{"id":761,"date":"2011-05-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2011-04-30T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/?p=761"},"modified":"2011-05-03T07:12:31","modified_gmt":"2011-05-02T22:12:31","slug":"better-know-a-ken-ehime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/2011\/05\/better-know-a-ken-ehime\/","title":{"rendered":"Better Know a Ken:<\/B> Ehime"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Hello from Ehime! (\u00e6\u201e\u203a\u00e5\u00aa\u203a) We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re nestled on the island of Shikoku between Kagawa and Kochi Prefecture. Maybe you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve heard of us from the Japanese drama \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Saka no Ue no Kumo\u00e2\u20ac\u009d? No? How about as having the oldest onsen in Japan? No? That we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re the third phase in the famed Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage? Still No? Well, let me personally introduce you to the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Love Princess.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (\u00e6\u201e\u203a=love,\u00e5\u00aa\u203a=princess) She\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s quite charming once you get to know her.<\/p>\n

First of all, the two most famous things in Ehime are mikans<\/em> (mandarin oranges) and Dogo Onsen. As the Sex Machine Guns<\/em> sing in their quintessential song, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Mikan no uta,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ehime no mikan wa sekai ichi!\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/em> (Ehime mikans are the best in the world!) The next time you hit the grocery store, hunt down a bottle of orange \u00e2\u20ac\u0153POM\u00e2\u20ac\u009d juice for a little taste of it.<\/p>\n

Now to Dogo Onsen (\u00e9\u0081\u201c\u00e5\u00be\u0152\u00e6\u00b8\u00a9\u00e6\u00b3\u2030), the oldest onsen in Japan with a history spanning more than 3,000 years. Anime-lovers may also recognize its curvy roof and traditional exterior as that which inspired the onsen in Hayao Miyazakai\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s movie \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Spirited Away.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d For being so famous and a national treasure, the onsen is surprisingly small, but the ambience makes it a worthwhile visit.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Actually, Dogo area\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s theme is based on the classic book \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Botchan.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d It was written by the celebrated author Natsume Soseki after his one short year teaching in Matsuyama, the capital of Ehime. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s amusing that Matsuyama so embraced a book that poked fun at it. Still, I think Soseki would have enjoyed today\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s sweet Botchan Dango, Madonna beer at Dogo Brewery, and the Gizmo Clock (featuring animatronic Bothchan characters).<\/p>\n

Soseki\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mentor was Matsuyama-born Masaoka Shiki. Most of you have probably never heard of him, but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m sure you know his three line, 5-7-5 syllable haiku style. Shiki is credited as the father of this haiku structure and is considered one of the four great masters of haiku! There is a Shiki Memorial Museum in his honor.<\/p>\n

Shiki\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not the only renowned Ehime writer. An Internet search for Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only two Nobel Prize winners in literature brings up the name Kenzaburo Oe, who hails from the little town of Uchiko. Uchiko is famous in its own right for the historical, 150-year old merchant shops and houses still in use today. These buildings are remnants of its once flourishing mokuro<\/em> (Japanese vegetable-based wax) and washi<\/em> (Japanese paper) industries. Those days are long gone, but visitors today can still buy wax candles or try their hand at making washi<\/em>. The standout building amongst all this is Uchiko-za, their full-scale kabuki theater.\u00c2\u00a0 Call ahead for one of the volunteer English guides who will give you a tour of Uchiko for free.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A 9-minute express train away is Ozu City. In Ozu runs the Hijikawa River, one of only three major cormorant fishing locations in Japan. If you visit sometime from June to September, reserve a boat and bento, then prepare to be mesmerized as masters aptly coax multiple cormorants to dive and fetch ayu<\/em> (sweet fish) amidst firelight and the foreboding Ozu Castle. Not an experience to be missed.<\/p>\n

Anyway, if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re like me, eating local delicacies is high on the to-do list. There are two MUST eats in Ehime: 1. Tai meshi<\/em>. (\u00e9\u00af\u203a\u00e9\u00a3\u00af) 2. Imabari yakitori<\/em>. (\u00e4\u00bb\u0160\u00e6\u00b2\u00bb\u00e3\u0081\u00ae\u00e7\u201e\u00bc\u00e3\u0081\u008d\u00e9\u00b3\u00a5)<\/p>\n

When talking about tai<\/em>, or sea bream, I have to mention Ainan (\u00e6\u201e\u203a\u00e5\u008d\u2014), the southernmost area in Ehime. Ainan is a seaside haven, whose rich, calm waters nurture tropical corals, colorful fish, and the abundant pearl and tai<\/em> farms in the region. Ehime produces 50% of the tai<\/em> fish consumed in Japan, so tasting the popular tai meshi<\/em> here nearly guarantees a culinary win. But don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t get confused by the two types: the south (Uwajima\/Ainan) proudly serves sweet, tai<\/em> sashimi over rice; while the north (Matsuyama and Imabari) serve it cooked and flavorful over rice. Both are irresistible.<\/p>\n

Imabari<\/em> yakitori<\/em> is up north. Believe it or not, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s home to the most yakitori restaurants in Japan! About one restaurant for every 10,000 people. Maybe it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s because instead of using a typical grill net and flame, Imabari-ans cook on a griddle, or metal plate. This helps maximize the moisture and flavor in the meat creating possibly the best yakitori<\/em> in Japan.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>There are many other local dishes worth mentioning such as jakoten, Yawatahama champom, horaku yaki, etc., but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll let you stumble upon these gems serendipitously. Also, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t forget about the little fruit farms! Depending on the season, you can pay to pick all the strawberries, blueberries, apples, grapes, figs, or tomatoes you can eat.<\/p>\n

This sounds strange, but Ehime also has great water. Yes, water. Saijo City up north is known for uchinuki,<\/em> its exceptionally fresh and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153delicious\u00e2\u20ac\u009d spring water. Uchinuki<\/em> was named one of the 100 famous spring waters throughout Japan and is the focus of Saijo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Aqua Route,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which takes tourists through the city using springs as markers. Maybe uchinuki<\/em> is the reason Asahi decided to place their only Shikoku beer brewery in Saijo. This too, is available for touring.<\/p>\n

On the flipside, there are the clear, seawaters previously mentioned in Ainan. The area is a spectacular spot for snorkeling, glass-bottomed boats, sea kayaking, and swimming. Even my friend from Hawaii gave it the thumbs up!<\/p>\n

Swimming isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t the only outdoor activity around. Aside from the triathlon, camping areas, marathons, and small ski areas, I recommend that everyone hike Mt. Ishizuchi and bike across the Shimanami Kaido bridges. Honestly, you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t need to be athletic at all to do it. (I managed!)<\/p>\n

Mt. Ishizuchi is the tallest mountain in West Japan, so hiking it means one can brag a bit. Its coolest features are the climbing, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153trial\u00e2\u20ac\u009d chains hung along 4 points of the path. It sounds intimidating, but the optional chains made for a very memorable hike. I took them up, but not down.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Shimanami Kaido is a 60-kilometer bike route through 6 islands between Imabari and Onomichi (Hiroshima Prefecture). It is simply gorgeous. Parks, museums, beaches, and natural whirlpools along the way made this one of my best outdoor experiences in Ehime. Please rent a bike at one of the route\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s cycling center locations.<\/p>\n

If you have extra time in Imabari, also swing by the towel museum. Yes, such a thing exists, especially in a city that accounts for 60% of Japan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s towel production! If towels bore you, there is always the small but quirky sex museum, Dekoboko Shind\u00c5\u008d<\/em> (\u00e5\u2021\u00b8\u00e5\u2021\u00b9\u00e7\u00a5\u017e\u00e5\u00a0\u201a), down in Uwajima on the grounds of the Taga<\/em> fertility shrine.<\/p>\n

Uwajima is also known for bullfights! No, don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t think Spanish matador, think a pair of 1-ton bulls sumo-ing with their horns. It happens 5 times a year, most notably on July 24, during the city\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Gaiya Festival.<\/p>\n

Gaiya is not the most famous festival in Ehime though. That honor goes to the Niihama Taiko Matsuri Festival (October 16-18) and the Saijo Matsuri Festival (October 14-17). Niihama\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s festival showcases impressive 2.5 ton taiko-dai<\/em> (drum floats) being carried by 100-150 men to a rousing drum beat. Held around the same time is Saijo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Festival featuring floats and portable shrines.<\/p>\n

Oh no! I haven\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t yet mentioned Matsuyama Castle, Tobeyaki (Tobe Town pottery), or even Nanrakuen (my favorite garden), but I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m running out of space. Guess you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll just have to come on down and explore lovely Ehime for yourself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hello from Ehime! (\u00e6\u201e\u203a\u00e5\u00aa\u203a) We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re nestled on the island of Shikoku between Kagawa and Kochi Prefecture. Maybe you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve heard of us from the Japanese drama \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Saka no Ue no Kumo\u00e2\u20ac\u009d? No? How about as having the oldest onsen in Japan? No? That we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re the third phase in the famed Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage? Still No?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":762,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false},"categories":[11,145],"tags":[154],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/Uwajima-Bullfighting.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/761"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=761"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/761\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=761"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=761"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.hyogoajet.net\/hyogotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=761"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}