Ehime Prefecture: Onsen, Island Route, and Karst

Ehime Prefecture offers a range of very different experiences: Dogo Onsen is known for its hot spring, the Shimanami Kaido for its crossing between islands, and the Shikoku Karst for its striking limestone landscape. When choosing a hotel location, it helps to first consider which of these experiences you want to make the focus of your trip. Trains and buses on the public transport network, as well as rental bicycles, rental cars, and sightseeing taxis, are available for exploring Ehime.

Dogo Onsen: History and Bathhouses

Dogo Onsen is in Matsuyama and is considered Japan’s oldest hot spring, with a history stretching back 3,000 years. The area has public bathhouses and footbaths where you can bathe. This brings together historical context and practical public bathing options. If hot springs are among the main interests of your trip, Dogo Onsen offers a clearly recognizable point of reference in Ehime.

Shimanami Kaido: A Crossing Across the Islands

The Shimanami Kaido runs between Imabari in Ehime and Onomichi in Hiroshima, connects six islands in the Seto Inland Sea, and is about 70 kilometers long. It can be crossed on foot or by bicycle using dedicated pedestrian routes. The route thus connects two prefectures and offers a different focus from Dogo Onsen: here, the island crossing takes center stage. Its length and modes of travel are practical points to consider when deciding what kind of travel experience you are looking for.

Shikoku Karst and Ōyamazumi Shrine

The Shikoku Karst stretches across Ehime and Kōchi prefectures. The geological formation was created by the erosion of limestone slopes and includes vast grasslands, white limestone hills, and cone-shaped depressions. Its formation and appearance go hand in hand: limestone erosion shaped the geological formation, while grasslands, hills, and depressions define the landscape. Alongside hot springs and the island route, this brings a natural and geological theme into view.

Cultural interests can also shape your trip planning: Ōyamazumi Shrine is the oldest shrine in Ehime. This places a religious point of interest alongside the landscape experiences. You can compare these different interests as you plan, without treating nature and culture as the same kind of travel experience.

Taimeshi: Two Ways of Preparing It

Taimeshi is Ehime’s signature sea bream rice dish. It is served in one version with a whole cooked fish and in another with raw sashimi. The specific difference is in the preparation: when choosing what to eat, you can consider whether whole cooked fish or raw sashimi is more appealing to you. Taimeshi complements the landscapes and sights with a culinary specialty, while also offering a comparison between two distinctly different versions.

Transport and Choosing a Hotel Location

When choosing a hotel location, you can start by deciding which theme you want to give the most attention to on your trip: Dogo Onsen, crossing the Shimanami Kaido, the Shikoku Karst, or a cultural and culinary focus. Trains and buses on the public transport network, rental bicycles, rental cars, and sightseeing taxis are available for visiting Ehime. The Shimanami Kaido itself can be crossed on foot or by bicycle; for the prefecture as a whole, the public transport and rental options mentioned above are also relevant. This lets you consider your travel interests and mode of transport as two separate questions when planning.

Discover more destinations: Shikokuchuo, Uwajima, Imabari, Kumakogen, Seiyo, Matsuyama, Futami, Ikata, Saijō, Niihama, Ōzu.

For the broader travel overview: Japan.