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Food & Drink in Ehime

Indulge in tastes from the abundant land and beautiful seas

Ehime Prefecture is divided into three regions: Toyo, Chuyo, and Nanyo. The differences between the three regions leads to a variety of food cultures. Thanks to its mild climate, Ehime Prefecture is Japan's leading producer of citrus fruits such as "mikan" (mandarins), "iyokan", and "dekopon." The Ehime-exclusive variants "beni-madonna" and "kanpei" are popular too. The prefecture is also known for being a popular sake brewing spot. There are 37 sake breweries that create splendid local sake using the clear water that flows from the Shikoku Mountains.

Due to its proximity to the Seto Inland Sea, many restaurants in Ehime Prefecture serve dishes made of fresh seafood, such as the famous "taimeshi" (sea bream with rice). Other local delicacies like the Imabari-style "yakitori" (grilled chicken) and "senzanki" (deep-fried chicken) are also exquisite. You will be able to feel the hospitality of Ehime Prefecture from the local food culture!

Text：Takashi Shigeto

#mandarin　#Japanese sake　#sea bream with rice　#senzanki (deep-fried chicken)

Taste the best citrus from Japan's leading producer

Ehime Prefecture is known as the "Kingdom of Citrus" because is it Japan's leading producer of citrus fruits. A long-running joke is that the prefecture grows so much citrus that orange juice flows straight out of the faucets here! In 2017, this became true as the first faucets to dispense orange juice were installed at various locations around Ehime Prefecture, and they became an instant viral sensation. You can find one at the Orange BAR immediately after arriving at Matsuyama Airport, and at many other locations around the prefecture.

Every day, the number of farmers aiming to produce better "mikan" (mandarins) is increasing. There are many well-known organizations, such as the Muchachaen, an agricultural association located in Imabari City known for limiting the use of pesticides, and the Nino Farm, which is carefully growing different kinds of citrus fruits in Uwajima City. There are also many farms where you can pick your own "mikan," such as the Akamatsu Farm, which has been running for three generations. Starting mid-October, you can also harvest citrus fruits at the Minami Shikoku Farm, a "mikan" farmers group in Ehime, and the Tomoura Garden in Imabari City.

In addition, you can try "mikan daifuku," made by Imabari City's traditional Japanese sweet shop Ichifuku Hyakuka Seikoudou. It is a dessert consisting of "mochi" (rice cake) wrapped around a whole "mikan" with a high sugar content and white bean paste. Each one is carefully handmade by traditional Japanese sweet artisans.

Orange BAR (Matsuyama Airport)

Muchachaen

Nino Farm

Akamatsu Farm

  • Address 8-112 Hokezu, Yoshidacho, Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture
  • Phone Number089-552-2944 (Japan), +81-895-52-2944 (international)

Tomoura Garden

  • Address Tomoura, Miyakubocho, Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture
  • Phone Number0897-86-2206 (Japan), +81-897-86-2206 (international)

View at VISIT EHIME

Ichifuku Hyakka-Seikodo

Sip on locally produced Japanese sake

Some people know that Ehime Prefecture is a popular Japanese sake brewing location. The cold wind from the Shikoku Mountains during the winter creates the perfect conditions for sake brewing, and the clear, abundant water in the prefecture gives the sake a mellow and rich flavor.

There are 37 breweries in the prefecture, and each have their own specialties. The sake of the Ishizuchi Sake Brewery, located at the foot of Mt. Ishizuchi, has a strong and fresh taste, thanks to a unique brewing method called "koji," which is where rice is fermented in a wooden box. The pristine scent and texture of the water from Mt. Ishizuchi also gives it a fascinating smoothness.

In Saijo City, the Seiryu Sake Brewery, which has a history of more than 140 years, is a small operation run by only four people. They value the customers' voice, and their motto is, "Sake is made with dreams and heart." They specialize on making sake that is carefully paired with the right food.

The brewers of the Chiyo no Kame Sake Brewery in Uchiko Town participate in rice-growing to learn more about rice, the raw material needed to create sake. They also practice a unique method of sake brewing that requires them to play classical music during the traditional "shibori" (squeezing) process of making the sake. You can enjoy a unique variety of sake in Ehime Prefecture, all carefully made with different methods.

Ishizuchi Sake Brewery

Seiryo Sake Brewery

View at VISIT EHIME

Chiyo no Kame Sake Brewery

Entice your taste buds with local delicacies

With the Seto Inland Sea to the north and the Uwa Sea to the west, Ehime Prefecture is abundant in fresh seafood. Many restaurants take advantage of this and use the seafood to make delicious dishes. One such restaurant is Ikadaya in Uwajima City, where you can eat traditional fishermen's dishes right on the sea. Not only can you eat it raw, freshly caught seafood can also be enjoyed by grilling over charcoal.

Restaurant Tairyo in Omishima Island is a restaurant famous for its hearty seafood rice bowls. Enjoy the seafood of Seto Inland Sea to the fullest!

Uwajima City in Ehime Prefecture is the number one farmer of red sea bream in Japan. Two types of "taimeshi" (sea bream with rice) are served in this region. One is Uwajima-style "taimeshi", which is fresh sea bream sashimi mixed with a special sauce and raw egg yolk, then served on top of rice. The second is Hojo-style "taimeshi", which is a regional dish where whole sea bream is cooked in a soup stock made from kelp, then served on top of rice.

Local Uwajima City restaurants such as Gansui and Kadoya, both located near the Matsuyama Castle ropeway, and "izakaya" (Japanese bar) such as Umi no Sachi Taiya are famous for their Uwajima-style "taimeshi". Another restaurant, Taimeshi Specialty Taiya, located in the Mitsuhama District, is popular for its Hojo-style "taimeshi". Or, you can try both at restaurants such as Goshiki near the Okaido Shopping Arcade in Matsuyama City, or at Oidenya near Dogo Onsen.

Ikadaya

  • Address 4496 Shitaba Shimazu, Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture
  • Phone Number0895-29-0831 / 090-3182-7363 (Japan, reservation required), +81-895-29-0831 / +81-903-182-7363 (international, reservation required)
  • URLhttps://ameblo.jp/ikadaya2001/ (Japanese only)

Restaurant Tairyo

Local Cuisine Goshiki Honten

Oidenka Dogo Branch

Gansui Dogo Branch

  • Address 13-10 Dogoyunomachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
  • Phone Number089-968-1861 (Japan), +81-899-68-1861 (international)
  • URLhttp://gansui.jp/ (Japanese only)

Kadoya Dogo Branch

Umi no Sachi Taiya

Taimeshi Specialty Taiya

  • Address 1-3-21 Mitsu, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
  • Phone Number089-951-1061 (Japan), +81-899-51-1061 (international)
  • URLhttp://taimesi.net/home_en/

Enjoy famous mouth-watering chicken dishes

In addition to citrus fruits, Japanese sake, and seafood, chicken is also a part of Ehime Prefecture's local cuisine. The Himakko Jidori chicken, first successfully bred in 2002, is a special breed of Jidori chicken that combines the best of four different breeds of chicken. The meat of the Himakko Jidori chicken has a crispy texure and rich, umami flavor, and is popular with people of all ages.

No one loves chicken as much as the people of Imabari City. Imabari-style "yakitori" (chicken skewers) is cooked differently from the usual "yakitori" seen all over Japan, as they are grilled on an iron plate without a skewer, then steamed and pressed with a weight. It is so popular that it was ranked in both "Japan's Top 3 Best Yakitori" and "Top 7 Best Local Yakitori." The best part of Imabari-style "yakitori" is the grilled skin, which is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. It goes very well with some beer!

Another famous chicken dish in Imabari City is called "senzangi", deep-fried chicken seasoned with minced garlic, ginger, and soy sauce. It is said to be the origin of "karaage" (fried chicken). You can enjoy Imabari-style "yakitori" at about 70 restaurants around the city!

Seto

Toribayashi

Yakitori Sanchou

Gomidori

Experience Ehime

Activity in Ehime

Cycling, fishing, or canyoning
Discover the best ways to enjoy nature

Surrounded by beautiful mountains, seas, and rivers, Ehime Prefecture has the best natural environment for a variety of activities. The Setouchi Shimanami Kaido Expressway, often shortened to just the Shimanami Kaido, is a popular route for cyclists. The Kutsuna Islands and Cape Sada are both popular spots for angler fishing. The Omogo Gorge and Nametoko Gorge are ideal locations for stream fishing and canyoning. Come enjoy dynamic Japanese nature of all seasons in Ehime!

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Culture in Ehime

Time-honored history
A treasure trove of refined Japanese culture

Many cultural heritages have been passed down in Ehime Prefecture. Matsuyama Castle and Ozu Castle are important landmarks of traditional Japanese castle architecture. Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, is highly regarded worldwide. The Iwaya Temple and Ishite Temple of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage are both unique temples worth a visit. The stunning and fantastic Saijo Festival and the vivid Niihama Taiko Festival will surely bring you unforgettable memories.

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