-
-
Matsuyama Castle
-
Imabari Castle
-
Oyamazumi Shrine
-
Kirosan Observation Park
-
Ishite-ji Temple
-
The Towel Museum
-
Dogo-Kan hot spring ryokan hotel
-
Dogo Park
-
Tobe Zoological Park of Ehime Prefecture
-
OKUDOGO ICHIYU NO MORI
-
8 Recommended Sightseeing Spots to Visit in Ehime
-
Thorough Guide To Enjoy Tatoo Friendly Dogo Onsen In Matsuyama
-
The Sacred Peaks of Japan: Mt. Ishizuchi
Travel Plans
View more-
- A popular zoo and a town of white walls are just part of this family drive through the Tobe and Uchiko area.
- 1days
- 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.
-
- Dogo Onsen and Local Sightseeing Luxury Plan
- 1days
- 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.
-
- Shimanami Kaido Pottering to Oshima—the best views of Setouchi and seafood
- 1days
- This is an introduction of all the things to enjoy on a short course of the Shimanami Kaido Road. This course heading for the first island—Oshima Island—starts from the Imabari Cycle Port, and is exhilarating, passing over the world’s first three-way suspension bridge. The climax of the ride is the spectacular view, said to be the best of Shimanami, waiting for you at the Kirosan Tenbo Park!
- Create your own Travel Plan
Travel Guide
View moreBest Events
Top Things to do
View more-
- Matsuyama Castle
-
-
4.52013 Reviews
- 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.
-
- Imabari Castle
-
-
4.0321 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.
-
- Oyamazumi Shrine
-
-
4.5246 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.
-
- Kirosan Observation Park
-
-
4.5219 Reviews
- Ehime Pref. Imabarishi Yoshiumichouminamiura 487-4
- A scenic observation park situated on top of Mt. Kiro in Yoshiumi Town, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. The park is one of the best view spots on the Shimanami Kaido Expressway, and offers a sweeping view of the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge, the world’s first three tower suspension bridge; the Kurushima Strait, one of Japan’s three most majestic rapid tides; and the city of Imabari. Another highlight of the park is that visitors can enjoy excitingly different scenery depending on the time of day—in addition to the invigorating scenery during daylight hours, there’s also the beauty of the sun setting into the sea as well as the impressive sight of the Kurushima-Kaikyo Bridge lit up at night. The road leading to the park is steep and full of curves, so particular care needs to be taken by visitors seeking to reach it by bicycle.
-
- Ishite-ji Temple
-
-
4.0281 Reviews
- Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Ishite 2-9-21
- Located in the Ishite district of Matsuyama City, the Ishite-ji Temple is a Buzan sect Shingon Buddhist temple. The temple’s formal name is Kumano-san Kokuzo-in; it is the 51st temple visited on the Shikoku 88-temple Pilgrimage. The Ishite-ji Temple is famous for its association with Emon Saburo, a renowned early pilgrim who according to legend was reborn so that he could help restore the temple. The temple was first built in 728 by Ochino Tamazumi, the lord of Iyo Province. Initially, it was a Hosso school Buddhist temple, named the Anyo-ji Temple. However, following a visit by the monk Kukai in 813, it was transformed into a Shingon Buddhist temple. Besides the Niomon gate (a designated National Treasure), the Ishite-ji Temple also has several Important Cultural Properties, including the Hon-do (main hall) and a three-storey pagoda.
-
- The Towel Museum
-
-
3.5249 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.
-
- Dogo-Kan hot spring ryokan hotel
-
-
4.5210 Reviews
- Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Dougotakouchou 7-26
- Dogo-Kan is a famous hot spring ryokan hotel designed by the architect Kurokawa Kisho. Situated on a small plateau in the hot springs district, it has a fine view over Matsuyama Castle. The main bath area has a comprehensive range of facilities, including water cascades, reclining baths, open-air baths, saunas, etc.; day visitors are welcome. The decor of the hotel interior is based on Edo-period street scenes, and is very impressive.
-
- Dogo Park
-
-
4.0265 Reviews
- Ehime Matsuyama-shi Dogo Park
- This park in Dogokoen, Matsuyama City was developed around the Yuzuki Castle Ruins, a national historic site. The park, which is surrounded by the castle’s outer moat, retains archeological features such as earthwork fortifications and allotment of land. It also features recreations of samurai houses and a history museum that exhibits artifacts unearthed during archeological surveys, among other items. Many people also visit the park in the spring to see its famous cherry blossoms.
-
- Tobe Zoological Park of Ehime Prefecture
-
-
4.5118 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.
Areas

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
-
- Warm Cloth
- Feb
-
- Warm Cloth
- Mar
-
- Jacket
- Apr
-
- Long
- May
-
- Long
- Jun
-
- Long
- Jul
-
- Short
- Aug
-
- Short
- Sep
-
- Short
- Oct
-
- Long
- Nov
-
- Jacket
- Dec
-
- Warm Cloth
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.
Access
-
How to get to Matsuyama Airport
-
How to get to Matsuyama(Ehime)