Welcome to Ehime!!

Greetings

Thank you for visiting the web site of Ehime Prefecture. We would like to introduce our industry and attractions to people overseas.
Ehime Prefecture is located in the northwest of Shikoku, one of the four major islands in Japan. It faces the Seto Inland Sea to the north and the Uwa Sea to the southwest. These areas are designated as national parks for the beauty of its many archipelago islands and of the deeply-indented coast lines. It is also blessed with a mild climate and abundant nature of the Shikoku Mountains that run in the southern part of the prefecture and the coastlines in the north and west. Mt. Ishizuchi in the Shikoku Mountain range is the highest peak in western Japan.

The prefecture is divided into three geographical areas. These are the “Toyo” (eastern area), “Chuyo” (central area) and “Nanyo” (southern area).
Each area has its own distinctive industry, but with a well balanced industrial structure.

“Toyo” is one of the major Japanese industrial districts, where industries such as pulp and paper, machinery and metals, towel manufacturing, and shipbuilding are thriving.

“Chuyo” is the prefectural center of politics and the economy. The capital City of Matsuyama is in this area and has a population of 500,000. Matsuyama is known for its rich historical and cultural traditions, such as Dogo Onsen, one of the oldest hot springs in Japan, and prominent cultural figures such as famous haiku poets.

“Nanyo” is well known for nature’s bounty with its agriculture and fisheries industries. Examples are mandarin oranges, and the cultivation of pearls and red sea bream.

In order for the prefecture to accommodate economic globalization, we have been improving the international logistics network. One such improvement is the addition of international airline routes that connect Matsuyama and Seoul or Shanghai; another being an improved water route for regular international freight that would connect areas in Ehime Prefecture and Pusan, Taiwan and Shanghai. On the domestic front, the transportation infrastructure has been augmented with a link to Honshu island through the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido. As well, we have a major project underway that connects areas in Shikoku with a figure-8-shaped web of expressways.

This web site has two sections available in English: “Industry of Ehime,” which introduces our industry and incentives, and “Invest Ehime,” which gives information about local environments, and preferential treatment for foreign businesses which choose to establish here in Ehime. I hope that our humble web site helps foreign businesses, as well as foreign government officials to learn more about us, and eventually help expand trade and investment in our prefecture.

Governor of
Ehime Prefecture
Tokihiro Nakamura

"Origin of prefecture name, Ehime"

"Ehime" means a beloved princess, that is, a beautiful woman.
The name "Ehime" was first used in "kojiki", published in the eight century, which is a history book collecting myths of the birth of Japan.