Imabari City

Sea-purified boys ride up the approach.

Otomo-uma run, Kamo Shrine

01 ／ Amasaki Castle Ruins (甘崎城跡)

From the shore to the seabed,38 stone walls, large and small, are confirmed.

The ruins of a naval sea castle on Furushiro Island (古城島) in the Hanaguri Strait (鼻栗瀬戸), near the east coast of Ōmishima, and a prefecturally designated historic site. The whole island is the castle site, thought to measure about 300 m east–west and 80 m north–south. The rocks hold many post holes thought to be mooring facilities.

Stone walls: 38 in all, large and small, about 500 m in total (prefecture)
Prefectural historic site (April 16, 1976)
Lords named in records: Murakami Michiyasu, Imaoka Minbu, Murakami Yoshitsugu (prefecture)

02 ／ Noma Horse (野間馬)

Horses shorter than 4 shaku were to begiven to farmers free of charge.

In 1635 the lord of Imabari, ordered by his elder brother the lord of Matsuyama, raised war horses on Umashima, but it did not last, so the work passed to farmers in Noma district. Tall horses were bought up; short ones were given away free. The small Noma horse is said to have come from breeding those short horses.

Horses taller than 4 shaku (about 121 cm) were bought up (Noma Horse Preservation Society)
Recognized as the 8th native Japanese horse in 1985 (same)
Prefectural natural monument (February 17, 2026)

03 ／ Three Buildings by Kenzo Tange (丹下建築の3棟)

Three buildings in a U-shape,opening their outdoor space as a civic plaza.

The main city hall and the public hall date from 1958, the civic center from 1965, all designed by Kenzo Tange. The three buildings were selected by Docomomo Japan. The city aims to have all three registered as nationally registered tangible cultural properties.

Public hall and main city hall: 1958; civic center: 1965 (city document)
Selected by Docomomo Japan (same)
Aiming for national registration (mayor, March 2026)

Living here

Spanning a peninsula and islands, a varied landscape.

about 150,000 people

The city's relocation site describes the city, spanning the Takanawa Peninsula and the Geiyo Islands, as plains, mountains, and an island area crossed by the Shimanami Kaido. Towels, which began in 1894, and shipbuilding are introduced as its main industries.

People living here: 151,672people
Area: 419.21km²
Households: 68,328households
Rent (average for rentals): 41,856yen
Healthcare: 28 hospitals ／ 109 clinics

Area and habitable land at the same scalee-Stat B1101 / B1103

Population from 2005 onward (municipal boundary changed).2005-01-16 に合併。2005年調査から市域が変わっている。

Children waiting for childcare: —34 nurseries and similar
Home purchase subsidy: —
Average annual temperature: —

These 3 items are waiting on a nationwide data source. We do not fill them with estimates.

ACCESS

Where you can go from here.

Imabari City in Japan34.066°N 132.998°E

to OsakaHighway bus350min
to ShibuyaOvernight bus710min

Travel times follow せとうちバス公式『今治〜神戸・大阪線いしづちライナー』（運行会社は瀬戸内運輸、共同運行は阪神バス。2025年10月1日改正の運賃表つき）の時刻表と、『今治〜東京線パイレーツ』（瀬戸内運輸と東急バス）の時刻表。**大阪**：下りの表で、大阪梅田（ハービス大阪）発→今治駅前着は、1便 8:00→13:50、4便 13:00→18:50、5便 15:00→20:50。3便ともに350分。**渋谷**：下り渋谷マークシティ5F 20:20発→今治駅前 8:10着＝710分（20:20から24:00までの220分＋8:10の490分）。 (checked 2026-09-30). They vary by time of day.

Shape

Borders 4 municipalities across 1 prefectures.

Territory of Imabari City

Boundaries: National Land Numerical Information (N03)

North to south

44.1km

Ehime Prefecture: 松山市, 西条市, 東温市
Hiroshima Prefecture: 尾道市

Imabari City isthis kind of town.

01At Kamo Shrine in Kikuma, Imabari, the autumn festival on the third Sunday of October features the "Otomo-uma Hashirikomi" (お供馬の走り込み, the "Otomo-uma run"): boys ride decorated horses along a track of about 300 m from the torii gate to the shrine. The riders purify themselves in the sea from seven days before, and the event is a prefectural intangible folk cultural property.
02Amasaki Castle is the ruin of a sea castle on Furushiro Island, and the Noma horse is a native breed raised in Noma. The city hall, public hall, and civic center designed by Kenzo Tange stand in a U-shape.
03The city spans the Shikoku side and the islands linked by the Shimanami Kaido. The islands include Noshima (能島), a home base of the Murakami Kaizoku, part of a Japan Heritage story, and Imabari is also known for towels and shipbuilding.

If something caught your eye, ask the town itself.

Imabari City official site ↗Wikipedia ↗