Ehime is a beautiful and scenic prefecture located in Shikoku Island. Matsuyama is the prefectural city and other cities include Uchiko, Ozu, and Uwajima. Ehime prefecture was used to be called Iyo Province, up until the Meiji Restoration. “Ehime” means “lovely princess”, and was used as its name in the kuniumi part of the Kojiki.…

One of the most noticeable events at the end of this March is the exhibition of a famous onsen spot called Dogo Onsen Honkan in Ehime Prefecture, Matsuyama City. This exhibition is held on the upper floor of the luxury shopping center Ginza Mitsukoshi, from March 27th to March 31st. Author’s photo   Representing for…

Matsuyama, located in Ehime Prefecture, is one of Shikoku’s most famous cities. There is so much to see here, including an original castle, a renowned onsen, and beautiful temples. The city also boasts a rich literary history, and many important Japanese authors have written about it and lived in the city. World-famous Natsume Soseki lived…

One of the biggest attractions in Japan apart from the first-class technological advancements in the country is its traditional sites. From the rustic beauty of its ancient Shinto and Buddhist temples up to the pristine beauty of authentic Japanese residences, the country has a lot of sites to be proud of. Among these places is…

When it comes to vending machines, Japan’s always a champion. While the rest of the world settles on the simplicity and practicality of the machine, here comes Japan bringing it to an entirely new level by dispensing all sorts of items not just limited to those we use every day. From bento and noodles to…

Imabari City is located in the northeastern part of Ehime Prefecture and the second most populated city in the prefecture after Matsuyama City. Besides being known for its shipbuilding industry and yakitori, do you know that Imabari is also Japan’s top producer of towels and that the Imabari towels are held in high regard for…

Did you know that Spirited Away, an Academy Award winner and Japan’s highest-grossing movie of all time got its inspiration through a magnificent bathhouse? Well, the bathhouse is none other than a place called Dogo Onsen, a famous hot spring in Shikoku.   History Dogo Onsen is a hot spring located in Matsuyama (松山), Ehime…

Ehime prefecture is situated in the northwest of Shikoku, one of the islands of Japan. Being so far south in the Japanese archipelago means that Ehime has a mild and welcoming climate all year round. Temperatures in the winter don’t tend to go below 5 degrees on average, and temperatures in the summer don’t often…

Matsuyama is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku island. It is a home to many old hot springs in Japan. One of the oldest spa resorts in the area is called “Dogo Onsen Honkan.” It is one of the famous spa resorts popular for emperors all throughout the country. This year marks its…

When you hear of mikan, you probably do not think of any specific place in Japan. Least of all a prefecture on the small island of Shikoku. But! Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku produces over 250,000 tons of mikan every year! Mikan are Ehime’s speciality, with everything from shirts to socks to stores being dedicated to…