Important Cultural Property of Ehime

Discover the Important Cultural Property "Tantō mei Kunihiro saku" – a 14th-century short sword crafted by master swordsmith Kunihiro of the Sa Monji school, dedicated by the Matsudaira lords and preserved at Shinonome Shrine in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture.

Tucked away behind the three-story pagoda of Ishiteji Temple in Matsuyama, the Karitei-mo-ten-do is a small but exquisite shrine designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Built in the late Kamakura period (1275-1332) in the rare ikkensha nagare-misedana style with a cypress bark roof, it is among the oldest shrine structures in Ehime Prefecture. Discover its enduring tradition of safe-childbirth prayers and architectural details that mirror the National Treasure Niomon Gate.

Ishite-ji's bell tower in Matsuyama, dated 1333 by a pillar inscription, holds a bronze bell cast in 1251, the oldest dated bell in Ehime, in its upper chamber.

The Main Hall of Ishiteji Temple in Matsuyama, Ehime is a National Important Cultural Property dating from the late Kamakura period. As the 51st temple of the Shikoku 88-Temple Pilgrimage and only a short walk from Dōgo Onsen, it offers a rare combination of living pilgrimage culture and outstanding medieval Wayō-style architecture, alongside the National Treasure Niōmon Gate and other heritage buildings.

Hidden deep in the mountains of Kumakogen, Ehime, the Daishido of Iwayaji Temple — the 45th sacred site of the Shikoku Pilgrimage — was completed in 1920 under the supervision of architect Kawaguchi Shoichi. This nationally designated Important Cultural Property masterfully fuses traditional Japanese temple architecture with Western details such as entasis columns, rose-and-cord capitals, and column fluting. Set against towering conglomerate cliffs, the hall is celebrated as a landmark of modern Japanese religious architecture. This guide explores its design highlights, visitor information, and nearby attractions.

Uchiko-za is a traditional wooden playhouse built in 1916 in the town of Uchiko, Ehime Prefecture. Equipped with a revolving stage, hanamichi walkway, and traditional box seating, this living theater still hosts kabuki and bunraku performances and was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan in 2015.

The Sannomaru South Corner Turret of Ozu Castle in Ozu City, Ehime Prefecture, is the oldest surviving structure in the castle complex, rebuilt in 1766. Designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, it preserves ingenious defensive features including hidden loopholes and bullet-resistant drum walls, offering an authentic glimpse into Edo-period military architecture.

Discover Oyamazumi Shrine's Honden, a 1427 Muromachi-period Important Cultural Property on Omishima Island. This three-bay nagare-zukuri main hall stands at the heart of Japan's "head shrine" — the Sōchinju — revered for centuries by samurai, sea lords, and pilgrims along the Shimanami Kaido.

On the sacred island of Omishima in the Seto Inland Sea, three granite hokyoin-to pagodas from the late Kamakura period stand quietly in the precinct of Oyamazumi Shrine. The central tower is the largest in Shikoku, and the left tower carries the inscribed name of the Onomichi mason Nenshin. This guide introduces these Important Cultural Properties and the venerable shrine that surrounds them.

A granite Hōkyōintō stone pagoda from the late Kamakura period stands within the grounds of Kamei Hachiman Shrine on Uoshima, a remote fishing island in the Seto Inland Sea, Ehime Prefecture. Designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, this medieval stone tower exemplifies the artistry of Kamakura-era stone craft and carries a local legend connecting it to the Nanbokuchō warrior Shinozuka Iganokami. On this tiny island of about 110 residents, the pagoda has quietly watched over 700 years of history.

Discover the Former Kaimei School in Seiyo, Ehime — the oldest elementary school building in Shikoku, built in 1882. This Important Cultural Property features rare Giyōfū architecture, a museum with 6,000 educational artifacts, and hands-on Meiji-era classroom experiences.

The Kōryū-ji Hōkyōintō is a granite stone pagoda from the Nanbokuchō period (14th century), designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Located at Nishiyama Kōryū-ji Temple in Saijō, Ehime, this Kansai-style memorial tower is traditionally associated with Minamoto no Yoritomo. Discover its historical significance, the temple's stunning autumn foliage, and practical visitor information.

Discover the Main Hall of Nishiyama Koryuji Temple in Saijo, Ehime — a 1375 Important Cultural Property blending Japanese and Zen architectural styles, set amid one of Shikoku's finest autumn foliage spots.

Discover Shoun-ji Kannon-do, an Important Cultural Property on Iwagi Island, Ehime Prefecture. Built in 1431, this Zen-style hall features rare double-lotus carvings and a stunning island setting near the Shimanami Kaido.

The Kannondo (Kannon Hall) of Jokoji Temple on Yuge Island in Kamijima, Ehime Prefecture, is a Muromachi-period Buddhist hall built in 1463 and designated as a national Important Cultural Property. Noted for its rare construction techniques, exceptionally well-preserved original materials, and distinctive Zen-style lattice doors, this compact masterpiece sits atop a hill with panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea. An ideal destination for travelers exploring the Yumeshima Kaido cycling route seeking authentic Japanese cultural heritage off the beaten path.

Discover the Jōzenji Stone Pagodas in Imabari, Ehime — a remarkable collection of 11 Important Cultural Property stone towers dating from the Kamakura to Nanbokuchō periods. Learn about their history, Buddhist significance, and how to visit this hidden gem near the Shimanami Kaido.

Standing on the small island of Tsurushima off Matsuyama in Ehime Prefecture, Tsurushima Lighthouse is a Western-style stone lighthouse completed in 1873 to the design of Richard Henry Brunton, the Scottish engineer known as the Father of Japanese Lighthouses. It is one of the very few Meiji-era lighthouses still in active service in essentially its original form, and was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 2024 together with its former keepers' quarters, warehouse and stone walls.

The Dōgo Onsen Honkan, in Matsuyama on the island of Shikoku, is the timber-framed centerpiece of what many consider Japan's oldest hot spring. Its four interconnected buildings — the Kami-no-Yu Main Hall (1894), the Yūshinden / Tama-no-Yu Wing (1899), and the South Wing and Genkan entrance hall (1924) — were designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1994, the first public bathhouse in Japan to be so honored. Designed by master carpenter Sakamoto Matahachirō, the complex features Japan's only imperial bathing chamber, the Botchan Room linked to novelist Natsume Sōseki, and a small drum tower whose Toki-daiko still marks the hours. Fully reopened in July 2024 after extensive seismic and conservation work, it remains a working bathhouse where visitors can soak in pure, source-flow hot spring water inside a living cultural treasure.

Discover Nagahama Ohashi Bridge in Ozu City, Ehime, Japan's oldest still-operating bascule road bridge. Built in 1935, this striking red landmark over the Hijikawa River opens regularly for visitors and was designated an Important Cultural Property in 2014.

Standing on the wooded slopes of Mount Tomisu in Ozu City, Ehime, the Buddha Hall of Nyohoji Temple was completed in 1670 when the second lord of Ozu Domain, Kato Yasuoki, invited the renowned Zen master Bankei Yotaku to refound the temple. Uniquely combining the functions of a Buddha hall and a Zen meditation hall within a single structure, it preserves its original form almost unchanged and was designated a National Important Cultural Property in 1992 as a defining example of early modern Zen Buddha hall architecture.

Ehime’s registered properties across designations, with featured heritage and travel notes.

The complete kokuhō catalogue — browse by prefecture, period, and category.

Nationwide jūyō bunkazai — architecture, sculpture, painting, crafts, and documents.