Ehime Hidden Gems
12 spots
Garyu Sanso Villa — Cliffside Tea House National Treasure
Garyu Sanso is a refined villa and tea house built in 1907 by a wealthy merchant, perched on a cliff overlooking the Hij…
Dogo Onsen Honkan — Japan's Oldest Hot Spring Bathhouse
Dogo Onsen Honkan is Japan's most famous public bathhouse, a three-story wooden castle-like structure built in 1894 that…
Matsuyama Castle — Hilltop Fortress with Original Keep
Matsuyama Castle occupies the 132-meter summit of Mt. Katsuyama in central Matsuyama City, one of only twelve Japanese c…
Ishite-ji Temple — Cave Temple with 88 Statues
Ishite-ji is Temple #51 of the 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage, a large Buddhist complex featuring a towering three-story p…
Tobe Pottery — Traditional Blue and White Ceramics
Tobe-yaki is Ehime's signature ceramic style, characterized by thick white porcelain hand-painted with indigo-blue botan…
Uwajima Castle — Original Keep with Coastal Views
Uwajima Castle is one of only twelve Japanese castles retaining an original Edo-period tenshu (main keep), built in 1666…
Imabari Towels — Premium Cotton Textile Heritage
Imabari produces approximately 60% of Japan's towels, a textile industry dating to 1894 when the region's soft water (fr…
Ozu Castle Town — Preserved Edo Architecture
Ozu is a well-preserved castle town along the Hijikawa River, featuring Edo-period merchant houses, samurai residences,…
Botchan Ressha — Vintage Steam Locomotive Replica
The Botchan Ressha is a restored vintage steam locomotive (actually diesel-powered replica) operating as a tourist tram…
Uchiko Town — Wax Merchant Preservation District
Uchiko is a remarkably well-preserved Edo-period town where merchants grew wealthy producing mokuro (木蝋, vegetable wax)…
Omishima Island — Samurai Armor and Art Museums
Omishima is the largest island on the Shimanami Kaido cycling route, home to Oyamazumi Shrine which houses Japan's most…
Uwajima Bull Fighting — Traditional Togyu Tournaments
Uwajima is one of the few places in Japan where traditional togyu (bull sumo) continues — two bulls weighing 700–1,000kg…