Ehime Travel | Guide to Activities, Attractions & Best Time to Visit
Ehime is a picture-perfect prefecture located on the Japanese island of Shikoku, and Ehime travel offers the ideal mixture of modern, cosmopolitan cities and quaint countryside, all surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. In the capital city, Matsuyama, you will find the historic attractions of Matsuyama Castle and Dogo Onsen. Nestled in the region’s mountains are sacred religious sites like Yuge Shrine and Nishiyama Koryuji Temple. It’s no wonder why Ehime has inspired generations of artists and writers. Get started on planning your trip to this beautiful locale with our helpful guide.
Best Time to Visit Ehime
There is something to see and do in Ehime during any time of year. Each season is suited to a range of different activities, ensuring fun travels whenever you go. Here is a look at some of the top attractions and things to do in the spring, fall, summer, and winter.
Spring | Cherry Blossom Viewing
Viewing the gorgeous cherry blossoms is a popular springtime activity all throughout Japan. Known as hanami, cherry blossom viewing brings people out to parks, temples, and shrines to take in the transient beauty of the blooms. In Ehime, the cherry trees typically bloom around early April, and there are many excellent places to see them.
Top spots to see the cherry blossoms in Matsuyama
- Matsuyama Castle – High on a hill in the center of the city, Matsuyama Castle is an important historic site. It is one of only 12 Japanese castle towers that have survived in their original forms to the modern day, and its grounds are home to hundreds of cherry trees. The Matsuyama Spring Festival to celebrate the cherry blossoms takes place at the castle in early April every year.
- Dogo Park – Located near Dogo Onsen and full of cherry trees, Dogo Park is a lush and peaceful spot where you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at your leisure. The park is always open, and there is no fee for entry.
- Matsuyama Sogo Park – Just a short walk from Matsuyama Station, Matsuyama Sogo Park is another free and convenient spot to see the cherry blossoms. It has a spacious lawn perfect for picnics as well as an observation deck that offers sweeping views of the city.
Cherry blossom viewing at Nishiyama Koryuji Temple
A fantastic day trip from the city, Nishiyama Koryuji Temple sits nestled in a forested hillside about an hour’s drive east of Matsuyama. Belonging to the Daigo school of Shingon Buddhism, this beautiful temple is steeped in history. Its main hall, which is designated as an Important National Cultural Property, was built in 1375. The grounds are covered in two different types of cherry trees, with a long row of trees lining the entrance path.
Fall | Colorful Foliage Viewing
Japan’s fall leaves are almost equal in fame to its spring blossoms, and they are as spectacular in Ehime as everywhere else in the country. Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Park, and Matsuyama Sogo Park are all prime leaf viewing spots as well. Nishiyama Koryuji Temple is also very well known for its flaming red Japanese maples and vibrant yellow ginkgo trees. The fall foliage in this southern prefecture peaks around mid-November.
Fall leaf viewing at Besshi Rhein Gorge
Besshi Rhein Gorge offers some of the most remarkable stretches of colorful fall leaves in Japan. The leaves paint the 6-mile-long gorge in a breathtaking array of yellow, orange, red, purple, and green. Get your first look at the leaves from the bright red Shoji Bridge at the beginning of the gorge, then follow along a scenic road for even more spectacular views.
Further along Besshi Rhein Gorge, you will also find a theme park and historic site called Minetopia Besshi. Built among the ruins of a copper mine, Minetopia Besshi lets you become Indiana Jones for the day. Take in the fall colors that surround you as you ride the minecart tracks and explore the old mining town. This quirky theme park is a fun stop for families with kids.
Summer | Sightseeing & Adventuring
The warm Ehime summers offer plenty of opportunities to get outdoors and do some sightseeing. There are also many activities available for more adventurous travelers. Make the most of a summer visit by adding some of the following suggestions to your itinerary.
Ehime attractions to visit in summer
- Yuge Shrine – Built in 1396, Yuge Shrine is a picturesque Shinto shrine located along a mountain trail. To enter the shrine, visitors cross a covered wooden bridge that extends over a charming green pond. Locals frequently come to the shrine to pray for a good harvest.
- Tensha-en Garden – Constructed in 1866 as the retirement home of a feudal lord, Tensha-en Garden is a serene spot on Ehime‘s west coast filled with seasonal flowers that bloom at different times of the year. A large central pond also is surrounded by several unique types of bamboo.
- Aoshima – Often called “Cat Island,” Aoshima is known for having a cat population that far outnumbers its human residents. It is accessible via a 35-minute ferry ride from Nagahama. The resident cats are accustomed to visitors and generous with their affection.
Top Ehime travel summer activities
- Cycling the Shimanami Kaido – The Shimanami Kaido is a cycling road between Imabari in Ehime and Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture. It offers incredible panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea and links together numerous small islands. Chartered taxi tours also are available.
- Meeting dolphins on Hakata Island – Located along the Shimanami Kaido, Dolphin Farm Shimanami lets you swim with friendly dolphins along the beach of Hakata Island. It is an unforgettable experience and a great activity for the whole family.
- Canyoning in Nametoko Gorge – A place of incredible scenic beauty, Nametoko Gorge is one of the most popular canyoning spots in the country. Get your adrenaline pumping as you slide down natural granite chutes and plunge into waterfalls. Don’t worry – even beginners can make their way through the gorge with the help of experienced guides.
Winter | Hot Springs & Hiking
Winter in Ehime may be chilly, but it is a wonderful time for a soak in a hot spring or a brisk and invigorating winter hike. Here are two must-do activities during your wintertime travels.
Relax at Dogo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot spring
Dogo Onsen is a hot spring resort on the outskirts of Matsuyama. With its ornate baths and laid-back atmosphere, there is no better place to enjoy a traditional Japanese bathhouse experience. According to legend, Dogo Onsen has a history stretching back 3,000 years. The current main building was constructed in 1894 and is just a three-minute walk from Dogo Onsen Station. The renowned hot spring is the setting of the novel “Botchan” by famous novelist Soseki Natsume, and it was also the inspiration for the bathhouse in the movie “Spirited Away” by Studio Ghibli.
Marvel at the ice cascades of Shirai Falls
If you are looking for a winter day trip from Matsuyama, then head to the neighboring city of Toon to see the frozen cascades of Shirai Falls. It’s a bit of a hike to get there, but the sights are worth it. The start of the hike is about a 20-minute drive from the city, or you can catch a taxi from Yokogawara Station. The trail leads up the mountainside and is surrounded on both sides by tall trees. At the top, you are rewarded with a waterfall transformed into a glistening wall of ice and snow.
Useful Ehime Travel Tips
If you are planning a trip to Ehime, these travel tips can help you pack and prepare. Travelers hopping from destination to destination via train will most likely do so wearing a backpack. Be sure to check weather forecasts, and pack clothing accordingly.
Ehime Climate & Weather
Ehime has a warm and temperate climate with significant rainfall. It is one of the warmest regions in all of Japan, with an average daily high temperature of 72 F (22 C). You will be able to pack relatively light, even during the winter months, just don’t forget to bring your rain gear. The rainiest months are June and July, but heavy rain can be expected all year round.
Japan Visa Information for Ehime Travel
International visitors to Ehime may require a Temporary Visitor Visa for Japan. The visa allows stays of up to 90 days for travel and sightseeing. Note that citizens of certain countries may not require a visa for a short-term stay under the Visa Exemption Arrangement. Japan has an arrangement with 68 countries and regions, including the United States, Canada, most European countries, and several neighboring Asian nations.
How to Get to Ehime
There are many different ways to get to Ehime. If you are traveling by air, the Matsuyama Airport receives international flights from China, Taiwan, and South Korea, as well as domestic flights from all of Japan’s major international airports. Alternatively, many travelers make their way to Matsuyama Station via high-speed Shinkansen trains from Japan’s major cities, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Okayama, and Nagoya. You can also take a jet ferry from Hiroshima to Matsuyama through the Seto Inland Sea.
Find places to stay & accommodations for Ehime travel
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