Ehime Prefecture ( 愛媛県 , Ehime-ken ) is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku . Ehime Prefecture has a population of 1,334,841 and has a geographic area of 5,676 km (2,191 sq mi ). Ehime Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the northeast, Tokushima Prefecture to the east, and Kōchi Prefecture to the southeast.
48-569: Matsuyama is the capital and largest city of Ehime Prefecture and the largest city on Shikoku, with other major cities including Imabari , Niihama , and Saijō . Notable past Ehime residents include three Nobel Prize winners: they are Kenzaburo Oe (1994 Nobel Prize in Literature ), Shuji Nakamura (2014 Nobel Prize in Physics ), and Syukuro Manabe (2021 Nobel Prize in Physics). Until
96-593: A Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum was established in 2007. Matsuyama was also the setting of a 1907 novel about the Russo-Japanese War , As the Hague Ordains , by American writer Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore . Matsuyama figures in the novel because the city housed a camp for Russian prisoners during the war. A Russian cemetery commemorates this important episode in Matsuyama history. The Russo-Japanese War
144-456: A sentō at an onsen , all guests are expected to wash and rinse themselves thoroughly before entering the hot water. Bathing stations are equipped with stools, faucets, wooden buckets, and toiletries such as soap and shampoo; nearly all onsen also provide removable shower heads for bathing convenience. Entering the onsen while still dirty or with traces of soap on the body is socially unacceptable. Guests are not allowed to wear swimsuits in
192-686: A depth of at least 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi), and contain specified amounts of minerals such as sulphur, sodium, iron, or magnesium. When onsen water contains distinctive minerals or chemicals, establishments often display what type of water it is, in part because the specific minerals found in the water have been thought to provide health benefits. Types include sulfur onsen ( 硫黄泉 , iō-sen ) , sodium chloride onsen ( ナトリウム泉 , natoriumu-sen ) , hydrogen carbonate onsen ( 炭酸泉 , tansan-sen ) , and iron onsen ( 鉄泉 , tetsu-sen ) . Exactly when humans first began bathing in onsen in Japan
240-611: A food processing division of Pom (Ehime Drink Company), and the retailing companies Fuji and Daiki all have their headquarters in Matsuyama. Matsuyama has 62 public elementary schools and 31 public middle schools operated by the city government. The city has seven public high schools operated by the Ehime Prefectural Board of Education, including the Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama Central Senior High School and
288-592: A large portion of Shikoku Electric Power . The sports teams listed below are based in Ehime. Association football: Baseball: Basketball: The oldest extant hot spring in Japan, Dōgo Onsen , is located in Matsuyama. It has been used for over two thousand years. These are television shows and movies set in Ehime Prefecture. There are major festivals in Ehime Prefecture. These are several hot springs ( onsen ) in Ehime Prefecture. Iyo dialect
336-431: A number of industries, including dockyards of Japan's largest shipbuilder, Imabari Shipbuilding . Chemical industries, oil refining , paper and cotton textile products also are a feature of the prefecture. Rural areas mostly engage in agricultural and fishing industries, and are particularly known for citrus fruits such as mikan ( mandarin orange ), iyokan and cultured pearls . Ikata Nuclear Power Plant produces
384-430: A swimming suit in their mixed baths. Onsen guests generally bring a small towel with them to use as a wash cloth. The towel can also provide a modicum of modesty when walking between the washing area and the baths. Some onsen allow one to wear the towel into the baths, while others have posted signs prohibiting this, saying that it makes it harder to clean the bath. It is against the rules to immerse or dip towels in
432-418: A system of trams and buses that serve as the city's main modes of public transportation. Matsuyama is one of the few Japanese cities that did not do away with its original tram system, which has been continually operated since 1887. In addition to on friendship city, Matsuyama has three sister cities , as designated by Sister Cities International : The city is known for its hot springs ( onsen ), among
480-540: Is a Japanese dialect spoken in Ehime Prefecture. Nanyo is influenced by the Kyushu dialect , and Chuyo and Toyo are influenced by the Kinki dialect. Ehime Prefecture is making use of its long tradition of involvement with people overseas through international exchanges in areas such as the economy, culture, sports and education. Matsuyama Matsuyama ( 松山市 , Matsuyama-shi , Japanese: [matsɯꜜjama] )
528-480: Is a popular form of domestic tourism in Japan. During the bubble economy of the 1980s, there was a " onsen boom." Although the number of overnight guests at hot spring resorts has decreased slightly since the boom, travel to such onsen towns as a relaxing getaway is still popular among Japanese people. Traditionally, men and women bathed together at both onsen and sentō communal bathhouses, but gender separation has been enforced at most institutions since
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#1732765562109576-460: Is also remembered in Matsuyama because of the contributions of two Japanese military leaders, the Akiyama brothers, Akiyama Saneyuki and Akiyama Yoshifuru , who were born in the city. Matsuyama has several important museums. The Museum of Art, Ehime is the city's main art museum, its collections emphasizing the works of regional artists. The Shiki Memorial Museum is a museum that focuses on
624-432: Is believed to have unique benefits. Carbonated springs, for example, are believed to lead to smooth skin. Onsen facilities often advertise various health and beauty benefits they claim their water to provide. Water at some onsen facilities is drinkable. Onsen water should only be consumed if it is confirmed to be safe to drink by the prefecture. The water should be obtained from a designated drinking source that
672-557: Is bordered by Kagawa and Tokushima in the east and Kōchi in the south. The prefecture includes both high mountains in the inland region and a long coastline, with many islands in the Seto Inland Sea . The westernmost arm of Ehime, the Sadamisaki Peninsula , is the narrowest peninsula in Japan. As of 31 March 2020, 7 percent of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely
720-844: Is represented in the J. League of football with its local club, Ehime FC . The Ehime Mandarin Pirates also represent the city in the baseball Shikoku Island League Plus . Onsen In Japan, onsen ( 温泉 ) are hot springs and the bathing facilities and traditional inns around them. There are approximately 25,000 hot spring sources throughout Japan, and approximately 3,000 onsen establishments use naturally hot water from these geothermally heated springs. Onsen may be either outdoor baths ( 露天風呂 or 野天風呂 , roten-buro / noten-buro ) or indoor baths ( 内湯 , uchiyu ) . Traditionally, onsen were located outdoors, although many inns have now built indoor bathing facilities as well. Nowadays, as most households have their baths,
768-1212: Is separate from the water which is bathed in. The often mineral-rich onsen water is believed to have benefits such as treating iron-deficiency anemia or constipation . Article 18, paragraph 1 of the Japanese Hot Springs Act publishes guidance on contraindications and cautions for bathing in hot springs, and drinking their respective waters. Although millions of Japanese bathe in onsen every year with few noticeable side effects, there are still potential side effects to onsen usage, such as aggravating high blood pressure or heart disease. Legionella bacteria have been found in some onsen with poor sanitation. For example, 295 people were infected with Legionella and seven died at an onsen in Miyazaki Prefecture in 2002. Revelations of poor sanitary practices at some onsen have led to improved regulation by hot-spring communities to maintain their reputation. There have been reports of infectious disease found in hot bodies of water worldwide, such as various Naegleria species. While studies have found
816-574: Is set in Matsuyama. As a result, there are numerous sites and locales named after the main character, including Botchan Stadium , the Botchan Ressha (an antique train that runs on the city's tramway), and Botchan dango . Matsuyama also figures in several works by Shiba Ryōtarō , notably his popular novel, Saka no Ue no Kumo [Clouds Above the Hill] (1969). In anticipation of the upcoming NHK Taiga drama adaptation of Saka no Ue no Kumo ,
864-510: Is significant throughout the year, and is heavier from April to July as well as in September. Per Japanese census data, the population of Matsuyama grew steadily throughout the 20th century but has plateaued in the 21st and declined somewhat in the 2010s. The area of Uwajima was part of ancient Iyo Province . Dōgo Onsen was already famous in the Asuka period , and Shōtoku Taishi visited
912-469: Is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture , on the island of Shikoku , in Japan and is also Shikoku's largest city. As of 1 October 2022 , the city had an estimated population of 505,948 in 243,541 households and a population density of 1,200 persons per km . The total area of the city is 429.35 square kilometres (165.77 sq mi). Matsuyama is located in central Ehime Prefecture, facing
960-461: Is unknown, but historical records show it has a history of at least about 1,300 years. Many of the earliest records of onsen bathing document Japanese Emperors or members of the imperial family staying at onsen for long periods of time. At the time, onsen were thought to be sacred and to have healing properties. It is now believed those who traveled to onsen in these early records were seeking cures to disease or other ailments by bathing in
1008-546: The Ashizuri-Uwakai and Setonaikai National Parks; Ishizuchi Quasi-National Park ; and Hijikawa , Kinshako , Okudōgo Tamagawa , Sadamisaki Hantō-Uwakai , Saragamine Renpō , Sasayama , and Shikoku Karst Prefectural Natural Parks. Eleven cities are located in Ehime Prefecture: These are the towns in each district : Former districts: The coastal areas around Imabari and Saijō host
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#17327655621091056-813: The Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama Higashi High School and two national high schools operated by Ehime University. There are two private combined middle/high schools and 11 private high schools. The prefecture also operates two special education schools for the handicapped. Matsuyama has one Korean school (Chōsen gakkō), the Shikoku Korean Elementary and Junior High School ( 四国朝鮮初中級学校 ) [REDACTED] Shikoku Railway Company - Yosan Line [REDACTED] Iyotetsu - Takahama Line [REDACTED] Iyotetsu - Yokogawara Line [REDACTED] Iyotetsu - Gunchū Line Iyo Railway also operates
1104-636: The Meiji Restoration , Ehime Prefecture was known as Iyo Province . Since before the Heian period , the area was dominated by fishermen and sailors who played an important role in defending Japan against pirates and Mongolian invasions. After the Battle of Sekigahara , the Tokugawa shōgun gave the area to his allies, including Katō Yoshiaki who built Matsuyama Castle , forming the basis for
1152-939: The Seto Inland Sea to the north, the mountains of the Takanawa Peninsula to the north and east, and the Saragamine Mountain Range, an extension of the Shikoku Mountains , to the south. It is located on the northeastern portion of the Dōgo Plain. The city also includes the Kutsuna Islands, an archipelago of 29 islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Ehime Prefecture Matsuyama has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ; Trewartha climate classification Cf ) with hot summers and cool winters. Precipitation
1200-645: The lower house of the Diet of Japan . Matsuyama is a major regional commercial center. Key industries include agriculture represented by mandarin oranges , tourism centered around Dōgo Onsen and Matsuyama Castle, and manufacturing centered on chemical fibers. Industrial areas spread along the coast near airports and harbors, including the Teijin Group's largest production base, and factories of Miura ( boiler manufacturer), Iseki ( tractor and engine equipment), Hatada Ichiroku (Japanese style confectionery ), Poem,
1248-533: The onsen bath water, since this can be considered unclean. People normally set their towels off to the side of the water when enjoying the baths, or place their folded towels on top of their heads. By 2015, around half (56%) of onsen operators had banned bathers with tattoos from using their facilities. The original reason for the tattoo ban was to keep out yakuza and members of other crime gangs who traditionally have elaborate full-body decoration. However, tattoo-friendly onsen do exist. A 2015 study by
1296-728: The onsen water. This ancient practice of bathing in onsen to cure illnesses, often for long periods such as a week, is referred to as tōji ( 湯治 ). Some of the oldest onsen in Japan are considered to be Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture , Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture , and Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture . Until around the Edo period , onsen had close religious ties to Buddhism with temples often being built near onsen sources. During
1344-456: The Edo period, however, onsen began to gain popularity among the general population thanks in part to depictions of the hot springs in ukiyo-e . It is also during this period that the use of onsen shifted from being primarily for religious and healing reasons to being used for bathing for cleanliness and socializing. In modern times, traveling to hot spring resort towns ( 温泉街 , onsen-gai )
1392-601: The Japan National Tourism Organisation found that more than 30% of onsen operators at hotels and inns across the country will not turn someone with a tattoo away; another 13% said they would grant access to a tattooed guest under certain conditions, such as having the tattoo covered up. Some towns have many tattoo-friendly onsen that do not require guests to cover them up. Two such towns are Kinosaki Onsen in Hyōgo and Beppu Onsen in Ōita. With
1440-417: The baths and must be completely nude. However, there are some onsen that allow both men and women to enter together but require swimsuits. Many of these mixed onsen resemble more of a pool or waterpark than the traditional idea of an onsen . In 2016, The Japan Times reported that guests were not normally allowed to wear swimsuits in the baths. However, some modern onsen required their guests to wear
1488-907: The baths daily. These precautions as well as proper onsen usage (i.e. not placing the head underwater, washing thoroughly before entering the bath) greatly reduce any overall risk to bathers. Voyeurism is reported at some onsen . In 2016, The Japan Times reported that this was mitigated in some prefectures of Japan where nude mixed bathing is not permitted, and that visitors must wear swimsuits . In 2021, several people were arrested in connection with an organized group accused of taking photos of women in open-air baths. In addition to typical large public baths ( 大浴場 , daiyokujō ) and outdoor baths ( 露天風呂 , roten-buro ), there are various other methods of experiencing onsen that can be found at various facilities throughout Japan. Examples include: Saunas are also sometimes located at onsen bathing facilities. A relatively cold bath called mizu-buro (水風呂)
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1536-484: The city of Hōjō , and town of Nakajima (from the former Onsen District ). Matsuyama has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 42 members. Matsuyama, together with Kumakōgen, contributes 16 members to the Ehime Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is split between Ehime 1st district And Ehime 2nd district of
1584-625: The early 14th century, as well as Hōgon-ji (宝厳寺), Taihō-ji (大宝寺) and Enmyō-ji (円明寺). Shrines of the city include Isaniwa Jinja (伊佐爾波神社), built in 1667. The haiku poet Masaoka Shiki lived in Matsuyama. His house, now known as the Shiki-do , and a museum, the Shiki Memorial Museum , are popular attractions, and the centerpieces of the city's claim as a center of the international haiku movement. Other haiku poets associated with Matsuyama include Kurita Chodō , whose Kōshin-an
1632-440: The increase in foreign customers due to growing tourism, some onsen that previously banned tattoos are loosening their rules to allow guests with small tattoos to enter, provided they cover their tattoos with a patch or sticking plaster. There are various health benefits attributed to bathing in onsen . Onsen are particularly renowned for their relaxing and therapeutic effects . These effects are due to properties such as
1680-416: The life and work of Masaoka Shiki , with special attention to his contribution to haiku . The Saka no Ue no Kumo Museum features exhibits connected with the novel and television series. There is a Juzo Itami museum dedicated to the film director. Products ( meibutsu ) of Matsuyama include tarts and Botchan dango . In the 17th century, the lord of Matsuyama castle Sadayuki Matsudaira (松平定行) introduced
1728-512: The modern city of Matsuyama . The name Ehime comes from the kuniumi part of the Kojiki where Iyo Province is mythologically named Ehime, "lovely princess". In 2012, a research group from the University of Tokyo and Ehime University said they had discovered rare earth deposits in Matsuyama. Located in the northwestern part of Shikoku, Ehime faces the Seto Inland Sea to the north and
1776-409: The number of traditional public baths has decreased, but the number and popularity of hot spring resort towns ( 温泉街 , onsen-gai ) have increased since the end of Second World War . Baths may be either publicly run by a municipality or privately, often connecting to a lodging establishment such as a hotel, ryokan , or minshuku . The presence of an onsen is often indicated on signs and maps by
1824-563: The oldest in Japan, and is home to the Dōgo Onsen Honkan , a Meiji Period wooden public bathhouse dating from 1894. A second favorite tourist spot is Matsuyama Castle . Eight of the eighty-eight temples in the Shikoku Pilgrimage are in Matsuyama. Buddhist temples in Matsuyama include Ishite-ji (石手寺), Taisan-ji (太山寺), and Jōdo-ji (浄土寺), all dating back to the 8th century, although the oldest surviving buildings are from
1872-555: The opening of Japan to the West during the Meiji Restoration . Mixed bathing ( 混浴 , kon'yoku ) is currently banned in Japanese public baths. Depending on the prefecture and local ordinances, children seven years old and younger may be exempt from this ban. Private onsen called "family baths" ( 家族風呂 , kazokuburo ) can be found in many locations throughout Japan. These can be reserved and used for mixed bathing. As at
1920-677: The presence of Naegleria in hot spring waters, Naegleria fowleri , responsible for numerous fatal cases of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis around the world, has not been found to be present in the water at onsen . Nevertheless, fewer than five cases have been seen historically in Japan, although not conclusively linked to onsen exposure. Many onsen display notices reminding anyone with open cuts, sores, or lesions not to bathe. Additionally, in recent years onsen are increasingly adding chlorine to their waters to prevent infection, although many onsen purists seek natural, unchlorinated onsen that do not recycle their water but instead clean
1968-469: The process of tart-making, originally brought to Japan by the Portuguese, to Matsuyama. At first it was a Castella with jam. According to legend Sadayuki made some changes, such as adding red bean paste . Now there are many kinds and makers of tarts in Matsuyama; some add yuzu paste or chestnut to the red bean paste. In addition to tarts, Botchan dango is also a product of Matsuyama. Botchan dango
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2016-630: The spa in the year 596. It is also mentioned in passing in The Tale of Genji . At the end of the Heian period , Kōno Michinobu supported Minamoto no Yoritomo against the Heike clan during the Genpei War and was awarded with a position as shugo of Iyo Province. In the Muromachi period , the clan made their stronghold at Yuzuki Castle , near Dōgo Onsen, and developed the port of Mitsuhama to
2064-573: The symbol ♨, the kanji 湯 ( yu , meaning "hot water"), or the simpler phonetic hiragana character ゆ ( yu ). According to the Japanese Hot Springs Act ( 温泉法 , Onsen Hō ) , onsen is defined as "hot water, mineral water, and water vapor or other gas (excluding natural gas of which the principal component is hydrocarbon ) gushing from underground". The law states that mineralized hot spring water that feeds an onsen must be at least 25 °C (77 °F) originating at
2112-845: The temperature, pressure, and mineral composition of the water. A 2014 study conducted in Beppu , a city famous for its onsen , found that regular bathing in onsen has various health benefits such as lowering blood pressure , improving circulation and cardiovascular health, reducing chronic pain and fatigue, and lowering the rate of depression . A survey conducted in Atami , another city famous for its onsen , found that individuals with onsen in their homes were less likely to take blood pressure medication than those without onsen . There are various types of onsen including carbonated springs, iron -containing springs, acidic springs, strong-smelling sulfur springs, among others. Each type of onsen
2160-422: The west to link the area to Honshū and Kyūshū . The clan was conquered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during his invasion of Shikoku, and later the area became part of Iyo-Matsuyama Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate . A jōkamachi developed around Matsuyama Castle , and this is the core of the modern city. The city was established with the creation of the modern municipality system on December 15, 1889. The city
2208-458: Was bombed on July 26, 1945, in the final stages of World War II , with 251 civilians killed and over 55% of the city area destroyed. In the twentieth century, various mergers joined Matsuyama with neighboring towns of Dōgo , Mitsuhama , and other townships, aided by urban sprawl , creating a seamless modern city that now ranks as the largest in Shikoku. On October 1, 2018, Matsuyama absorbed
2256-717: Was named after the novel Botchan by Natsume Sōseki . It consists of three bean paste beads of three flavors, matcha , egg, and red bean paste. Within the paste is contained mochi . Matsuyama is the site of a number of festivals, including the Dogo Festival, held in the spring, the Matsuyama Festival, held in August, and the Fall Festival, held in October, which features battling mikoshi . The city
2304-645: Was visited by Kobayashi Issa , Shiki's followers, Takahama Kyoshi and Kawahigashi Hekigoto , and Taneda Santōka . Santoka's house, known as Isso-an, is also a tourist attraction and is periodically open to the public. The Matsuyama Declaration of 1999 proposed the formation of the International Haiku Research Center, and the first Masaoka Shiki International Haiku Awards were given in 2000. Recipients have included Yves Bonnefoy (2000), Cor van den Heuvel (2002) and Gary Snyder (2004). The famed novel Botchan by Natsume Sōseki
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