Located in the northwestern side of Shikoku Island, Ehime Prefecture is a scenic region, home to various natural, historical, and cultural wonders.
Bordered by the Shikoku Mountain Range and the Seto Inland Sea, it is made up of 11 cities and numerous towns and villages, with an abundance of impressive ancient and modern attractions. Its capital city, Matsuyama, is famous for Matsuyamajo, one of Japan’s most spectacular, original castles.
How To Get to Ehime
To get to Ehime, you can travel by plane, railway, or bus.
The main airport in the prefecture is the Matsuyama Airport, situated about six kilometres outside of the city of Matsuyama.
Every day, it handles a number of international flights, such as going to and from Shanghai via China Eastern Airlines, and Seoul via Jeju Air; and charter flights to and from Auckland and Christchurch via Air New Zealand, and Taipei via China Airlines.
Domestic routes include to and from Tokyo, Osaka, and Naha via All Nippon Airways, Tokyo via Japan Airlines and Jetstar Japan, and Osaka via Peach and J-Air. A flight to or from Tokyo takes about an hour and a half.
By railway, Ehime is most accessible via Matsuyama Station, which is Matsuyama’s primary railway station. It serves the JR Yosan Line, JR Yodo Line, and JR Uchiko Line, all of which give easy access to the other prefectures on Shikoku.
If wish to travel to Ehime from Tokyo by railway, catch the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen bound for Hakata at Tokyo Station, and then get off at Okayama Station. Transfer to the Yosan Line-Limited Express and get off at Matsuyama Station. The one-way trip takes about six hours, and costs approximately 21,000 yen.
There are also highway bus companies that offer overnight bus routes between Matsuyama and Tokyo, Fukuoka, and other cities. You can check for ticket prices, timetables, available routes, and other information on Japan Bus Online.
Top Attractions in Ehime
Dogo Onsen
One of Japan’s oldest onsen, with a history dating back to more than one thousand years ago, Dogo Onsen is a very popular tourist destination in Ehime. It has a wide selection of shrines, temples, ryokan and bathhouses to offer.
Its most notable attraction, the Dogo Onsen Honkan, is a large wooden public bathhouse founded in the late 1800s, consisting of several rooms, passages, and maze-like stairways, similar to the one featured in Hayao Miyazaki’s animated movie “Spirited Away”.
Dogo Onsen is a few minutes’ walk away from Dogo Onsen Station, along the Matsuyama’s city tram line 3 or 5.
Shimanami Kaido
Cycling the Shimanami Kaido is one of the most popular things to do to enjoy the beauty of nature in this part of Japan. It is a 60-kilometre long road that links the islands of Shikoku and Honshu, and passes over some small islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
Biking routes typically start on Honshu Island, specifically in Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture, where bikes can be rented from a couple of bicycle rentals just outside of Onomochi Station.
The route then takes you to the smaller islands of Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Hakatajima, Omishima, Oshima, and finally to Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku Island.
The entire route can be completed in one day, but many recommend doing it over two days to have more time to take in the stunning sceneries along the way.
The Shimanami Kaido Tourist Information website provides more information on the route, where and how to rent bikes, sightseeing spots along the way, and more.
Matsuyama Castle
Constructed in 1603, Matsuyama Castle is one of the only 12 original castles of Japan. It stands on the 132-metre high Mount Katsuyama, overlooking the city and the sea beyond. Its grounds grow around 200 sakura trees that look gorgeous every peak cherry blossoms season, which usually falls between late March and early April.
To get to the castle, you have to take a ropeway and either walk 15 minutes or ride a chairlift to the top.
At Matsuyama Station, get on a tram to Okaido Station, which is about five minutes away on foot from the lower ropeway station.
Ishiteji Temple
Matsuyama’s most celebrated temple, Ishiteji Temple is one of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Its complex consists of many buildings, halls, statues, a three-storied pagoda, and an inner temple that is accessed via a cave. To reach the temple’s main entrance, you have to go through a quaint covered walkway that is lined by stalls and shops.
Situated near Dogo Onsen, Ishiteji Temple is accessible via a quick bus ride from the Dogo Onsen tram stop.
More information is available on Ishiteji Temple’s pamphlet.
Uchiko
A small, rural town 40 kilometres outside of Matsuyama, Uchiko is a traditional and historical town with well-preserved buildings and houses built about one hundred years ago, and used to have a thriving wax and paper industry.
Today, its most famous tourist spots are the Yokaichi Old Town, for the traditional structures; the Kamihaga Residence, for exhibits on the town’s long history on wax production; Uchiko-za Theatre, for bunraku and kabuki shows; and Uchiko History Museum, for unique displays depicting the town’s 19th and 20th century lifestyles.
From Matsuyama Station, Uchiko Station is about half an hour away via limited express train.
Getting Around Ehime
Ehime is served by trains, buses, and trams.
Iyo Railway is the region’s predominant transportation company. Its railway lines — Takahama Line, Yokogawa Line, and Gonchu Line — conveniently connect the cities and towns in the prefecture. It also handles Matsuyama’s city tram network and local bus services.
Click here for more information on Iyo Railway.
Weather in Ehime
Ehime enjoys a mild climate. Its hottest days are in July and August, at around 27 degrees Celsius, and its coldest are in January and February, at around 6 degrees. Spring and autumn are quite pleasant for some outdoor sakura and autumn foliage viewing, with daily temperatures between 10 and 19 degrees.