Seiyo, Ehime

Seiyo
西予市
City

Flag

Location of Seiyo in Ehime Prefecture
Seiyo

Location in Japan

Coordinates: 33°22′N 132°31′E / 33.367°N 132.517°E / 33.367; 132.517Coordinates: 33°22′N 132°31′E / 33.367°N 132.517°E / 33.367; 132.517
Country Japan
Region Shikoku
Prefecture Ehime Prefecture
Government
 • Mayor Kanji Miyoshi (since April 2004)
Area
 • Total 514.78 km2 (198.76 sq mi)
Population (February 1, 2012)
 • Total 42,600
 • Density 83/km2 (210/sq mi)
Symbols
 • Tree Japanese beech (山毛欅 buna)
 • Flower Chinese milkvetch (蓮華草 rengesō)
 • Bird Japanese bush warbler (鶯 uguisu)
Time zone Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
City hall address 3-434-1 Unomachi, Uwachō, Seiyo-shi, Ehime-ken
797-8501
Website www.city.seiyo.ehime.jp/english

Seiyo (西予市 Seiyo-shi) is a city located in Ehime Prefecture, Japan.

On February 1, 2012, the city has an estimated population of 42,600 and a population density of 83 persons per km². The total area is 514.78 km².

The modern city of Seiyo was established on April 1, 2004, from the merger of the towns of Akehama, Nomura, Shirokawa and Uwa (all from Higashiuwa District), and the town of Mikame (from Nishiuwa District).

Attractions

A small waterfall of Kannon Spring Water
Castle Land

Kannon Spring Water

In the former town of Uwa there is a natural spring, the water of which is known as Kannon Spring Water (観音水 Kannon-sui). This water was designated as one of Japan's 100 best water sources (名水百選 meisui hyakusen) by the Ministry of the Environment in March 1985. Hiking trails along the spring's mountain rivers are a popular destination in the summertime. The spring is also used for somen nagashi (そうめん流し), a Japanese cuisine where bundles of cold somen noodles are set into a stream of water that flows down a track, with hungry patrons waiting alongside.

Otoi Sumo

The former town of Nomura, now a part of Seiyo, holds an annual sumo competition for children and amateur adults known as the Otoi Sumo (乙亥大相撲 Otoi ōzumō) Tournament. It is held after the Kyushu basho and usually attracts a few professional sumo wrestlers.

Castle Land

A wealthy eccentric built a castle on the side of a mountain near the Nomura Dam in the former town of Nomura. It was originally a retreat for parties, complete with overnight lodging facilities. It never achieved any measure of popularity, and the owner eventually donated it to the city of Seiyo. It now lies uninhabited and largely unused.

Museums

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