While Ehime Prefecture may be somewhat off the beaten track, its eye-catching eateries and abundance of delicious cuisine and beverages are enough to tame people off the well-trodden path and into this western corner of Shikoku. Trendy cafés, microbreweries, and a whole host of regional treats await.
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Cafe Hatsuyuki
Cafe Hatsuyuki
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the masterminds behind Hatsuyuki were cafe experts but Cafe Hatsuyuki is, in fact, just a later addition to the Hatsuyukihai sake brewery which sits on the ground floor of the two-storey wooden building. The cafe’s wooden interior and trademark round tables give the spacious room a timeless sophistication while the window seats offer a space to relax while taking in majestic views of the surrounding Tobe rolling hills. Naturally, Cafe Hatsuyuki is a good place to get a taste of the local sake served up in local Tobe-yaki ceramics, but if that’s too strong for lunchtime there are also non-alcohol versions available, as well as a number of soft drinks, teas, and cakes.
Cafe Hatsuyuki
- Kyouwa Syuzou Brewery Shop KURAMOTO
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- Ehime Iyo-gun Tobecho Ominami 400
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- 0899626124
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- 10:00-17:00
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Sea bream at Hozumitei
Sea bream at Hozumitei
Like much of Shikoku, the fish scene in Ehime Prefecture is thriving thanks to all that surrounding ocean. At the top of the menu for regional fish dishes is sea bream, known as tai in Japanese. Best served in its natural, raw form, for unbeatable sea bream donburi head to Hozumitei in the southern city of Uwajima. For a close-up taste of the sushi chefs in action you’ll need to reserve seats at the counter, but this seemingly cosy restaurant has hidden rooms with space to seat up to 200 for those wanting to pop by on a spontaneous trip.
Sea bream at Hozumitei
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Fumikaden Café
Fumikaden Café
As one of the main food hubs of Ehime, Matsuyama City has no shortage of eateries, both traditional and trendy. While food in cafes can be limited, Fumikaden Cafe, just south of the Matsuyama Castle grounds, not only offers both style and comfort but also an extensive menu of Western-inspired dishes from curries and wholesome roast veg salads to Japanese teas and decadent cakes.
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Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits are an integral part of Ehime’s consumables, especially during the colder months of the year. Ehime comes in at joint first place as the largest producer of mikan, or mandarins, in the country. As a result, many of Ehime’s stores have a distinct mikan theme displaying everything from the conventional mandarin to mandarin desserts and even mikan-infused rice balls. One of Matsuyama Airport’s orange flavoured perks is the popular Orange BAR where it’s not water that comes out of the taps but delicious, freshly pressed orange juice.
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05
Dogo Beer and sake
Dogo Beer and sake
The name Dogo owes its prestige to the famed Dogo Onsen tucked away in the centre of Matsuyama City. However, the area has more to offer than just hot springs, including the Dogo brewery, known as Nikitatsu, which has its own 123-year-old history to bring to the table. Although the brewery has been creating delicious sake using local ingredients for almost 200 years, it has gained new attention in more recent years for its new brand of Dogo beers. Suggested as a post-bathing treat, Dogo Beer has an extra fizz in both its lagers and flavoured ales.
- Nikitatsu-an
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4.0
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- Ehime Pref. Matsuyamashi Dougokitamachi 3-18
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- 0899246617
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- 11:00-21:30
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