Discover the region：Seiyo - Shikoku Tours - Real Japan, Real Adventure

Location

Western Shikoku facing the Uwakai Sea

Description

A rural ‘city’ made up of five towns, Seiyo extends from the Uwakai Sea in the west to the mountainous exterior of Shikoku in the west. The whole of Seiyo is a Geopark, where the economic and cultural life of the residents reflects the unique geology and geography of the region.

Attractions

Museums, beaches, watersports, sake breweries, festivals, a pilgrimage temple, hiking, caves, game meat

Accommodation

Hotels, ryokan, guesthouses, campsites

Discover the region: Seiyo

Seiyo City sits on the southern coast of Ehime Prefecture in Shikoku, where the mountains meet the Uwa Sea. Stretching from sea level to more than 1,400 meters, Seiyo is a land of dramatic contrasts — rugged ria coastline, terraced orange groves, deep green mountain plateaus and quiet river basins. The city is also home to the Shikoku Seiyo Geopark, which showcases geological features and scenic viewpoints that change with elevation and season.

Seiyo is made up of five distinctive towns, each with its own charm. Uwa is the cultural and commercial heart — visit Unomachi’s preserved merchant streets and the Uwa Rise Museum for local history. Akehama is the coastal fishing and mikan (Japanese citrus) area, famous for seaside terraces and fresh seafood. Mikame blends coastal scenery with local craft traditions and textile history. Shirokawa sits higher in the hills and offers forest trails, peaceful village life and traditional mountain agriculture. Nomura is the mountain and farmland region, prized for pastoral scenery, seasonal festivals and rural hospitality. Together these towns create a varied travel experience within one municipality.

Seiyo’s modern city structure was formed in 2004 when five towns — Akehama, Uwa, Nomura, Shirokawa and Mikame — merged to create the current municipality. The area’s history runs deeper: ancient rice-cultivation and kofun (burial mound) culture in the Uwa basin, centuries of coastal fishing and lime/stone industries, and resilient mountain communities that preserved unique crafts, festivals and folk arts. Local museums, preserved townscapes and cultural programs make it easy for visitors to connect with this layered past.

For travelers seeking off-the-beaten-path Japan, Seiyo is a gentle invitation: scenic coastal drives and cliff views, hands-on citrus and seafood experiences, quiet hikes through forested ridges, and evenings in small inns where local cuisine reflects the sea and the mountains. Whether you’re drawn to geology, history, or slow rural life, Seiyo offers a compact but richly varied palette of authentic Japanese landscapes and culture.