Located in the northwestern part of Shikoku, Ehime faces the Seto inland sea to the north and is bordered by Kagawa and Tokushima in the east and Kochi in the south.
The rural areas of the prefecture mostly engage in agricultural and fishing industires, and are particularly known for citrus fruit such as mikan (tangerine) and iyokan and cultured pearls.
Ehime is said to physically resemble the shape of a Tiger, but one of the most famous symbols for the prefecture is the Mikan, or mandarin orange, which grow in abundance near many seaside communities.
Its capital, Matsuyama, is the largest city on Shikoku, with a population of over 500,000 and an abundance of historical and cultural resources such as the famous Matsuyama Castle and Dogo Hot Spring Spa, the oldest bathing area in Japan.
Ehime, which sounds feminine to Japanese ears and literally means "beautiful maiden", is blessed by a mild climate with an average low of 5.3degrees C (42degrees F)in January and an average high of 27degrees C(81degrees F)in August.
Iyo, the old name for Ehime, is said to have first appeared as the name for the island of Shikoku in the "Kojiki" (Record of Ancient Matters) and the "Nihon Shoki" (Chronicles of Japan), both written in the early eighth century.
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