Ehime is Shikoku's most populous and most varied prefecture, facing the Seto Inland Sea from the island's northwest coast. Matsuyama, the prefectural capital and Shikoku's largest city, has two things that define its identity: Matsuyama Castle, sitting on a hilltop in the city centre accessible by ropeway or a brisk climb, intact and original, with one of the best elevated views of the surrounding Inland Sea in western Japan; and Dogo Onsen, the hot spring bathhouse in a Victorian wooden structure that has been operating continuously since at least the 8th century and is traditionally considered Japan's oldest hot spring. The main bathhouse building, opened in 1894 and the rumoured inspiration for Miyazaki's Spirited Away bathhouse (Studio Ghibli has neither confirmed nor denied this), is a declared national treasure currently under restoration.
Getting There
Matsuyama Airport has connections to Tokyo (75 minutes), Osaka, Nagoya, and some regional routes. The JR Yosan Line connects Matsuyama to Okayama by ferry and train (about 3 hours). The Ishizuchi Line connects south to Kochi. The Shimanami Kaido — arguably Japan's finest cycling route — connects Onomichi (Hiroshima) to Imabari (Ehime) across 75km of Inland Sea bridges, passing through six islands, with cycling rental infrastructure at each end and midpoint. The route has put Imabari on the international cycling map and attracts riders from across the world specifically to complete it.
Daily Life
Ehime produces 75% of Japan's mikan (satsuma mandarin) crop — the hillside orchards above the Seto coast, in terraces carved from slopes too steep for any other agricultural use, produce fruit of a sweetness and acidity balance that is the standard against which all other Japanese mikan are judged. The Uwajima area in the south has a bullfighting tradition (bull versus bull, not matador — an older form), a castle, and a food culture centred on taimeshi (sea bream rice) and jakoten (a fish paste cake specific to the area). The Ozu castle town, with machiya streets along the Hiji River, is one of the most photogenic small towns in Shikoku.
Buying Property Here
For property buyers, Ehime is a compelling proposition. Matsuyama houses run ¥4M–¥12M. Imabari (gateway to the Shimanami cycling route) offers ¥3M–¥10M. The southern Ehime towns — Uwajima, Seiyo, Ozu — have houses from ¥1M–¥6M and akiya in significant numbers. The combination of Matsuyama's castle and onsen culture, the Shimanami Kaido connection, the mikan coast scenery, and affordable prices makes Ehime one of Shikoku's strongest lifestyle propositions.
Family Mart - 17 min walk / 3 min drive
