Matsuda River

Overview

The Matsuda River is a second-class river that flows across two prefectures, Ehime and Kochi, running about 51 kilometers in all. The water system takes its name from Matsuda, the name used within Kochi, yet within Ehime the same flow is called the Maki River or the Motogoe River. This shift of name as a single stream crosses the prefectural boundary is the river's great distinguishing trait, and it offers the pleasure of clear mountain water and the story of a current that changes its name as it descends to the sea.

Highlights

• ●The rare trait of a river that changes name at the border
• ●A second-class river of about 51 km spanning Ehime and Kochi
• ●Scenery of a clear stream descending through the hills
• ●The story of its several names: Maki, Motogoe, and Matsuda

History

As a second-class river straddling Ehime and Kochi, the Matsuda River has long been part of the life of its valley. That its name changes at the prefectural border reflects a history in which each region engaged with the river on its own terms and nurtured its own name for it. Called Maki or Motogoe on the Ehime side and Matsuda on the Kochi side, a single stream bearing several place names speaks of mountain hamlets built along the water. For details of flood-control history and river use, checking official information is recommended.

Map

32.9269, 132.7124 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Drive upstream along the river from near its mouth
2. 2Trace the flow whose name changes across the prefectural border
3. 3Rest beside the clear mountain stream and take in the view
4. 4Combine the trip with the Sukumo area in Kochi and Nanyo towns in Ehime

Did you know?

💡 That the same river is called Maki or Motogoe in Ehime and Matsuda in Kochi, changing its name each time it crosses the border, is a charm unique to this stream. As a second-class river running about 51 kilometers, it quietly links the daily life of two prefectures.

Nearby spots