Nepedia
Back to Discover
Fluent Reader
🗺️

Ehime Prefecture

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Ehime is a prefecture in Japan located on the island of Shikoku.

Map of Ehime Prefecture Ja
Map of Ehime Prefecture Ja

It sits in the northwestern part of the island. To the north, Ehime faces the Seto Inland Sea. This sea is filled with many small islands. The prefecture borders Kagawa and Tokushima to the east. Kōchi is located to the south. In the west, the Sadamisaki Peninsula reaches out into the water. This is the narrowest peninsula in all of Japan.

Imabari in Ehime Prefecture Ja
Imabari in Ehime Prefecture Ja

The land in Ehime has many different shapes. You can find high mountains in the inland areas. There is also a very long coastline. About 7 percent of the land is part of special natural parks. These include the Ashizuri-Uwakai and Setonaikai National Parks.

Uwajima City view
Uwajima City view

The area is home to many living things in these parks. Some parts of the land are also known as quasi-national parks. These protected areas help keep the nature of Ehime beautiful.

Ehime has a very long and interesting history. Long ago, the area was called Iyo Province. Before the Heian period, many people lived there as sailors and fishermen. These people helped defend Japan against pirates and Mongolian invasions. Later, a leader named Katō Yoshiaki built Matsuyama Castle.

Views from Matsuyama Castle (Iyo) in 2010-9-6 No,3
Views from Matsuyama Castle (Iyo) in 2010-9-6 No,3

This castle helped form the modern city of Matsuyama. The name Ehime even comes from an ancient story called the Kojiki. In that story, the province is called the "lovely princess."

Many people live and work in Ehime today. The population is about 1,334,841 people. Matsuyama is the capital and the largest city.

Ehime Prefectural Government Office 20241205 001
Ehime Prefectural Government Office 20241205 001

Other big cities include Imabari, Niihama, and Saijō. People do many different jobs in these cities. Some work in large shipyards or chemical factories. Others work in farming or fishing. Many people grow citrus fruits like mikan and iyokan.

Ehime-matsuyama-city
Ehime-matsuyama-city

They also grow cultured pearls in the water.

Ehime is a place of famous sights and people. It is home to Dōgo Onsen, which is the oldest hot spring in Japan. People have used these warm baths for over two thousand years.

Ehime-iyo-city
Ehime-iyo-city

The prefecture has also produced three Nobel Prize winners. These famous people won awards for literature and physics. You might also find Ehime in books or movies. For example, the novel Botchan was based on life in Matsuyama. Many people visit to see the beautiful scenery and history.

382 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (51)
File:Ehime prefecture population pyramid 2020.svg
Ehime prefecture population pyramid 2020.svg
File:Map of Ehime Prefecture Ja.svg
Map of Ehime Prefecture Ja.svg
File:Views from Matsuyama Castle (Iyo) in 2010-9-6 No,3.JPG
Views from Matsuyama Castle (Iyo) in...
File:Uwajima City view.JPG
Uwajima City view.JPG
File:Ehime Prefectural Government Office 20241205 001.jpg
Ehime Prefectural Government Office...
File:Flag of Imabari, Ehime.svg
Flag of Imabari, Ehime.svg
File:Imabari in Ehime Prefecture Ja.svg
Imabari in Ehime Prefecture Ja.svg
File:Flag of Iyo, Ehime.svg
Flag of Iyo, Ehime.svg
File:Ehime-iyo-city.svg
Ehime-iyo-city.svg
File:Flag of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg
Flag of Matsuyama, Ehime.svg
File:Ehime-matsuyama-city.svg
Ehime-matsuyama-city.svg
File:Flag of Niihama, Ehime.svg
Flag of Niihama, Ehime.svg

+ 39 more

More to explore

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.