Matsuyama Castle
One of Japan's few castles with extant original buildings (built in 1627), and one of the country's three major multiwing castles; 21 structures are designated Important Cultural Properties. The view from the donjon is famous.

Uwajima Castle
The three-storied donjon, built in an unusual architectural style, is a designated Important Cultural Property. At the foot of the castle mound is a strolling garden constructed about 200 years ago. The castle grounds are now a park, with flowers blooming in season.

Tomisato Gorge
In a short six kilometers, rugged cliffs and riverscapes delight the viewer in the upper reaches of the Dozan River.

Omoro Gorge
Towering cliffs, unusual rock formations, waterfalls, and crystalline pools make this gorge an ideal place for hiking, camping, or just a relaxing day's outing.

Nametoko Gorge
Part of the Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park, the Shimantogawa River flows over a granite bed, and the stream is famed for its crystal waters. The water descending the gentle slopes of the Yukiwa Falls flow in soft ripples, a lyric rather than a dramatic, effect of great beauty.

Mt. Ishizuchi
The mountain is one of the seven sacred mountains of Japan, the home of aesthetic practices and a center of mountain worship.

Uwakai Marine Park
Glass-bottomed boats ply the wonderful clear sea waters over coral gardens and shoals of tropical fish. Kashima Isle is the home of subtropical plants as well as wild monkeys.

Museums
Ehime Prefecture has some wonderful public educational facilities that are also fine examples of contemporary architecture.

Ehime Prefectural Science Museum (Niihama)
A postmodern grouping of interesting buildings and shapes, the museum houses displays of Science and Technology, Natural Science, and Industrial History as well as one of the world's largest planetariums.

Minetopia Besshi (Niihama)
The former Besshi Copper Mine has been transformed into an unusual underground theme park centered around copper mining. A local spa boasts 13 varieties of hotspring.

Museum of Ehime History and Culture (Uwa Town)
This carefully and interestingly constructed historical museum takes the visitor through four periods (Antiquity, Medieval period, Early Modern period, Contemporary period) and also presents the folk culture of the prefecture.

Hotsprings
Ehime is yet another hotspring paradise. Sampling the delights of all of them is a good enough reason to make Ehime home.

Dogo Hotspring (Matsuyama)
Said to be Japan's oldest spa (with a 3,000-year history), the Dogo name appears in the country's oldest written records as well as in local legends. Over 70 fine hotels and inns are found in the vicinity of the main building (built 1894) as well as extensive shopping facilities.

Other spas of note are:

Tatara Spa
Takanoko Spa
Hoshino-Oka Spa
Nibukawa Spa, whose waters are said to make ladies beautiful
Hontani Spa, which boasts a very long history
Yunoura Spa
Yamaidashi Spa

Uchiko (Uwa Town)
This lovely old town was once, and still is, a center of vegetable wax production (made from berries of the haze tree). The town is still replete with many old buildings and shops, including a maker of traditional Japanese candles. It also has an important old kabuki theater (built 1916) of the traditional construction, with revolving stage turned by muscle power, and kabuki performances as well as other events are still held here. (SEE STORY 2)

Crafts
Tobe Ware (Tobe Town)
One of the major porcelain traditions in Japan, Tobe ware is basically a folk ware, as compared to the highly ornate, elaborate porcelains of Arita and northern Kyushu. It is characterized by bold cobalt blue decortion on a white ground.

Iyo Kasuri (Matsuyama)
An ikat textile tradition that was once mainly white ikat patterns on a dark indigo ground, largely used to make cotton work wear for the farm. Today the fabric is still mainly cotton, but the range of colors for the ikat patterns has increased.

Rakuzan-yaki (Matsuyama)
Although they are little known outside of Ehime Prefecture, the vases, cups and tea bowls made in this style enjoy considerable local fame, since they date back several hundred years. (SEE STORY 1)

Paper
Ehime has three papermaking traditions: Iyo paper (Kawanoe), Shuso paper (Toyo), and Ozu paper (Ikazaki). All product wonderful handmade papers for many uses.

Bamboo Baskets (Dogo Spa)
Refined and intricate bamboo baskets for flower arrangement are made here. Legends give the craft at Dogo great antiquity.

Festivals
Ehime is noted for summer and autumn festivals.

Jan. 2	Bullfights (Uwajima) This competition of strength between two tame bulls is exciting but gentle and bloodless, more a pushing match than a fight. Also held on Apr. 14, Jul. 24, and Aug. 14.
Apr. 3-5	Matsuyama Spring Festival This is a series of festivals in Matsuyama, including event held under blooming cherry trees, the Dogo Spa Festifal, a daimyo procession through the streets, and an open-air No drama performance.
Apr. 15	Kaineri Dance A maritime ritual with young men dancing aboard boats. Also held Oct. 12.
May 5	Kit Battle (Ikazaki Town) An observance with a 300-year history, hundreds of kites are flown on the banks of the Oda River, the aim being to cut other competitors' kite strings.
Jun. 1-Sept. 20	Cormorant Fishing (Ozu and Hijikawa rivers) One of Japan's major places to enjoy the spectacle of torchlight cormorant fishing in the traditional manner.
Jul. 23, 24	The Uwajima Festival (Uwajima) features the famous Ushioni Parade, in which larger-than-life (much larger) "bull-demons" parade through the city.
Aug. 11-13	Matsuyama Festival (Matsuyama) Among the Four Great Festivals of Shikoku, the most scintillating of the many events is a samba competition, in which teams vie for who can wiggle and bump through the city best.
Oct. 14-17	Saijo Festival (Saijo) Over 80 highly decorated portable shrines (known as danjiri) parade through the city streets, and on the 16th are carried through the Kamo River.
Oct. 16-18	Niihama Drum Festival (Niihama) Drummers perform and compete on 33 huge, gold-decorated floats, each carried on the backs of 150 men.