Ehime

Location: Ehime Prefecture makes up the northwest fourth of Shikoku Island and includes many other smaller islands in Japan's Seto Inland Sea.  


Look out for: Ehime's capital city is Matsuyama, home to one of Japan's most lovely castles, and also the site of one of the country's oldest hot springs spas, Dogo Onsen.  Matsuyama also claims to be the home of Haiku, a famous style of Japanese poetry.


Food to try: Ehime is famous for its sea bream, often prepared with rice in what is known as Tai-meshi.  It also produces wonderful mikan citrus, and you can find them in breads, juices, ice cream, and fabulous marmalades.


Tips:  At the Matsuyama airport, try some mikan juice that comes from a spigot, and in the city, look for haiku mailboxes where you can enter the city-wide poetry contests at any time.




Ehime