Ainan, Ehime
Encyclopedia
is a large town made up of smaller village suburbs in southern Ehime Prefecture
, on the island of Shikoku
in Japan
.
On October 1, 2004 all the former towns of Minamiuwa
(Jōhen
, Mishō
, Nishiumi
, Uchiumi
, and Ipponmatsu
) merged together to form a larger town, Ainan.
Ainan is known for its fishing and agriculture industries which produce a variety of products, including bonito
, red snapper
, squid
, and mikan
oranges. In addition, Kanjizaiji
is located in Ainan. Kanjizaiji is a Shingon Buddhist temple and one of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage
.
Ainan is located between the mountains of southern Ehime and the Pacific Ocean, on the border with Kochi prefecture
. As a result, winters in Ainan are relatively mild. It's rare to see snow in most parts of the town, though flurries may be seen several times a year. The rainy season runs from June to July, with some yearly variation. The rest of summer is hot and humid, with infrequent rain showers.
The Sozu river runs though Ainan and is often a site for fishing, bike rides, and picnics for the local residents.
Due to its rural location, Ainan is home to several nature parks and offers scuba diving and glass-bottom boat rides to nearby Kashima island. However, there are no train lines that run to the city, making it a difficult place for tourists to visit.
A variety of festivals are celebrated in Ainan, including Ainan Tairyo Matsuri in May, Natsu Matsuri (Summer festival), Obon
, and Aki Matsuri.
During the Obon festival, Japan's equivalent of All Souls' Day, family members from all over Japan return to their family homes in Ainan to remember the souls of the dead. The festival is celebrated all over town, from the larger parts of Misho to the smallest villages in Nishiumi. In the evening, torches and lanterns can be seen along the seashore where the towns are gathering.
Aki Matsuri (fall festival) is a major event throughout the town. Townspeople gather and celebrate by drinking and watching mikoshi
, heavy portable shrines which are carried by townsmen. Ainan's fall festivals often feature an ushi-oni, or cow demon, a large float which is pitted against other mikoshi in shrine fights.
and Matsuyama
. The nearest trains lines are to the north, in Uwajima, or to the south, in Sukumo
. For travel to further destinations, Johen bus center offers a limited selection of overnight buses to Osaka and Tokyo.
In addition, Ainan can be reached by Japanese route 56, which runs around the island of Shikoku
and through the cities of Matsuyama and Kochi.
Ehime Prefecture
is a prefecture in northwestern Shikoku, Japan. The capital is Matsuyama.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, Ehime prefecture was known as Iyo Province...
, on the island of Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
On October 1, 2004 all the former towns of Minamiuwa
Minamiuwa District, Ehime
The is a district located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan. As of 2004, the estimated population is 28,100 and the total area is 239.54 km².The district includes one town.*Ainan-History:...
(Jōhen
Johen, Ehime
was a town located in Minamiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Jōhen was merged with the towns of Ipponmatsu, Mishō and Nishiumi, and the village of Uchiumi, all from Minamiuwa District, to form the new town of Ainan....
, Mishō
Misho, Ehime
was a town located in Minamiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Mishō was merged with the towns of Ipponmatsu, Jōhen and Nishiumi, and the village of Uchiumi, all from Minamiuwa District, to form the new town of Ainan....
, Nishiumi
Nishiumi, Ehime
was a town located in Minamiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Ipponmatsu was merged with the towns of Ipponmatsu, Jōhen and Mishō, and the village of Uchiumi, all from Minamiuwa District, to form the new town of Ainan....
, Uchiumi
Uchiumi, Ehime
was a village located in Minamiuwa District, Ehime, Japan. Pearl culturing flourishes here, as Uchiumi produces the highest pearl output in Japan....
, and Ipponmatsu
Ipponmatsu, Ehime
was a town located in Minamiuwa District, Ehime, Japan.On October 1, 2004 Ipponmatsu was merged with the towns of Jōhen, Mishō and Nishiumi, and the village of Uchiumi, all from Minamiuwa District, to form the new town of Ainan....
) merged together to form a larger town, Ainan.
Ainan is known for its fishing and agriculture industries which produce a variety of products, including bonito
Bonito
Bonito is a name given to various species of medium-sized, predatory fish in the Scombridae family. First, bonito most commonly refers to species in the genus Sarda, including the Atlantic bonito and the Pacific bonito ; second, in Japanese cuisine, bonito refers to the skipjack tuna , which, in...
, red snapper
Red Snapper
Red Snapper may refer to:Fish:* Several species from the genus Lutjanus, for example the red snapper .* Several species from the genus Sebastes, for example the vermilion rockfish and yelloweye rockfish Red Snapper may refer to:Fish:* Several species from the genus Lutjanus, for example the red...
, squid
Squid
Squid are cephalopods of the order Teuthida, which comprises around 300 species. Like all other cephalopods, squid have a distinct head, bilateral symmetry, a mantle, and arms. Squid, like cuttlefish, have eight arms arranged in pairs and two, usually longer, tentacles...
, and mikan
Mikan
The satsuma is a seedless and easy-peeling citrus mutant of Japanese origin introduced to the West.In Japan, it is known as mikan or formally unshu mikan . In China, it is known as Wenzhou migan . The Japanese name is a result of the local reading of the same characters used in the Chinese...
oranges. In addition, Kanjizaiji
Kanjizaiji
Kanjizaiji is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Ainan-cho , Minamiuwa District, Ehime, Japan. It is number 40 of the 88 temples in the Shikoku Pilgrimage.Ji means temple in Japanese...
is located in Ainan. Kanjizaiji is a Shingon Buddhist temple and one of the 88 temples on the Shikoku Pilgrimage
Shikoku Pilgrimage
The or is a multi-site pilgrimage of 88 temples associated with the Buddhist monk Kūkai on the island of Shikoku, Japan. A popular and distinctive feature of the island's cultural landscape, and with a long history, large numbers of pilgrims still undertake the journey for a variety of ascetic,...
.
Geography and climate
Kochi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the south coast of Shikoku. The capital is the city of Kōchi.- History :Prior to the Meiji Restoration, Kōchi was known as Tosa Province and was controlled by the Chosokabe clan in the Sengoku period and the Yamauchi family during the Edo period.- Geography...
. As a result, winters in Ainan are relatively mild. It's rare to see snow in most parts of the town, though flurries may be seen several times a year. The rainy season runs from June to July, with some yearly variation. The rest of summer is hot and humid, with infrequent rain showers.
The Sozu river runs though Ainan and is often a site for fishing, bike rides, and picnics for the local residents.
Due to its rural location, Ainan is home to several nature parks and offers scuba diving and glass-bottom boat rides to nearby Kashima island. However, there are no train lines that run to the city, making it a difficult place for tourists to visit.
Festivals
Obón
Obón is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 75 inhabitants....
, and Aki Matsuri.
During the Obon festival, Japan's equivalent of All Souls' Day, family members from all over Japan return to their family homes in Ainan to remember the souls of the dead. The festival is celebrated all over town, from the larger parts of Misho to the smallest villages in Nishiumi. In the evening, torches and lanterns can be seen along the seashore where the towns are gathering.
Aki Matsuri (fall festival) is a major event throughout the town. Townspeople gather and celebrate by drinking and watching mikoshi
Mikoshi
A is a divine palanquin . Shinto followers believe that it serves as the vehicle to transport a deity in Japan while moving between main shrine and temporary shrine during a festival or when moving to a new shrine...
, heavy portable shrines which are carried by townsmen. Ainan's fall festivals often feature an ushi-oni, or cow demon, a large float which is pitted against other mikoshi in shrine fights.
Travel
Travel to Ainan is hindered by the lack of train lines, though Johen bus center offers express buses to UwajimaUwajima, Ehime
is a city located in Ehime, Japan. In 1595, what is now Uwajima was known as Itajima village. Takatora Tohdo became lord of the Uwa region, and ordered the restoration of Marugushi Castle...
and Matsuyama
Matsuyama, Ehime
is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku island of Japan. It is located on the northeastern portion of the Dōgo Plain. Its name means "pine mountain." The city was founded on December 15, 1889....
. The nearest trains lines are to the north, in Uwajima, or to the south, in Sukumo
Sukumo, Kochi
is a city located in Kōchi Prefecture, Japan.As of April 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 22,802, with 10,237 households and a population density of 79.70 persons per km². The total area is 286.11 km².The city was founded on March 31, 1954....
. For travel to further destinations, Johen bus center offers a limited selection of overnight buses to Osaka and Tokyo.
In addition, Ainan can be reached by Japanese route 56, which runs around the island of Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
and through the cities of Matsuyama and Kochi.