Ehime

Tucked along the northwestern coast of Shikoku, Ehime prefecture is one of Japan’s most rewarding yet undervisited destinations. Flanked by the Seto Inland Sea to the north and the Uwa Sea to the south, the prefecture offers a compelling mix of feudal history, natural beauty and culinary tradition — most famously its prized mikan (mandarin oranges), which thrive on the sun-drenched hillside terraces overlooking the sea.

The prefectural capital, Matsuyama, anchors the region and is home to Matsuyama Castle, one of only 12 original castles still standing in Japan. The city also houses Dogo Onsen, considered one of the oldest hot spring bathhouses in the country and said to have inspired the bathhouse in Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. Beyond Matsuyama, the scenic Uchiumi region and the castle town of Uwajima offer quieter, more intimate experiences away from the tourist trail.

Ehime sits along the Shikoku Ohenro, the 88-temple pilgrimage circuit associated with the Buddhist monk Kukai. Pilgrims — known as o-henro-san — have walked this roughly 1,200-kilometer route for over a thousand years, and Ehime hosts temples 40 through 65 of the circuit.