Ehime Prefecture occupies the northwestern corner of Shikoku island, facing the Seto Inland Sea. Known for Matsuyama Castle, the oldest operating hot-spring bathhouse at Dogo Onsen, the pilgrimage temples of the Shikoku 88-temple circuit, and the nation's finest mandarin oranges, Ehime blends samurai history with coastal scenery and one of Japan's most genuine onsen cultures.
Ehime's recorded history spans over three millennia. Dogo Onsen is referenced in Japan's oldest historical chronicle, the Nihon Shoki (720 CE), as a healing spring visited by early emperors. The Iyo province (present-day Ehime) saw Samurai clan battles during the Sengoku period (15th–16th centuries), resulting in the four magnificent hilltop castles that survive today: Matsuyama, Imabari, Uwajima, and Ozu. The famous haiku poet Masaoka Shiki (1867–1902) was born in Matsuyama, and the city's literary identity runs deep — the city has more haiku poets per capita than any other Japanese city. The Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, established by Kukai (Kobo Daishi) around 815 CE, has made Ehime a center of spiritual tourism for over 1,200 years. Uchiko town flourished in the Meiji era (1868–1912) as the center of Japan's wax industry from carnauba-palm trees, leaving behind an exceptionally preserved streetscape.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Ehime.
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1
Dogo Onsen referenced in Nihon Shoki (Japan's chronicles) as a healing spring visited by Emperor Keiko
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2
Monk Kukai (Kobo Daishi) founds the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage circuit
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3
Kato Yoshiaki completes construction of Matsuyama Castle
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4
Takatora Tōdō completes Uwajima Castle
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5
Matsudaira clan takes control of Matsuyama; beginning of 200-year samurai governance
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6
Masaoka Shiki born in Matsuyama; goes on to reform haiku poetry as a literary art form
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7
Dogo Onsen Honkan completed in current form; modern onsen management established
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8
Iyo Railway established — one of Japan's earliest regional railways
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9
Nishiseto Expressway (Shimanami Kaidō) opens, connecting Shikoku to Honshu via Seto Inland Sea islands
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10
Dogo Onsen Honkan major renovation and partial restoration
Historical eras
The chapters of Ehime's past.
Historical sites
Places where Ehime's past comes alive.
Museums
Curated collections that tell Ehime's story.
Matsuyama Castle Museum
Hours: 9:00–17:00
Admission: included in castle entry ¥520
Masaoka Shiki Memorial Museum
Hours: 9:00–18:00 (closed Mon)
Admission: ¥400
Ōyamazumi Shrine Treasure Museum
Hours: 8:30–17:00
Admission: ¥1,000
Uchiko Ōmori Wax Museum
Hours: 9:00–16:30 (closed Mon)
Admission: ¥600
Niihama City History Museum
Hours: 9:00–17:00 (closed Mon)
Admission: ¥300
Historical tours
Guided experiences that bring history to life.