Matsuyama, Core city in Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Matsuyama is the capital of Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku island and home to one of Japan's few remaining original castles, perched on a central hill overlooking the urban area. Trams connect historic districts with modern shopping zones, while residential neighborhoods spread across the surrounding slopes.
The town received official status on December 15, 1889, under the newly introduced municipal system. During the Edo period, the area served as a castle town under the rule of the Matsudaira clan.
The name translates directly as Pine Mountain, referring to the forested slopes surrounding the castle hill. Visitors encounter small stone tablets displaying haiku verses throughout streets and parks, honoring the poet Masaoka Shiki who was born here.
Trams and buses run regularly during the day, linking the castle, Dogo Onsen hot spring, and the central area. A day pass for public transport simplifies movement between the main points of interest.
Eight temples of the Shikoku Pilgrimage route lie within the town limits, allowing pilgrims to walk an entire section of the sacred path here. Some visitors spend several days exploring these temples in sequence and staying in traditional pilgrimage lodgings.
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