10 recommended touring roads and spots in Ehime Prefecture, selected by riders who have circumnavigated Japan twice.

Hello to all WebikePlus readers! I am a Hokkaido (complicated) wandering rider born in Miyagi Prefecture, who was once a resident of Ehime Prefecture for a few months.

Ehime is the kingdom of tangerines, and when I was a resident of Ehime, for some reason, my house was always full of tangerines, even though I didn't buy them myself...

And more than tangerines, Ehime was also full of touring spots! I have a solid memory that Ehime is full of touring spots, so I would like to introduce some of the recommended touring roads and spots in Ehime Prefecture, carefully selected based on my memories from those days.

The information on each spot is current as of March 2026. The information is subject to change without notice. Please check before you go.

1 Technical winding: Ishizuchi Skyline

The Ishizuchi Skyline is a technical winding road that runs through Ishizuchi, the highest mountain in western Japan at 1,982 meters above sea level, and is an absolute must for touring in Ehime Prefecture.

The road stretches about 17 km from the Menkawa-kei area on Prefectural Route 12, and its moderate ups and downs and twisty corners will raise the "rider's motivation" at once!

As the elevation increases, the visibility gradually widens, and the change in scenery from a tunnel of trees to a wide-open landscape is fascinating, making the road suitable for "summer retreat touring" as it is relatively cool even in summer.

One Point Advice for Sasu Riders

If you go all the way along the Ishizuchi Skyline, you should definitely visit the " UFO Line (town road, Kegamori Line)" (although this route is more on the Kochi Prefecture side). It is a paved forest road accessible from Ishizuchi Skyline via "Yosakoi Pass," and is a superb road along a ridge line where you can experience the depth of the mountains of Shikoku! The road is generally quite narrow, with limited access points, and is prone to fog, which is a negative feature... On bad days, you need to have the courage to pass on the road.

2 High-standard, pleasant road: Sadamisaki Melody Line

The end of the road that all riders love! The Sadamisaki Melody Line (National Route 197) is a pleasant road leading to Sadamisaki, the westernmost point of Shikoku. It is a high standard two-lane road that runs from one end to the other along Japan's longest peninsula, "Sadamisaki Peninsula," which is about 40 km long. It's a wonderful road that you can ride comfortably on a motorcycle, and the goal is at the end of the road, which plays music in addition to the road!

One point of advice from a Sasu rider

Actually, there is a secret road called "Ura Melody Line" hidden in the Sadamisaki Melody Line... It is a winding road with a great sense of openness where as many as 58 windmills stand in a row! You can access this road by passing through the Shionari No. 2 Tunnel on the Melody Line, then turning right and heading for Seto Kaze no Oka Park! ... The main line is pretty cool, but there's also a secret road, and the view is spectacular... Isn't the Sadamisaki Melody Line too high-spec?

3 Road in the Sky: Shikoku Karst

Located on the border between Ehime and Kochi prefectures, the Shikoku Karst is one of Japan's best special A-class touring roads and scenic spots.

It is one of the "Three Great Karsts of Japan" that stretches around 1,000 to 1,500 meters above sea level, and "Prefectural Route 383" through it is a winding road in the sky! The extraordinary scenery of white limestone rocks and grasslands is a treasure trove of scenic spots, and whether you ride or stop, you will only be impressed (crisp)!

One point of advice from a Sasu rider

The most prosperous area of Shikoku Karst is " Mezurudaira ", which has a free parking lot, observation spots, public toilets, a campground, a popular café, and lodging facilities with a store and a restaurant... The area has all the necessary facilities and recreational amenities! If you have time, enjoy a walk around the area, have a cup of coffee while admiring the spectacular view in front of you, or even stay overnight at the campground. By the way, my recommended way to spend your time is to relax at Karst Coffee, which serves excellent hand-drip coffee.

4 SNS-viewing spot: JR Shimonada Station

JR Shimonada Station is one of Ehime Prefecture's most popular spots for social networking, and is now a very popular unmanned station among inbound tourists. It used to be known as "the station closest to the sea in Japan" among camera enthusiasts, but its popularity has since exploded through SNS, and the collaboration of the "melancholy platform and the blue sea" has become a spectacular buzzword!Of course, it is also popular as a sunset spot, so from a rider's point of view, it is a perfect "touring end spot".

One point advice from a Sasu rider

To visit JR Shimonada Station, you need to park your bike at the temporary municipal parking lot or " Shimonada Community Center". It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the station, but I didn't mind at all because it is nice to get off the bike and take a walk while looking out at the ocean.

5 Machu Picchu of the Orient: Former Besshi Copper Mine, Higashidaira District

The industrial heritage site of the former Besshi Copper Mine is the "Former Besshi Copper Mine Toppaira Area," which is rumored to resemble the atmosphere of the famous "World Heritage Machu Picchu.

At an elevation of around 750 meters, the ruins of stone walls and bricks remain in an exquisite state of decay.... It is a place that reminds us of the original Machu Picchu, and it will make you feel like you are on a touring adventure!

Moreover, the area is dotted with exhibition facilities such as the Dongpyeong Historical Museum, where you can learn about the town and lifestyle of the time, all of which can be visited for free (parking is also free)!

One Point Advice for Sasu Riders

Prefectural Route 47, the main access route to the Dongping area, is a mountain winding road with a series of delicious corners, the highlight of which is the huge loop bridge, Seiryu Bridge, over the Shikamori Dam!

In fact, it is very rare to find a place where you can see the dam while driving on the loop bridge, so enjoy the view to the extent that you don't drive without looking.

6 Museum: Towel Museum

Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture is widely known as "the largest towel production area in Japan," boasting 60% of the domestic towel market! The Towel Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum that combines Imabari towels and art, and features unique and interesting exhibits such as a permanent exhibition that expresses the world of Moomin through towels, and a corner where visitors can observe the towel manufacturing process. Admission to the Towel Museum is 1,000 yen per adult, and motorcycles can use the free parking lot on the premises.

One Point Advice for Sasu Riders

The Towel Museum has a museum café, a Chinese restaurant, and a corner selling Imabari towel products, so there is no admission fee if you just want to use these facilities. In other words, the museum can be used as a rest, dining, café, or souvenir shopping spot for touring in Ehime Prefecture, so it is worth stopping by even if you do not plan to visit the exhibition rooms.

7 Natural Phenomenon Spot: Elk River Arashi Observation Park

The Elk River Arashi Observation Park is a park where you can observe the natural phenomenon called " Elk River Arashi," which is extremely rare even from a global perspective, from a special seat. It is a spectacular natural phenomenon that occurs every year from October to March of the following year, when the cold air that accumulates in the inland basin flows out to the sea along the Elk River at once due to the temperature difference. However, if you are touring in Ehime Prefecture during the period when they occur, it is well worth the effort! The Elk River Arashi Observation Park has a free parking lot, a magnificent observation deck, and public restrooms.

One point of advice from a Sasu rider

The red bridge seen from the Elk River Arashi Observation Park is called " Nagahama Bridge " and is actually "the oldest road opening bridge in Japan"! It used to be opened and closed for boats, but now it is only opened and closed for sightseeing at regular intervals, at 11:00 on Saturdays and holidays, and at 11:24 and 13:00 on Sundays. The Elk River is now open at 11:00 on Saturdays and national holidays, and at 11:24 and 13:00 on Sundays.

8 Local Gourmet: Yaki Pork and Egg Rice

Riders will realize "Oh, this is definitely good! and realize that it's a must-try... After towels, Imabari City's next local delicacy to appear on the menu is "Yaki Pork and Egg Rice. It is a B-grade dish of rice topped with grilled pork with sweet and spicy sauce and a half-boiled fried egg on top of white rice !

Originally a B-class gourmet dish that started as a "makanai" at Chinese restaurants, there are currently about 60 restaurants in Imabari City that serve this dish.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

My personal recommendation for a restaurant that offers grilled pork and egg rice is "Shigematsu Restaurant," which is popular among locals rather than tourists!

The restaurant's appeal lies in its satisfying and well-balanced use of both belly and thigh roast pork, and the sauce is sweet and rich, making it a "good choice! It is the perfect place to go when you want to eat a hearty meal of local delicacies.

By the way, the restaurant has a free parking lot, so it is accessible by motorcycle.

9 Local gourmet: Yawatahama Champon

Yawatahama Champon is a popular local gourmet in Yawatahama City, the departure point of the Uwajima Unyu Ferry, a car ferry that crosses from Ehime Prefecture to Oita Prefecture. Champon is characterized by its light, chicken- and seafood-based soup, which has a clear, gentle flavor with less pork bone than the authentic Nagasaki chanpon! Currently, there are more than 30 restaurants, including cafes and izakayas (Japanese-style pubs), in the city, and itcontinues to be loved by the citizens of Yawatahama as a soul food that has taken root in the local community.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

If you are eating Yawatahama chanpon for the first time, "Oshokujidokoro London" is definitely the place to go. The light yet rich soup and crunchy vegetables are addictive! The restaurant has its own parking lot, but I wouldn't feel comfortable parking my bike in a space that only has space for three cars... The right thing to do here is to park your bike at " Roadside Station Yawatahama Minatot ", which is about a 10-minute walk from London (also a gourmet spot).

10 Onsen (hot springs): Dogo Onsen

Dogo Onsen (Honkan) is a hot spring located in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, and is a national important cultural property with an emotional building that catches the eye. As the oldest hot spring in Japan with a history of approximately 3,000 years (according to various theories), Dogo Onsen is mentioned in the famous "Chronicles of Japan" and looks like it could have appeared in a Ghibli movie. There are a variety of bathing courses available, from a pure soak in the hot spring to a post-bath course with tea sweets, but my personal recommendation is the "Kami-no-yu Nigayoseki Course," which includes bathing, yukata, tea, and tea sweets.

One Point Advice from a Sasu Rider

Dogo High Color Street, which runs from Dogo Onsen to Dogo Onsen Station, is a tourist street that is always crowded with tourists and is crammed with all kinds of stores and restaurants! To be frank, this street and Dogo Onsen alone are enough to enjoy a whole day, so we recommend that you allow as much time as possible for your visit. Motorcycles can be parked in the "Dogo Onsen Parking Lot" and "Dogo Onsen Shukudani Higashi-machi Parking Lot" for 100 yen per 30 minutes, and also in the "Dogo Onsen Temporary Tourist Parking Lot" for free, although the parking lot is open on certain days ( Parking Lot Information ).

Ehime Prefecture is deep!

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I used to be a resident of Ehime Prefecture, and of course I was touring around the prefecture on my motorcycle back then... I never, never said, "Okay! I'm satisfied now!" I finally had to leave Ehime... But now that I think about it calmly, the roads of the sea, the roads of the mountains, the roads in the sky, the peculiar local cuisine, the hot springs with a course system that would normally be considered unusual, and even the SNS-worthy spots like Machu Picchu (or something like that).... No wonder it's so deep! Ehime is a prefecture that cannot be fully explored in just a weekend, so be sure to try it out with your car. To the gallery (19)