Tag Ehime

Area Guides

The Murakami Suigun | The “Pirates” of the Seto Inland Sea

An exterior view of the Murakami KAIZOKU Museum on the island of Oshima, with a stone statue of a Murakami Suigun warrior in armor standing in front. The museum blends modern and traditional Japanese design, featuring tiled roofs and castle-like walls, set against green hills and a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Buckle up, everyone. Today, we’re diving into a group I’ve been itching to feature on this blog for what feels like forever. Known today as the Murakami Suigun, this band of seafaring warlords were basically Japan’s answer to pirate lords,…

Donny Kimball
August 24, 2025

Area Guides

In Imabari City | A Shipbuilding Town in Ehime Prefecture

Sunset view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge stretching across the Seto Inland Sea, connecting a series of small islands to the Takanawa Peninsula in Ehime.

Welcome to Ehime Prefecture’s Imabari City. Located in Shikoku on the far side of the famed Shimanami Kaido — a series of bridges that connects Shikoku with Japan’s main island of Honshu — this important shipbuilding town is the second-largest city in all of…

Donny Kimball
June 22, 2025

Area Guides

Matsuyama’s Dogo Onsen | One of Japan’s Oldest Hot Springs

The main public bathhouse in Dōgo Onsen is known as Dōgo Onsen Honkan and recently underwent renovations lasting about five and a half years. On the second floor, there are many tatami rooms for customers to relax after taking a long bath in either Kami-no-Yu or Tama-no-Yu. For the wealthy, there is also a private “Soaring Room” available.

Previously, in my exhaustive exposé on Matsuyama City, I introduced the hot spring town of Dogo Onsen. Alas, as it was an overview of all things to see and do in the region, I didn’t really have time to go…

Donny Kimball
June 1, 2025

Area Guides

Matsuyama City | The Amazing Capital of Ehime Prefecture

Sunset view over Matsuyama City from the rooftops of Matsuyama Castle, with golden light spilling across the skyline and the Seto Inland Sea glowing in the distance.

Despite living there for most of my adult life, Tokyo can be overwhelming. While you can find pockets of peace scattered throughout the prefecture (yes, Tokyo is a prefecture), the urban chaos is something I often feel the need to…

Donny Kimball
May 25, 2025

Area Guides

Wonderful Setouchi | Exploring the Amazing Seto Inland Sea

Fog covers the Seto Inland Sea as seen from a viewpoint in Setouchi

For someone like myself claiming a serious addiction to Japan, there are countless areas in this amazing country that I treasure. For example, the northern Tohoku region will always hold a special place in my heart. Home to sacred sites…

Donny Kimball
September 2, 2021