Matsuyama and Shimanami Kaidō

On Shikoku’s northwest coast, Matsuyama is the capital of Ehime and the island’s largest city. In the center, a forested hill supports Matsuyama Castle, one of the twelve in Japan that still has its original main keep. To the east is Dogo Onsen, a hot-spring area mentioned in very old texts, with a wooden bathhouse from the late 19th century that became the city’s symbol.

The city has vintage trams, temples linked to Shikoku’s 88-temple pilgrimage, such as Ishite-ji, and a literary connection: the novel Botchan by Natsume Soseki is set there, and the poet Masaoka Shiki, a master of haiku, was born in Matsuyama. Ehime is the prefecture of mikan (tangerines), sold as juice and in sweets everywhere.

About 40 km to the north, Imabari is the starting — or ending — point of the Shimanami Kaido, the road that links Shikoku to Onomichi in Hiroshima, crossing six islands of the Inland Sea via seven large bridges. Alongside the highway there is a roughly 70 km cycle route, marked by a blue line, which has become one of Japan’s best-known bike routes. On the islands there are beaches, citrus orchards, the Oyamazumi shrine and the history of the Murakami pirates.

Imabari also has a seaside castle with saltwater moats and is known for its cotton towels and teppanyaki-grilled chicken. The destination thus combines two trips: the hot-spring city and the island crossing.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Matsuyama, Imabari.