Matsuyama, Japan
松山市
Matsuyama is a regional capital of 511,192 people in Ehime, Japan, founded in December 15, 1889.
Why visit Matsuyama
Townapedia lists 42 museums and landmarks, 33 parks and trails, 207 places to eat, 45 places to stay and 17 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Matsuyama University, Ehime Prefectural University of Health Science, Matsuyama Castle and Bansuiso.
Weather in Matsuyama
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Matsuyama
Matsuyama (松山市, Matsuyama-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [mä̀.t͡sɨ́.jä̀.mä̀, -jä́.mä́.ɕì]) is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture, on the island of Shikoku, in Japan and is also Shikoku's largest city. As of 1 October 2022, the city had an estimated population of 494,100 in 243,541 households and a population density of 1,200 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 429.35 square kilometres (165.77 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Matsuyama (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Matsuyama on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do17
Ehime Prefectural University of Health Science
School · 7.2 km
Higher education institution in Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Ehime University
School · 1.3 km
Higher education institution in Ehime Prefecture, Japan
Matsuyama Shinonome College
School · 2.9 km
Higher education institution in Ehime Prefecture, Japan
St. Catherine University
School · 15.2 km
Japanese private university
5 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks42
Matsuyama Castle
Monument and historic site · 0.7 km
Marunouchi 1, Matsuyama City, Ehime
Dec-Jan Mo-Su 09:00-16:30; Feb-Jul Mo-Su 09:00-17:00; Aug Mo-Su...
Kume Kanga Sites
Monument and historic site · 4.6 km
Archaeological site in Japan
30 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds33
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
21 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes207
Gansui
Restaurant · Japanese · 2.3 km
10, 松山市
11:00-15:00, 17:00-22:00
道後いなり ゆのや
Restaurant · Japanese · 2.2 km
Mo-Tu,Th-Su 10:00-16:00
195 more on the map.
History
The area of Matsuyama was part of ancient Iyo Province. Dōgo Onsen was already famous in the Asuka period, and Shōtoku Taishi visited the spa in the year 596. It is also mentioned in passing in The Tale of Genji. At the end of the Heian period, Kōno Michinobu supported Minamoto no Yoritomo against the Heike clan during the Genpei War and was awarded with a position as shugo of Iyo Province. In the Muromachi period, the clan made their stronghold at Yuzuki Castle, near Dōgo Onsen, and developed the port of Mitsuhama to the west to link the area to Honshū and Kyūshū. The clan was conquered by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during his invasion of Shikoku, and later the area became part of Iyo-Matsuyama Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. A jōkamachi developed around Matsuyama Castle, and this is the core of the modern city. The city was established with the creation of the modern municipality system on December 15, 1889. The city was bombed on July 26, 1945, in the final stages of World War II, with 251 civilians killed and over 55% of the city area destroyed.
In the twentieth century, various mergers joined Matsuyama with neighboring towns of Dōgo, Mitsuhama, and other townships, aided by urban sprawl, creating a seamless modern city that now ranks as the largest in Shikoku. On October 1, 2018, Matsuyama absorbed the city of Hōjō, and town of Nakajima (from the former Onsen District).
From the History section of Matsuyama on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay45
Churches and places of worship29
Shopping65
Gas and EV charging12
Schools, colleges and libraries44
Healthcare69
Map of Matsuyama
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Matsuyama Airport (MYJ) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 6 km away.
- Masaki-chō 8 km southwest, about 8 min by car
- Haramachi 8 km south, about 8 min by car
- Iyo 11 km southwest, about 11 min by car
- Tōon 13 km southeast, about 13 min by car
- Hōjō 15 km north, about 15 min by car
- Imabari 34 km northeast, about 34 min by car
- Kure 47 km northwest, about 47 min by car
- Niihama 52 km east, about 52 min by car
- Hiroshima 69 km northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Hatsukaichi 69 km northwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Matsuyama (14074874872), redlegsfan21, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Matsuyama-shityou, Higa4, CC0
- 松山市庁舎本館(Matsuyama city main hall), 松山市役所, CC BY 4.0
- Awa Bank Matsuyama Branch, ラハール, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Matsuyama City Office - panoramio, DVMG, CC BY 3.0
- Matsuyama University1, At by At, CC0
- Ehime Prefectural University of Health Science 20240606 (1), CT-May, CC0
- Ehime University, The original uploader was Mass Ave 975 at English Wikipedia ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- 釣島灯台, 木多正, Public domain
- The Museum of Art, EHIME - panoramio (1), DVMG, CC BY 3.0
- 2023年7月-坂上之雲博物館A, 建園春秋, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Seki Museum(Matsuyama City), Jyo81 (ja:User), CC BY 3.0
- Takabatake Taisho roman, As6022014, Public domain
- Yuzukijo 11, Reggaeman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marunouchi, Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture 790-0008, Japan - panoramio (80), Masoud Akbari, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Koshozan Taihoji 03, Reggaeman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Masaoka Shiki Museum front, Tamago915 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Matsuyama Higashi, yu_gogo, Public domain
- Fuji Grand Matsuyama 20240726, CT-May, CC0
- Matsuyama Castle and Matsuyama city view, Reggaeman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 城山公園1 堀之内, 松山市役所, CC BY 4.0
- Ehime University Museum1, At by At, CC0
- Ehime Prefecture Residents Culture Hall (Matsuyama City), Jyo81, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 愛媛県立中央病院, GOXMEN5539, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ehime Prefectural Library 2021-08 ac, Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Matsuyama-kita High School, mti, Public domain
- Matsuyama Commercial High School1, At by At, CC0
- Ehime gokoku shrine, Lumi iori, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Asahihachimanjinjahaiden, 暗黒な方 (the Black One), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Shinonome Jinja(Shrine)Matsuyama City, Jyo81 (ja: User), CC BY 3.0
- Matsuyama City Hall, Horinouchi - panoramio, DVMG, CC BY 3.0
- UgAratama-elemscho, ugu, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Matsuyama Red Cross Hospital 20240514, CT-May, CC0
- 湯神社 (松山市) 拝殿, Saigen Jiro, Public domain
- Bansuiso,Matsuyama-city,Japan, katorisi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Anumi-Jinja(Shrine) Matsuyama City, Jyo81 (ja: User), CC BY 3.0
- Yugunjinjahaiden, 暗黒な方 (the Black One), CC BY-SA 3.0
- ANA Crowne Praza Matsuyama 20240509, CT-May, CC0
- St. Catherine Univ, Bakkai, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 松山城天守 (2372904566), Yamaguchi Yoshiaki from Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama Technical High School 20240504 (1), CT-May, CC0
- Ehime Prefectural Matsuyama-Minami High School 20240504, CT-May, CC0
- Josei Junior High School 20240423, CT-May, CC0
- Yugun Elementary School 20240420 (1), CT-May, CC0
Matsuyama_City.JPG){kind=link}
_%E6%8B%9D%E6%AE%BF.JPG){kind=link}
_Matsuyama_City.JPG){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
Page built November 4, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.