Matsuyama Airport is located in Ehime’s biggest city Matsuyama, about 15 minutes by car from the city center. Direct domestic flights to Ehime are available from most major destinations across Japan. Flights take less than an hour-and-a-half from Tokyo and less than an hour from Itami (near Osaka). International flights connect Ehime with Seoul and Busan in South Korea, and Taipei in Taiwan.

An extensive ferry network provides convenient connections to Ehime from destinations across western Japan. The Super Jet connects Hiroshima and Ehime in a little over an hour. Orange Ferry and Uwajima Unyu operate services between Oita in eastern Kyushu and Yawatahama in southern Ehime, and journeys take less than 3 hours. Matsuyama-Kokura Ferry operates an overnight service between Fukuoka in northern Kyushu and Matsuyama in Ehime. For travelers departing from Osaka, Orange Ferry offers an overnight service arriving the next morning in Saijo in eastern Ehime.

Ehime is a major cycling destination, with the Shimanami Kaido ranking among Japan’s most popular cycling routes. The 70-km scenic route connects Hiroshima and Ehime via six islands and seven bridges. There are cycling facilities along the route from Onomichi in Hiroshima to Imabari in eastern Ehime. They include rental and repair outlets, bike tour operators, and cyclist cafes and accommodations.

Trains connect destinations in Ehime with cities across Shikoku, and with Honshu via Okayama. You can use JR Rail Passes on JR-operated services, including the JR Sanyo Shinkansen line between Osaka and Fukuoka via Okayama. From Okayama, you can board a JR Shiokaze Limited Express service to Matsuyama. This train route crosses the Seto-Ohashi Bridge and makes several stops in Kagawa Prefecture before arriving in Ehime. The journey typically takes around 2 hours and 40 minutes.

Express buses offer a cost-effective means to travel to and from Ehime. These services operate from popular destinations such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Kobe, Fukuoka, Nagoya, and Yokohama. Most serve Matsuyama, the prefecture’s main transport hub. Tickets can be reserved in advance and purchased online as well as at convenience stores, travel agencies, and bus stations.

A car frees you from public transport schedules and allows you to make impromptu stops on your way to Ehime. Accessing the island of Shikoku is straightforward, with several expressway routes spanning bridges over the Seto Inland Sea. For direct entry into Ehime Prefecture, consider taking the Nishiseto Expressway from Onomichi in Hiroshima. Alternatively, you can take routes from Okayama via Kagawa Prefecture, or from Kobe via Awaji Island and Tokushima Prefecture. Journey times will depend on traffic and other factors, but typically, the drive from Onomichi to Matsuyama takes around 2 hours without breaks.