On Sunday, November 16, 2025, the “Shimanami Bus Tour with International Students from Three Ehime Universities” was held. This tour is one of the projects of the University Consortium Ehime International Exchange Support Subcommittee, and its purpose is to help international students gain a deeper understanding of Ehime and to stimulate exchange among international students in the prefecture. On the day of the tour, 39 international students from Ehime University, Matsuyama University, and St. Catherine’s University participated, hailing from the United States, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, Korea, Guinea, Colombia, Zimbabwe, Taiwan, China, Nigeria, Bangladesh, the Philippines, France, Brazil, and Romania.
First, the international students visited Saikito-ya in Imabari City to see the direct sales of agricultural products and other goods. After the tour, they enjoyed delicacies, cakes, breads, etc. made from locally produced ingredients.
Next, the group moved to the Murakami Kaizoku Museum, where they watched an explanatory video about the footsteps of the Murakami pirates and viewed the exhibits. At the hands-on corner, participants were able to try on armor and kosode (sleeveless kimono) to feel the atmosphere of the time.
The students then moved to the Kamereoyama Observatory to enjoy the view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge and the Imabari city. The international students took pictures of each other and captured their memories of Imabari.
At the end of the tour, we stopped at the Kurushima Kaikyo Service Area and bought souvenirs for our family and friends in our home countries at the store. They also bought mikan oranges and towels as souvenirs for themselves, enjoying the tour to the fullest.
International students who participated in the event said, “It was good to be able to visit places I would not have had the chance to visit on my own. I was able to make friends with international students and enjoyed eating a lot of delicious food. I would definitely like to participate again next time.
This tour provided an opportunity for international students to deepen exchanges with each other and rediscover the charms of Ehime Prefecture by visiting regions in Ehime that are not easily accessible by individuals.
＜Institute for International Relations＞