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Matsuyama City

Matsuyama City, the prefectural capital of Ehime Prefecture, possesses the largest population in Shikoku, and is a lively tourism city where a rich history and culture continuing from ancient times comfortably merge with urban convenience. In the center stands the grand "Matsuyama Castle," one of the 12 Existing Original Tenshu, and at its foot spreads "Dogo Onsen," a famous ancient名湯 boasting 3,000 years of history. It is also famous as the stage for Natsume Soseki's novel "Botchan," with the retro "Botchan Train" running through the town creating a nostalgic landscape that adds to its charm. High-level gourmet spots where you...

Ehime
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Shimonada Station

Shimonada Station

Shimonada Station on the JR Yosan Line, standing along the coast of Iyo City, is a world-famous unstaffed station termed one of the "stations closest to the sea in Japan," with a vast, spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea spreading right before the platform. Depicted as the stage for numerous movies, dramas, and anime, very many travelers and photographers from home and abroad gather seeking its nostalgic and beautiful scenery. The rustic wooden benches, the small platform with only a roof, and the unobstructed contrast of the blue sea and sky present a beauty just like a painting. Especially...

Ehime
Sightseeing
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Ikku Shrine

Ikku Shrine, enshrined in the center of Niihama City, enshrines a branch spirit of Oyamazumi Shrine and is the region's premier ancient shrine boasting a history of over 1,000 years. Stepping inside the grounds, you are immediately surrounded by a vast primeval forest of giant camphor trees, termed "The Camphor Tree Grove of Ikku Shrine," which are designated as a National Natural Monument, enveloping visitors in divine power and overwhelming silence. This shrine is also famous as the primary stage for the "Niihama Taiko Festival," held every October and counted among Shikoku's top three festivals. During the festival season, giant...

Ehime
Sightseeing
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Tonaru District

Tonaru District

Tonaru District, sequestered in the deep mountains of Niihama City at an altitude of about 750 meters, is a place where the mining headquarters of the Besshi Copper Mine was once situated, and a modern mountainous city where thousands of people lived during its peak once existed. Today, heavy red brick storage and substation ruins towering along the rugged mountainside remain as if swallowed by deep green nature, and its mystical, ephemeral appearance earns it the moniker "Machu Picchu of the East," attracting tourists from worldwide. The giant stone walls and stairs of ruins floating in the mist present an...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
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Minetopia Besshi

Minetopia Besshi

Minetopia Besshi in Niihama City is an experiential tourism theme park where history and entertainment merge, utilizing the site of the "Besshi Copper Mine," which once boasted one of the world's premier production volumes and strongly supported Japan's modernization. Taking the sightseeing mine railway to the area reproducing the shafts of the time, visitors can enjoy learning about the mysterious earth and the harsh history of the miners through realistic figures, dioramas, and full-scale "gold panning experiences." The premises also feature substantial hot spring facilities utilizing industrial heritage, restaurants, and indoor play equipment for children. Surrounded by rich great nature,...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Spring
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Gujo Observation Deck

Gujo Observation Deck

Gujo Observation Deck, located at an altitude of about 350 meters on the mountainside of the Houou Mountain Range in Shikoku-Chuo City, is a spectacular scenic spot widely known as a sacred place for one of Japan's premier factory night views. During the day, an open panorama stretches out below, overlooking the cityscape where Japan's leading paper manufacturing factories gather, the calm Seto Inland Sea, and on clear days, as far as the islands of Kagawa Prefecture. However, the biggest highlight is at night. After the sun sets, countless lights emitted from the plants and chimneys of the giant paper...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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Uwajima Castle

Uwajima Castle, standing atop a hill in the center of Uwajima City, is one of the "12 Existing Original Tenshu" conveying its appearance unchanged from the Edo period to the present day. Built by Todo Takatora, a powerful warrior renowned as a master of castle design, it features a complex layout utilizing an irregular pentagon to deceive enemies. The compact yet highly sophisticated wooden main keep is designated as a National Important Cultural Property, and stepping inside completely overwhelms you with the heavy construction where the breath of ancient samurai can be heard. The castle mountain is covered by a...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Spring
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Kushima Ohashi Bridge

Kushima Ohashi Bridge

The "Kushima Ohashi Bridge," opened in 2016, is a beautiful white suspension bridge with a total length of 468 meters connecting Uwajima city area and the remote Kushima Island floating off the coast. The birth of this bridge dramatically improved access to Kushima Island, which could previously only be crossed by boat, gathering attention as a new sightseeing route. A sidewalk is also fully maintained on the bridge, providing pure exhilaration for walking or cycling while feeling the pleasant sea breeze. From atop the bridge, you can gaze at a grand panorama of the dynamic多島美 of the Uwa Sea woven...

Ehime
Sightseeing
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Kushima Island

Kushima Island, floating about 400 meters off the coast of Uwajima Port, is a remote island with a perimeter of about 10 kilometers, charming for its untouched rich nature and rustic island living. Because the Kushima Ohashi Bridge opened in 2016, it became easily accessible from Uwajima city area via car, bicycle, or foot, serving as a hidden sacred site for cyclists and hikers. The road circling the island has very light traffic, allowing for stress-free strolls while listening to the calm waves of the Uwa Sea. The island features unusual rocks like the "Godzilla Rock" shaped like Godzilla, beautiful...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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Ozu Castle

Ozu Castle, towering on the banks of the Hijikawa River in the center of Ozu City, is a symbol of Ozu conveying history from the Warring States period to the Edo period. Although a large part was dismantled during the Meiji period, it achieved Japan's first full-scale "restoration of a tenshu using wood" in 2004 based on old drawings and wooden models from the Edo period, receiving worldwide evaluation architecturally. Inside, the warmth of wood and highly advanced craftsman techniques live on, allowing you to feel the weight of real history firsthand. In particular, the "Castle Stay" experience limited to...

Ehime
Sightseeing
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Iwamatsu Townscape

Iwamatsu Townscape

The "Iwamatsu Townscape" in Tsushima-cho, Uwajima City, is a history-emotion rich area deeply retaining the atmosphere of the past, having flourished from the Edo period to the early_Showa period through sake brewing and rice trading. Along the quiet streets facing the Iwamatsu River, prestigious grand-walled merchant houses, heavy storehouses, and buildings with characteristic lattice doors are carefully protected today. Known as the stage for the novel "Tenya Wanya" by modern Japanese novelist Shishi Bunroku, a literary romance drifts through the air. Retaining an un-commercialized, natural silence and the breath of old Japanese living, it is a hidden famous spot known...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Spring
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Yusu Mizunoura Terraced Fields

Yusu Mizunoura Terraced Fields

The "Yusu Mizunoura Terraced Fields," located on the Koshima Peninsula in Uwajima City, are stair-like fields boasting an overwhelming beauty, praised as "cultivating until reaching heaven" and designated as a National Important Cultural Landscape. The stone walls constructed meticulously on the steep slope layer tightly over each other like stairs toward heaven, creating a breathtaking contrast with the deep blue Uwa Sea spreading before your eyes. These terraced fields are a "living historical heritage" built by ancestors with blood-sweat efforts to survive on limited land, where potatoes are mainly cultivated today. Climbing the walking path continuing to the summit expands...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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Fuwari-mae Beach

Fuwari-mae Beach

Fuwari-mae Beach, located in the northern part of Matsuyama City, is a beautiful white sand beach facing the calm Seto Inland Sea. Alongside the adjacent roadside station "Michi-no-Eki Fuwari," it is loved by domestic and international travelers as a spectacular scenic spot to easily drop by during a drive or cycling journey. The endless highly transparent sea and the gentle coastline provide an outstanding feeling of openness, buzzing with people enjoying swimming and marine sports in summer. At dusk in particular, the silhouettes of islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea are dyed by the setting sun, spreading a breathtakingly...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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Michi-no-Eki Nakayama

Michi-no-Eki Nakayama

Michi-no-Eki Nakayama, located in Nakayama Town, Iyo City, is a rest spot filled with regional charms, nestled in a lush green mountainous area. Nakayama Town is famous nationwide as the "Village of Chestnuts," and during the autumn season, it buzzes with many people seeking "Nakayama Chestnuts," a high-grade brand chestnut that is large-grained with a strong sweetness. At the direct sales store inside the building, visitors can enjoy fresh local vegetables and fruits, alongside exquisite sweets using chestnuts such as chestnut soft-serve ice cream, pies, and buns year-round, which are immensely popular among international tourists. Also equipped with facilities for...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Spring
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Cape Sada

Cape Sada, located at the westernmost tip of Shikoku and stretching slenderly as if dividing the Uwa Sea and the Seto Inland Sea, is a spectacular scenic spot at the tip of the "narrowest peninsula in Japan" with a total length of about 40 kilometers. Driving along the Melody Line running on the ruggedly cut precipice ridge is pure exhilaration. A lushly green natural walking path is maintained up to the pure white, Taisho-period lighthouse standing at the absolute tip of the cape, providing a pleasant feeling of adventure. From around the lighthouse, you can closely experience the powerful dynamism...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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Miyama Castle Ruins Observation Park

Miyama Castle Ruins Observation Park

This observation park sits at the summit of Mt. Miya (Miyama), where an outpost castle of the "Murakami Kaizoku" (Murakami Suigan), pirate lords who historically active on the stage of the Seto Inland Sea, once stood. From this high ground drifting with historical romance, you can obtain an unobstructed, dramatic view of the fierce Kurushima Strait tidal currents flowing below and the entire grand structure of the Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge. Compared to other observatories along the Shimanami Kaido, it has relatively fewer tourists, loved by international travelers as a hidden gem viewpoint to quietly enjoy the landscape. Feeling the pleasant...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge

Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge

The "Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge," connecting Imabari City and Oshima Island in Ehime Prefecture, is a masterpiece of modern architecture known as the world's first "triple suspension bridge" spanning fierce tidal currents in the Seto Inland Sea. Boasting a grand scale with a total length of about 4.1 kilometers, it stands as a symbol decorating the highlight of the Shimanami Kaido. The greatest charm of this bridge is that roads dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists run completely parallel alongside automobiles. The experience of running high up atop the bridge while looking straight down at the emerald green shimmering sea and the...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Spring
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Kirozan Observation Park

Kirozan Observation Park

Kirozan Observation Park, located on Oshima Island, is a premier viewpoint boasting some of the finest spectacular scenery along the Shimanami Kaido at an altitude of 307 meters. The modern panoramic observation deck designed by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma boasts a globally rare architectural beauty, with most of the structure buried underground so as not to damage the natural landscape of the mountain itself. The view from here is breathtaking, offering a complete look at the world's first triple suspension bridge, the "Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge," the fierce tidal currents weaving between them, and a vast panorama of islands dotting the...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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Oomishima Island

Oomishima Island

Oomishima Island, floating in the Seto Inland Sea, is the largest island in Ehime Prefecture along the Shimanami Kaido, presenting a highly attractive island where historic faith and contemporary art intersect. In the center of the island sits the "Oyamazumi Shrine," where a sacred 2,600-year-old holy tree towers. Because numerous samurai warlords historically prayed for victory here and dedicated their armor and swords, it is famous as a sacred power spot collecting the world's largest concentration of samurai weaponry designated as National Treasures. Meanwhile, contemporary art facilities, including a museum by world-renowned architect Toyo Ito, are scattered along the coast,...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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Kamijima Town

Kamijima Town, consisting of 25 islands floating in the northeastern part of the Seto Inland Sea, is a hideaway-like island area where time flows leisurely precisely because it is not connected by large bridges. Among them, the cycling road called "Yumeshima Kaido" features no traffic lights and very light traffic, gathering attention from international travelers as a premier local course where you can ride stress-free while listening to the calm waves of the Seto Inland Sea. Walking the islands reveals nostalgic, rustic fishing village landscapes, warm interactions with local people, and the rich scent of citrus fruits tickling your senses....

Ehime
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Nametoko Gorge

The "Nametoko Gorge," spreading upstream of the Meguro River—a tributary of the Shimanto River—is one of Japan's premier canyon beauties with untouched great nature remaining, located within the rugged Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park. Smooth riverbeds of single giant rocks have been carved out over long years, and the elegant flow of pure water is truly an artwork created by nature. The biggest highlight is the "Yukiwa Falls," selected among Japan's top 100 waterfalls, where water gracefully slides down a massive rock face. In recent years, it has become famous as a mecca for "canyoning," a full-scale canyon activity highly popular worldwide,...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
Summer
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Shimanami Kaido

Shimanami Kaido

The "Shimanami Kaido," connecting Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture and Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture with a total length of about 60 kilometers, is a world-class "cycling mecca" yearned for by cyclists globally, connecting beautiful islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea with seven unique giant bridges. The overwhelming feeling of refreshing exhilaration, as if riding a bicycle over the sea, is its greatest charm, attracting many travelers from Japan and abroad to enjoy cycling. The route is packed with observation decks boasting panoramic views of blue seas and green islands, gourmet spots to taste fresh seafood, and hidden famous...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
Summer
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Dogo Onsen

Boasting a history of over 3,000 years and praised as Japan's oldest hot spring, "Dogo Onsen" is a globally famous premier名湯 representing Ehime Prefecture. The town's symbol, the "Dogo Onsen Honkan," is a heavy wooden three-story building constructed in the Meiji period and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. Its intricately intertwined structures and retro wooden corridors radiate a nostalgic beauty, as if wandering into the world of the movie "Spirited Away." Strolling through the retro hot spring town wearing a yukata after a bath allows you to fully enjoy good old Japanese emotions. Surrounded by footbaths and...

Ehime
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Activities
Spring
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Shikoku Karst

Shikoku Karst, spreading along the ridge at an altitude of about 1,000 to 1,400 meters on the border between Ehime and Kochi prefectures, is a spectacular landscape drive course in the sky counted among Japan's top three karsts. White limestone unusual rocks are scattered across the lush green vast grasslands like a flock of sheep, and the scene of grazed cattle leisurely eating grass provides an extraordinary panorama as if wandering into a European plateau. In particular, the refreshing feeling of driving on the "Path of the Sky" (Prefectural Road 383), a single path heading toward the unobstructed blue sky,...

Ehime
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
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