Ehime Travel Guide

The westernmost point of Honshu — a bare volcanic cape reaching into the Bungo Channel between Ehime and Oita. A suspended monorail descends to the tip for 360° water views.

Japan's oldest hot spring, continuously in use for 3,000 years. Rumored to be the model for the bathhouse in Spirited Away, it retains its magnificent Meiji-era wooden bathhouse building.

The 51st of 88 sacred temples on the Shikoku pilgrimage — one of the most architecturally remarkable, with a corridor packed floor-to-ceiling with pilgrim offerings and a tunnel maze to walk.

One of Japan's 12 original surviving castles, perched 132m above the city on a dramatic rocky summit. The ropeway delivers views of the Seto Inland Sea on clear days.

A major industrial-heritage park celebrating the historic Besshi Copper Mine that powered Japan's modernization. Visitors can ride a mine train deep underground, explore a sightseeing tunnel, and learn about mining history.

Home to Oyamazumi Shrine, the central shrine of all warrior deities — the greatest collection of ancient armor in Japan (9 national treasures) sits in a forest of 2,600-year-old camphor trees.

A fully reconstructed 2004 castle using only traditional Edo-era methods — hand-cut timber, no nails, no concrete — making it the most authentic modern castle reconstruction in Japan.

Japan's second-largest karst plateau straddles the Ehime-Kochi border at 1,400m — a sweep of white limestone outcrops, grazing dairy cows, and unobstructed Pacific views.

The world's most beautiful cycling route — 70km across 10 islands on dedicated cycle lanes built into a 6-island bridge complex. Start from Imabari (Ehime) and finish in Onomichi (Hiroshima).

Western Japan's largest zoo with over 1,000 animals from around the world. Known for polar bears, elephants, and immersive habitat-style exhibits that make for an engaging half-day outing from Matsuyama.

A beautifully preserved Edo-period merchant town that grew wealthy from wax production. The main street retains its original buildings and a stunning 19th-century kabuki theater still in use.

A compact original castle on a hill overlooking Uwa Sea, famous for its association with bullfighting — the only city in Japan where bull-vs-bull sumo-style fights are a living tradition.

A celebrated waterfront michi-no-eki near Uwajima Port that showcases southern Ehime's culinary identity. Try local specialties like taimeshi (sea bream rice) and jakoten (fish cake), plus regional souvenirs and seasonal produce.

A bustling waterfront michi-no-eki (roadside station) that doubles as a seafood market and local-produce hub. Sample fresh catch from Yawatahama harbor, local citrus, and casual dining options in a lively harbor-side atmosphere.