here, you can enjoy the baths from morning till late at night. Immediately in front of the onsen is the covered arcade Dogo Haikara Dori, where you can easily spend a few hours sightseeing and sampling the local food. A visit to Matsuyama Castle goes without saying, but don’t miss the area's many temples. There’s even a place where you can pet animals.
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Travel Guide
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Best Events
Top Things to do
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- Seto Inland Sea Shimanami Kaido
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- 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.
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- Taga Shrine
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![Taga Shrine]()
- Ehime Pref. Uwajimashi Fujie 1340
- Taga Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Uwajima City. The shrine has a museum which includes a priceless collection of artifacts, documents etc. from Japan, China, Korea, India, Nepal and other Asian countries, as well as from Europe, South America, etc., relating to the role of sex in religion, and related folk customs and traditions, etc. The Taga Shrine is approximately 15 minutes’ walk from JR Uwajima Station.
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- Uwajima Castle
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![Uwajima Castle]()
- 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.
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- Uwajima City Date Museum
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![Uwajima City Date Museum]()
- Ehime Pref. Uwajimashi Gotenmachi 9-14
- This museum is just a 25-minute walk from the Uwajima Station. It exhibits treasured documents of the region the Date family is associated with, as well as cultural items of Uwajima. Although the exhibit has various artifacts on display, from weapons, armor, paintings, writings, earthenware, and clothes, the exhibit of the splendid and luxurious bride's furnishings is extensive.
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- Uwajima City Bullfighting Arena
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![Uwajima City Bullfighting Arena]()
- Ehime Pref. Uwajimashi Wareichou 496-2
- Uwajima City Bullfighting Arena is a domed stadium in which bullfighting contests are held, with bulls weighing over a ton being pitted against one another. The Arena opened in 1975. Bullfighting contests are held on January 2, the first Sunday in April, July 24 (the date of the Uwajima Ushi-oni Festival), August 14, and the fourth Sunday in October (Bullfights may also be held on other dates by special arrangement). On days when bullfighting does not take place, visitors to the Arena can watch video footage of previous contests.
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- Wabisuke restaurant (Seasonal and local delicacies)
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![Wabisuke restaurant (Seasonal and local delicacies)]()
- Ehime Pref. Uwajimashi Ebisumachi 1-2-6
- The Wabisuke restaurant is situated around seven minutes’ walk from Uwajima Station (on the JR Yosan Line). The restaurant prides itself on serving dishes made with locally-sourced food; its outstanding local dishes make extensive use of Uwajima’s fresh seafood and mountain specialties. Wabisuke has a relaxed, casual atmosphere and a comprehensive range of dining options; patrons can eat sitting at the counter, in individual rooms, or around a hori-gotatsu heated table. The restaurant also serves lunches.
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- Ozu Castle
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![Ozu Castle]()
- Ehime Pref. Ozushi Ozu 903
- This is a castle which is said to have been constructed at the end of the Kamakura period by Utsunomiya Toyofusa who entered the domain as a protector. Thereafter, the castle was restored by the castle fortification expert, Todo Takatora, and the castle town was prosperous as the center of politics and economy of the Iyo Ozu feudal clan. Due to deterioration, the castle keep was demolished in 1888, but thereafter it was restored in 2004. It is a wooden keep reconstruction which was faithfully reproduced based on historical facts. Four turrets such as the kitchen turret and the southern corner turret have been designated as an Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
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- Garyu Sanso (Mountain Villa)
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![Garyu Sanso (Mountain Villa)]()
- Ehime Pref. Ozushi Ozu 411-2
- This is a mountain villa of 9,930 square meters which commands a view of the picturesque landscape around the Hiji River, the “Garyu depths”, the villa was designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2016. This is the villa which the wealthy merchant, Kouchi Torajiro constructed during the Meiji period to spend his final years; the Sukiya-zukuri style (Japanese traditional architectural style) of the building and the traditional Japanese landscape garden are wonderful. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery at your ease with green tea at “Furoan”. This site gained one star from “Michelin Green Guide Japan” in 2011, attracting attention.
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- Uchiko-za Kabuki Theatre
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![Uchiko-za Kabuki Theatre]()
- Ehime Pref. Kitagunuchikochou Uchiko 2102
- This is a two-story theatre building with a gabled and tiled roof which was built in 1916, and its wooden architectural structure is representative of Aichi Prefecture. It was temporarily remodelled into a cinema, and there were also plans to demolish the building due to its deterioration, but in 1985 due to the zeal of the townspeople, the building was restored to its original condition at the time of being initially constructed. Public performances are done making best use of such things as “hanamichi” (stage–passages), “mawari-butai” (revolving stage), “masu-seki” (box seats) and Japanese musical accompaniment behind black bamboo screen. Again it is also possible to participate in a tour of the interior of the theatre when there are no events being held.
Main Area
What is Ehime?
Stretched across the northwest corner of Shikoku island, Ehime is a nature-rich prefecture boasting beautiful coastlines and a rural center where mountains play host to 26 of the Buddhist temples that make up the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Matsuyama is home to an original post-feudal castle as well as Dogo Onsen, one of the country’s oldest natural hot springs. The northern city of Imabari marks the entrance to the Shimano Kaido, a road that crosses six spectacular bridges and several islands, forming a route between Shikoku and mainland Honshu.
Ehime Overviews
Climate
What to Wear
- Jan
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- Warm Cloth
- Feb
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- Warm Cloth
- Mar
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- Jacket
- Apr
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- Long
- May
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- Long
- Jun
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- Long
- Jul
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- Short
- Aug
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- Short
- Sep
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- Short
- Oct
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- Long
- Nov
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- Jacket
- Dec
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- Warm Cloth
Based on the Meteorological Agency "past weather data", created NAVITIME
Getting Around
If you’re heading straight from Tokyo to Ehime, flying is certainly the quickest option, with a flight from Tokyo to Matsuyama Airport taking just over an hour. For those with a little more time and a few more stops on their itinerary, the JR Yosan Line will take you directly from the shinkansen stop Okayama Station to Matsuyama Station via Kagawa prefecture. However, the most recommended route is, of course, via the scenic Shimano Kaido, a popular route to cycle from Onomichi to Imabari.
How to get to Matsuyama Airport