Discover the best travel guides, tips, and experiences for Ehime
From November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027, Ehime Kodomo no Shiro in Matsuyama hosts the light festival LIGHT PARKS®, with a lake laser show, an orange and mikan Christmas tree, a light shooting gallery and the debut of the Ehime Christmas Market.
Ehime Kodomo no Shiro in Matsuyama will hold the illumination event "LIGHT PARKS® spotlighted by FeStA LuCe" from November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027, with a laser show, light activities and a satellite venue at Matsuyama City Station Plaza from November 8.
Shikoku Lululun (Scent of a Shikoku Citrus Tour), a box of four single-sheet face masks themed on Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime and Kochi, goes on sale in stages from November 6, 2026, at souvenir shops and variety stores in Shikoku for 1,650 yen (tax included).
On Sunday, November 22, 2026, the Ehime Prefectural Civic Cultural Center in Matsuyama holds "Kikutange," a free-admission 40th anniversary event with a lecture by Toyo Ito, a talk show and concerts by Satoko Shibata and Shuta Hasunuma, and a marché of about 30 shops.
From October 31, 2026 to January 31, 2027, Towel Museum in Imabari, Ehime will hold the illumination event "SNOOPY Happiness Night" in its European Garden, with 470,000 lights, a Snoopy projection mapping show, and a free-admission opening day. The museum also plans a Snoopy Christmas dinner and a new stamp rally.
On October 13, 2026, Murakami Towel opens "MURAKAMI Honten," the first store for its D2C brand MURAKAMI, in front of the Matsuyama Castle Ropeway station building, where visitors can try and compare the KYOJI and KYOCHI lines at a hand-washing corner.
A new private-stay accommodation in Matsuyama's Dogo Onsen area, SUMiTAS STAY Dogo Koen 2F is scheduled to open in October 2026 with tatami flooring in every room, a tsuboniwa-style space, and Yogibo seating.
From September 18, Shimanami Onsen Kisuke no Yu in Imabari, Ehime is installing a 3.5-meter yellow duck dressed in cycling gear as a photo spot, adding a playful stop for visitors as the onsen continues its sponsorship of Cycling Shimanami 2026.
Yamadaya Manju's Dogo Onsen Store and its attached café, Charaku, open an Autumn Flavors Fair on September 1, 2026, with a hojicha-and-chestnut shaved ice and new chestnut and sweet potato puddings. From October 1, a Charaku-exclusive Chestnut Anmitsu joins the lineup.
Omishima Art Museum in Imabari, Ehime is celebrating its 40th anniversary with "Goen," a special exhibition by Paris-based sculptor Julien Signolet featuring a site-specific installation carved from local zelkova wood and Oshima granite, running through September 23, 2026.
Starting August 3, 2026, guests staying at select hotels and ryokan around Ehime's Dogo Onsen can rent an original yukata featuring artist Mika Ninagawa's photography-based designs, part of the ongoing "Mika Ninagawa with EiM × Dogo Art" project that runs through February 2027.
The Naritaya family's first joint national kabuki tour, The Road to Tradition, opened on August 21, 2026 at Kanazawa Kagekiza Theater, featuring an all-premiere program across 11 performances at 6 venues nationwide through August 30.
Nihonryori Sushimaru, a long-established Japanese restaurant with 78 years of history in Matsuyama, is opening a new location inside APA Hotel Matsuyama-shi Ekimae on July 28, 2026, offering a breakfast buffet showcasing Ehime's local food culture.
Minami Dogo Onsen's Teiregi no Yu (ていれぎの湯) is hosting two back-to-back summer night events in July 2026 — a lively summer festival on July 4 and a night market marché on July 12.
From August 13 to September 23, 2026, internationally active sculptor Julien Signolet will present a special exhibition titled "Goen" at the Omishima Art Museum in Imabari, Ehime — an immersive installation born from local materials and the island's people.
The immersive character experience event "Obungu Hiroba ~More Time with Obungu~" is set to relaunch with new workshops and venue-exclusive merchandise at Aeon Mall Niihama in Ehime Prefecture from July 10, 2026.
A special collaboration event featuring Hatsune Miku with new city pop-themed artwork by illustrator Dolstoi is coming to 8 Karaoke no Tetsujin locations across Japan from June 3 to July 12, 2026.
Mr. CHEESECAKE YOUR CITY, the traveling cheesecake pop-up, is opening at three locations across Japan in May 2026 — Saikaya Yokosuka Store, Iyotetsu Takashimaya, and Odakyu Machida Store — featuring a new Caramel Earl Grey flavor and a three-flavor assortment.
The capsule toy specialty store gashacoco is opening its 33rd franchise location at Haruya Bookstore MEGA Hirata in Matsuyama, Ehime on May 15, 2026 — the first gashacoco in Matsuyama and the first at a Haruya Bookstore.
Starting Golden Week and continuing through late May, the traditional performing art of Tsugizishi (Imabari Human Pyramid Lion Dance) will be showcased at spring festivals held at shrines throughout Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. Performers stack three to four tiers high, reaching up to 5 meters in a display that has been passed down for over 300 years.
A 24-hour membership cafe designed for studying, reading, and PC work is opening in Matsuyama, Ehime on May 1, 2026.
Sushimaru Dogo in Matsuyama's Dogo district has launched a self-serve "Ehime Local Sake Server," offering four locally brewed sake varieties for just ¥500 per glass.
A fragrance and art installation titled "The Fragrance of Art" will take place at Setouchi Retreat Aonagi in Matsuyama, Ehime, on May 24 and May 31, 2026, showcasing new works by Ehime-based natural painter Emi alongside the hotel's original room fragrance "ESSENCE OF AONAGI."
A 4-day comprehensive event exploring the watersheds connecting the Nanyo Alps to the Uwanada Sea and Shimanto River will be held from April 22 to 25, 2026, at Mori no Kuni Valley in Matsuno-cho, Ehime Prefecture, featuring symposiums, field work, and a community festival.
Yojiya's traveling pop-up shop "Yojiya Furatto" is returning to Iyotetsu Takashimaya in Matsuyama, Ehime, for a second run from April 15 to 28, 2026. The event features limited-edition skincare items, the third wave of "Yojiko" character merchandise, and exclusive gift campaigns.
The Kurushima Kaikyo Sightseeing Boat & Tower-Top Experience (Kurukuru Climb) tour returns for 2026, combining a boat ride through one of Japan's Three Major Tidal Currents with a rare visit to the top of Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, approximately 180m above sea level. Applications for April through June sessions opened on March 6.
Castle Combiner Oshirobots adds its 23rd and 24th castle robots — Oshirobot Matsuyama Castle and Oshirobot Kōchi Castle — alongside booth appearances at Matsuyama Spring Festival and Kochi Anikuri Festival in April 2026.
The seven private villa rooms at ITOMACHI HOTEL 0 in Saijo, Ehime, have been reimagined as a culinary annex called "Bettei Seizan Ryokusui," offering private open-air hot spring baths and seasonally inspired Japanese cuisine by an acclaimed executive chef.
Korean twisted donut brand BONTEMPS is rolling out a seasonal "Spring Strawberry Fair" starting March 1, featuring four limited-edition spring-themed donuts across all locations in Japan.
Disney characters will once again travel to local festivals across the country as part of the Tokyo Disney Resort® Special Parade, with five cities scheduled for FY2026. A special "Duffy Bus" display will accompany each stop.
The inaugural All-Japan University Shodo Performance Championship will take place on March 8, 2026, at Shikochuho Hall in Shikoku Chuo City, Ehime Prefecture, bringing together 13 universities from across Japan.
PARCELLE JEWELRY's Matsuyama store announces new jewelry collections for February, including the delicate Cocon series and silver Palette rings, along with special events like STONE marché, TRUNK SHOW, and the one-day Petite Boutique.
A new wooden toy museum will open in Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, offering multi-generational interactive experiences centered on wood education. The facility features Good Toy exhibits, Shimanami island-themed play areas, and workshop spaces.
From February 23 to 25, 2026, three hot spring facilities in the Matsuyama and Tobe area will offer special discounts during the Tsubaki Festival, promoting regional tourism.
Korean-style twisted doughnut brand Bontemps introduces two new premium drinks featuring rich chocolate and sweet-and-sour strawberry flavors at all locations starting February 1st.
Hatada Co., Ltd. partners with Ishizuchi Brewery to launch a luxurious adult dessert combining rice flour financier with Ishizuchi Junmai Ginjo sake. Launching January 30, 2026.
Starting January 20, 2026, Godiva introduces new soft serve ice cream featuring delicate chocolate petal toppings at select Valentine's Day pop-up locations across Japan.
The mobile puzzle game Snoopy Drops is hosting a special collaboration event with Towel Museum in Imabari, Ehime, featuring designs from the PEANUTS 75th anniversary exhibition "SNOOPY Hug Your Happiness."
The vintage clothing store in Matsuyama, Ehime has opened a new second floor specializing in men's and US vintage fashion. The store offers 24-hour shopping with a face recognition system and cashless payment.
The TV anime Detective Conan celebrates its 30th broadcast anniversary with a special exhibition opening at Tokyo Dome City Prism Hall on February 20, 2026, featuring exclusive exhibits, original illustrations, and special merchandise. The exhibition will tour 12 cities across Japan through 2027.
Features of Dogo Onsen History and Culture Dogo Onsen is considered Japan’s oldest hot spring, with a history spanning approximately 3,000 years. Over its long history, many legends and stories have emerged. For example, the “Botchan Bath” featured in Natsume Soseki’s novel “Botchan” is modeled after the Dogo Onsen Main Building. This main building was […]
What is the Shimanami Kaido? The Shimanami Kaido is a 60-km-long road connecting Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture, via bridges. The route was built to connect islands in the Seto Inland Sea by bridges, and along the way, visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the blue sea and islands rich in […]
Summary This time, we took a cycling trip on the Shimanami Kaido, a 60-km-long automobile-only road connecting Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, and Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture.I was having so much fun from the beginning that I ended up rushing through the second half…but cycling is still fun!Because of the steep slope, beginners should not go […]
Summary During my solo trip to Setouchi region, coastal areas located western Japan, I went bar hopping in Imabari, Ehime to enjoy some drink✨ I visited 2 izakaya shops and then finished off with eating Imabari local ramen! I am so satisfied with enjoying local food! Look at my solo bar hopping journey, and I […]