Ehime: Local Specialties, Souvenirs, Shrines & Temples, Sightseeing | Japan 47 Prefecture Guide
Ehime faces the Inland Sea, joined to Honshu by islands. Crossing water was the premise of life here.
Local Specialties
Mandarins: Ehime ranks near the top nationally with Wakayama and Shizuoka. Iyokan, dekopon, setoka: no other prefecture comes close for the sheer number of citrus varieties.
Citrus wants a steep, south-facing slope that catches light reflected off the sea. The terraced fields of Uwajima are those conditions made by hand. A case where having no flat land worked in the region's favour.
Farmed sea bream (first in Japan), jakoten, goshiki somen, and Imabari grilled pork.
Souvenirs
Imabari towels account for most of the towels made in Japan.
Bleaching the material soft requires soft water. The groundwater of the Sosha river met that condition. A production district settled by a single factor: water.
Ichiroku tart from Matsuyama, local sweets, and iyokan jelly.
Sacred Sites | Shrines & Temples
Oyamazumi Jinja is the head shrine of Japan's Yamazumi and Mishima shrines (about 10,000 shrines). Oyamazumi Jinja and Ishiteji and Niomon holds National Treasures. 32 shrines and temples worth knowing in Ehime.
Oyamazumi Jinja(Omishima, Imabari)Shinto shrine / Ichinomiya (first shrine) of Iyo Province / National Treasure / Important Cultural Property / Toyo / Head shrine of Yamazumi and Mishima shrines (about 10,000 shrines) / Blessings: victory, safe voyages, mountain worship
What makes this shrine singular is that a substantial share of all the arms and armour designated National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties is concentrated in this one place, including pieces said to have been dedicated by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, Benkei and the Kono clan. A trace of its having drawn the faith of the Inland Sea navies and their commanders, as a god of the sea and of war.
Ishiteji(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 51 / National Treasure / Chuyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Its Nio gate is a National Treasure. It stands just beside Dogo Onsen.
Isaniwa Jinja(Matsuyama)Shinto shrine / Important Cultural Property / Chuyo / Blessings: victory, warding off misfortune
Its hall in the hachiman-zukuri style is held to be one of only three such in Japan, with Usa Jingu and Iwashimizu Hachimangu. It stands on the rise above Dogo.
Nankobo(Imabari)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 55 / Toyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
The only temple on the circuit to call itself a bo. It was moved from Omishima as an auxiliary shrine of Oyamazumi Jinja.
Yokomineji(Saijo)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 60 / Toyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune, mountain worship
At about 750 metres, one of the hardest stretches on the circuit. It is bound up with the faith of Mount Ishizuchi.
Mantra Cave(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Chuyo / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
You pass through a cave and come out at the inner sanctuary. A space of extraordinary density.
Niomon(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 51 / National Treasure / Chuyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
The Nio gate is a National Treasure. It carries the legend of Emon Saburo and the origin of the pilgrimage.
Taisanji(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 52 / National Treasure / Chuyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Its main hall is a National Treasure, a large Buddhist hall of the Kamakura period.
Jodoji (Ehime)(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 49 / Important Cultural Property / Chuyo / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
It holds a figure of the monk Kuya.
Okusu(Imabari)Shinto shrine / Natural Monument / Toyo / Blessings: long life
Said to be 2,600 years old, standing in the grounds of the shrine called the guardian of all Japan.
Koshoji(Uchiko)Buddhist temple / Nanyo / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
A stone reclining Buddha lies here. The temple of a town made rich by wood wax.
Nyohoji(Ozu)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Nanyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Its Buddha hall is an Important Cultural Property. A castle town on the bank of the Hiji river.
Warei Jinja(Uwajima)Shinto shrine / Nanyo / Blessings: good catches, business prosperity
One of the largest torii in Shikoku. At the Warei festival the portable shrine is run down and thrown into the river.
Jojusha(Saijo)Shinto shrine / Toyo / Blessings: mountain worship
The base for the climb up Mount Ishizuchi. A ropeway takes you up.
Kusariba(Saijo)Utaki (Ryukyuan sacred grove) / Toyo / Blessings: mountain worship, rebirth and renewal
You climb three chains to reach the summit. With the trial chain there are four in all.
Ishizuchi Jinja(Saijo)Shinto shrine / Toyo / Blessings: mountain worship, victory
It worships Mount Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan. A sacred mountain of shugendo.
Koonji(Saijo)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 61 / Toyo / Blessings: safe childbirth
A faith centred on Koyasu Daishi. Its main hall is a modern building in the form of a great lecture hall.
Hojuji(Saijo)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 62 / Toyo / Blessings: safe childbirth
It was the administrative temple of the first shrine of Iyo.
Kichijoji(Saijo)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 63 / Toyo / Blessings: wealth
The only temple among the Shikoku sacred sites with Bishamonten as its principal image.
Maegamiji(Saijo)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 64 / Toyo / Blessings: mountain worship
The administrative temple of Mount Ishizuchi, and once the central seat of shugendo.
Enmyoji(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 53 / Chuyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
A Christian lantern survives here, a trace of faith under prohibition.
Hantaji(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 50 / Chuyo / Blessings: study and exams
Where the monk Ippen trained. It looks out over the Matsuyama plain.
Kuya Shonin(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Chuyo / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
A figure with six small Amida emerging from its mouth. Kuya is said to have lived here for three years.
Yasakaji(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 47 / Chuyo / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
Said to have been founded by En no Gyoja, who began shugendo.
Sairinji(Matsuyama)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 48 / Chuyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Its precinct sits lower than the ground around it, and carries a legend of a hole to hell.
Hashirikomi(Uwajima)Shinto shrine / Nanyo / Blessings: good catches
The portable shrine leaps into the river. One of the great summer festivals of Shikoku.
Ryukoji(Uwajima)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 41 / Nanyo / Blessings: business prosperity
You pass under a torii to reach the main hall. A temple of the circuit fused with an Inari shrine.
Butsumokuji(Uwajima)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 42 / Nanyo / Blessings: good harvests
As a buddha who guards cattle and horses, it draws people who come to hold memorials for their animals.
Meisekiji(Seiyo)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 43 / Nanyo / Blessings: love and relationships
Known locally by an affectionate nickname. A legend tells of a young goddess who carried a great stone here.
Butsuden(Ozu)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Nanyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
A Zen-style Buddha hall, looking down on the Hiji river.
Taisanji(Imabari)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 56 / Toyo / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Kukai is said to have performed a rite over earth and sand here to quiet a flooding river.
Eifukuji(Imabari)Buddhist temple / Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 57 / Toyo / Blessings: safe voyages
Founded in prayer for safety at sea.
Sightseeing
Homotsukan holds National Treasures. Breakdown: castle 2, historic townscape 1, hot spring 2, nature / scenery 4. 16 places to see in Ehime.
Dogo Onsen Honkan(Matsuyama)hot spring / Chuyo / Important Cultural Property / 1894
Among the oldest hot springs in Japan. It has the Yushinden, a bath reserved for the imperial family.
Imabari-jo(Imabari)castle / Toyo / 1604
One of the three great water castles of Japan, with seawater drawn into its moat.
Matsuyama-jo(Matsuyama)castle / Chuyo / Important Cultural Property / 1602
A surviving keep. Its linked keeps rise on the summit.
Homotsukan(Imabari)museum / theatre / Toyo / National Treasure
It is said to hold about forty percent of all arms and armour designated National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties.
Uchinuki(Saijo)hot spring / Toyo
Groundwater rises of its own accord all over the town. One of the hundred famous waters of Japan.
Shimanami Kaido(Imabari)festival / event / Toyo
It joins the islands of the Inland Sea. These were the waters of the Murakami pirates.
Uchikoza(Uchiko)museum / theatre / Nanyo / Important Cultural Property / 1916
A Taisho-era playhouse, still in use.
Tenshaen(Uwajima)garden / park / Nanyo / Place of Scenic Beauty / 1866
The garden of the Date family. A stroll garden around a pond, with bamboo as its theme.
Shimanami Cycling(Imabari and nearby)nature / scenery / Toyo
The holy land of cyclists. Seventy kilometres, crossing by bridge.
Uchiko(Uchiko)historic townscape / Nanyo / Important Cultural Property / Preservation District for Traditional Buildings / 1916
A town made rich by wood wax. Its Taisho-era playhouse is still in use.
Shimonada Station(Iyo)nature / scenery / Chuyo / 1935
The sea begins just beyond the platform. It was called the station closest to the sea in Japan.
Imabari Towel(Imabari)industrial heritage / Toyo
Soft water is used for bleaching, which is what makes them soft. Most of Japan's towels are made here.
Uwajima Bullfight(Uwajima)festival / event / Nanyo
Bull is set against bull. It is said to have been a gift in thanks for rescuing a Dutch ship.
Garyu Sanso(Ozu)garden / park / Nanyo / Important Cultural Property / 1907
A sukiya villa thrust out over the Hiji river. Ten years were spent choosing the timber.
Mt. Ishizuchi(Saijo)nature / scenery / Toyo
The highest peak in western Japan at 1,982 metres. A shugendo mountain climbed by three chains.
Terraced Orange Groves(Uwajima and nearby)nature / scenery / Nanyo
Steep slopes terraced with stone walls. Citrus output here is among the highest in Japan.
Traditional Crafts
Four crafts hold national designation: Iyo kasuri, Tobe ware, Ozu washi and Kikuma roof tiles.
Iyo kasuri is counted with Kurume and Bingo among the three great kasuri of Japan. The threads are tied and dyed in sections first, and the pattern appears only once the cloth is woven. You hold the finished image in your head, then work backwards to the thread.
More: VILLAGE Journal vol.11 — Working backwards, at the level of thread（リンク先は現在公開されていません）
More from This Prefecture
See all Ehime articles ← All 47 prefectures
Sources: Ehime Prefecture, City of Matsuyama, City of Imabari, City of Uwajima, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Agency for Cultural Affairs, Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries — Value Village editorial team