Introducing places of interest: Setonaikai National Park (Ehime Prefecture)
- Live Images of National Parks and Wildlife
(Internet Nature Information System) 
The Kurushima Strait
Geiyo Islands
[Sunset as seen from
Kirosan Observatory]
Consisting of hundreds of islands and islets, the Geiyo Islands are situated between Hiroshima Prefecture and Ehime Prefecture. The characters comprising this name come from the old provincial names corresponding to these two prefectures (Aki Province for Hiroshima and Iyo Province for Ehime).
Mt. Sekizen on Iwagijima, Mt. Tateishi on Ikinajima, Mt. Washigato on Omishima, Mt. Hokosan and Mt. Hiraki on Hakatajima, Mt. Kiro on Oshima, and other locations in the Geiyo Islands (belonging to Ehime Prefecture) have been designated as belonging to the Setonaikai National Park.
Omishima is known as the island of the deity enshrined at Oyamazumi Jinja Shrine. Mt. Tateishi on Ikinajima is the site of a nature-integrated park called Sound Hakanda.
Observatories on Mt. Hiraki and Mt. Kiro offer excellent vantage points from which to observe the Tajima Sea, Kurushima Strait (known for its tidal currents), Funaore-Seto, Hanakuri-Seto, and other places of interest.
Takanawa Peninsula
[Hiuchinada as seen from
Setouchi-Toyo National Park
Resort Village]
Takanawa Peninsula is a peninsula located in the center of Ehime in the northwest corner of Shikoku. The Itsukinada and Kurushima straits pass through its western and northern sections while the eastern section of the peninsula faces Hiuchinada.
Matsuyama City is located in the western section, Imabari City is located in the northern section, and Saijo City is located in the eastern section. Places designated as belonging to the Setonaikai National Park dot the peninsula.
Such places include the Sakurai Coast, Karako Beach, Kamoike Coast, and Hashi Beach (all famous for being the sites of pine-wooded sandy beaches), as well as Mt. Chikami (which commands a distant view of Okadohana and the Seto Inland Sea) and Mt. Seta and Mt. Kasamatsu (where medieval mountain castles were built).
Toyo Facility Complex Area in the cities of Imabari and Saijo have been developed to allow visitors to enjoy resort-type experiences at Setouchi-Toyo National Park Resort Village, campgrounds, and sea-bathing areas.
Central Ehime
[Mt. Izushi]
Among the locations in central Ehime that have been designated as belonging to the Setonailai National Park are Gogoshima Island and the Kutsuna Islands, which are situated in the western part of Matsuyama City, and Mt. Izushi, which lies on the border between the cities of Yawatahama and Ozu.
Gogoshima is an island situated offshore in Matsuyama Bay. A slightly elevated peak in the southern part of the island is referred to as Mt. Kofuji for its graceful shape. This peak serves as a landmark for ships plying Setouchi routes as they head towards port in Matsuyama.
Shussekiji Temple, which is affiliated with the Shingon sect of Buddhism, stands on Mt. Izushi. Dense woods occupy the spacious precinct grounds. The peak also commands views of the Ishizuchi Mountain Range and the Seto Inland Sea.
Cape Sada
[Cape Sada]
The Cape Sada at the end of the Sadamisaki Peninsula has been designated a part of the Setonaikai National Park. The cape points to Saganoseki Peninsula in Kyushu. These two peninsulas bracket the Hoyo Strait (Hayasui-no-Seto) at the narrowest part of the Bungo Channel. Standing at the tip of the Sadamisaki Peninsula is Sadamisaki Lighthouse (18 meters tall and a focal plane of 49 meters).
While constituting an important location for marine traffic, the area is also famous for being one of the most dangerous places to pass in the region on account of the presence of Ogonbae and numerous other reef formations.