Livability Report
ImabariLivability Score
Ehime·Pop. 141,567
Imabari lies in the northeast of Ehime Prefecture, near the center of the Seto Inland Sea, spanning the Takanawa Peninsula and the Geiyo Islands. The city consists of a plain with the central district, mountain areas, and islands linked by the Shimanami Kaido and Tobishima Kaido bridges. The Iyo provincial office was placed here in the 7th century, and the Murakami pirates rose to power in the medieval period. In 1600 Todo Takatora built Imabari Castle and its castle town, and the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira Imabari domain governed until 1869. Right after becoming a city, Imabari developed its port into Shikoku's first open port, and grew on port commerce and the core industries of towels, sewing, and shipbuilding.
Published 2026-11-10 · Data updated 2026-11-10
Where in Japan
Overall Score
46.5
59.1
51.9
50.2
42.1* These scores are based on statistical analysis of public data and do not represent a definitive assessment of any area. Actual livability varies depending on individual values and lifestyle.
5-axis scores
Safety46.5Cost59.1Convenience51.9Welfare50.2Economy42.1Basic Information
Population
141,567
Prefecture
Ehime
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
From a castle-town port to a town of towels and ships
Yuki
What history shaped this town into what it is today?
Alex
I think of towels when I hear Imabari. Why did they start making them here?
Yuki
The city has many islands. How are they connected to Honshu?
Kai
The urban core dates to 1600, when Todo Takatora built Imabari Castle and its castle town. Imabari became a city in 1920 by merging with Hiyoshi village, then developed its harbor into Shikoku's first open port. Imabari Port was designated an open port in 1922 and marked its centenary in February 2022. It remains a city-managed major port.
Reported penal code offenses are at an average level among major municipalities
Alex
How should I think about safety here? What do the numbers tell us?
Yuki
Does that figure directly show how much danger residents face?
Kai
According to the Ehime Prefectural Police 2024 crime statistics report, Imabari recorded 860 penal code offenses in 2024, or 6.07 per 1,000 residents using the 2025 census population. For offenses, that is an average level among Japan's major municipalities, and the safety score is 46.5. Municipal figures for 2025 are not yet published, so 2024 values are used.
Rent is on the lower side, with housing subsidies for newcomers
Alex
How much should I budget for housing?
Yuki
Averages aside, doesn't it vary a lot by location?
Alex
Is there any housing support for people moving in from outside?
Kai
In the 2026 official land price survey, the average residential land price is 36,796 yen per square meter, an average level among Japan's major municipalities for land prices. In the 2023 Housing and Land Survey, average monthly rent is 41,950 yen, lower than the median of Japan's major municipalities for rent. Lower values favor residents; the cost score is 59.1.
Shop density is on the higher side, yet shopping access is a survey concern
Alex
Are there many shops and restaurants, or do you need to drive far?
Yuki
With so many shops, I hear residents still feel it is inconvenient. Is that true?
Alex
So how should I read the score? Doesn't it clash with how people feel?
Kai
The 2021 Economic Census counts 1,441 retail establishments, or 10.18 per 1,000 residents using the 2025 census population, and 851 restaurants, or 6.01 per 1,000. Both retail and restaurants are higher than the median of Japan's major municipalities. A shopping street runs from the port to Imabari Station since before the merger, and Aeon Mall Imabari Shintoshi opened in 2016.
Hospitals and clinics are average, school density is on the lower side
Alex
Are there enough hospitals and clinics? I worry about sudden illness.
Yuki
What kind of support is in place for families raising children?
Alex
How about schools? Isn't commuting hard if you live on an island?
Kai
The 2023 Survey of Medical Institutions counts 28 hospitals and 109 general clinics, or 9.68 facilities per 10,000 residents, an average level among Japan's major municipalities for medical facilities. The city's relocation guide lists emergency hospitals, including Ehime Prefectural Imabari Hospital and Saiseikai Imabari Hospital. Facility counts are divided by population and do not show specialties or ease of access.
Income is average, and more people leave than arrive
Yuki
What is the city like as a place to work?
Alex
Is the population growing or shrinking?
Yuki
What reasons do people who want to stay give?
Kai
In the 2025 municipal tax assessment survey, taxable income per taxpayer is 3,255,068 yen, an average level among Japan's major municipalities for income. The city adopted the Imabari Maritime City Development Vision in 2025, and the international maritime exhibition Bari-Ship was held the same year. The maritime industry is clearly positioned as the town's backbone.
The gap between registered and actual residents
Alex
Is the number of registered residents the same as the number actually living here?
Yuki
Is this value part of the score? Does it affect daily life?
Kai
The 2025 census population is 141,567, and the resident register population as of January 1, 2026 is 145,611. Dividing the former by the latter gives a residency rate of 97.2%, which for residency is lower than the median of Japan's major municipalities. Some people keep their registration while living elsewhere, such as those who left for school or work.
Who this city suits
Families with children
The Imabari version of Neuvola handles parenting consultations from pregnancy in a single division, and rent is on the lower side. A point to watch is school density, which is on the lower side per habitable area. Island commutes may use the Shimanami Kaido, so check the route from a candidate address to school and whether the travel subsidy applies.
Young singles
Retail and restaurant density is on the higher side, with a shopping street from the port to the station and Imabari yakitori culture. A point to watch is getting around, as the share commuting by rail or bus is on the lower side. Without a car, live near a JR Yosan Line station or bus route and check the public transport map, including ferries and on-demand services.
Seniors
Hospitals and clinics per 10,000 residents are at an average level, and the city's guide lists emergency hospitals. A point to watch is transport to appointments, since bus and taxi staffing shortages are a recognized issue and on-demand transport covers only some areas. Check how you would reach a prospective doctor and the assumed inundation and landslide zones in advance.
Remote workers
Land prices are average and rent is on the lower side, with a trial relocation subsidy and consultation sessions. A point to watch is the gap between islands and the urban area, since shop and medical density are citywide averages. On an island, check shopping and medical routes, Shimanami Kaido tolls, and the tsunami and storm surge assumptions in the island edition of the disaster map.
Disaster risk and hazard maps
The city publishes a Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Map covering floods and inland flooding, debris flows, slope failures and landslides, earthquakes, and tsunami and storm surge, in mainland and island editions, with English, Chinese, and Vietnamese versions. The mainland edition is split into tsunami/storm surge/landslide, flood/landslide, and inland flooding/landslide maps, and the flood map shows inundation zones for the assumed maximum rainfall. The earthquake map assumes a maximum-class Nankai Trough earthquake and shows seismic intensity, building damage risk, and liquefaction risk. Inundation zones for failures of priority reservoirs appear in district-level reservoir hazard maps, and a web map shows the information online. The city directs residents to the prefecture's Ehime landslide information map for landslide warning zones. Check down to your exact street address with the city's official maps and the GSI overlay hazard map.
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Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 6.08 | 2024 |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | 36,796 | 2026 |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 41,950 | 2023 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 1.8 | 2020 |
| Retail Establishments | 1,441 | 2021 |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 10.18 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments | 851 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 6.01 | 2021 |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | 97.2 | 2025 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | 9.68 | 2023 |
| Hospitals | 28 | 2023 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 1.98 | 2023 |
| Clinics | 109 | 2023 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 7.70 | 2023 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 51 | 2024 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.360 | 2024 |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | 0.260 | 2024 |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | 3,255,068 | 2025 |
| Net Migration | -603 | 2025 |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | -0.43 | 2025 |
| Total Population | 141,567 | 2025 |
| crime_count | 860 | 2024 |
| crime_count_pref | 6,947 | 2025 |
| crime_rate_pref_per_1000 | 6 | 2025 |
| habitable_area_km2 | 196 | 2024 |
| resident_registry_population | 145,611 | 2026 |
Data sources
| Indicator | Source | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 2025 Population CensusStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Reported penal code offenses by municipalityEhime Prefectural Police | 2024 | Counted where offenses occur; per 1,000 uses the 2025 census population |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | Official land prices (National Land Numerical Information L01)Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | 2026 | Residential sites only; simple average of sites |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 2023 Housing and Land SurveyStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2023 | Monthly rent of rented housing; next survey in 2028 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 2020 Population Census (means of commuting)Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2020 | To be updated when the 2025 census commuting tables are published |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | Survey of Medical Institutions (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare | 2023 | Hospitals and clinics combined |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | School Basic Survey and habitable area (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)MEXT and Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2024 | Elementary, junior high and high schools per habitable km² |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | Survey on municipal tax assessmentMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Taxable income per taxpayer |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | Report on Internal MigrationStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | Census population ÷ resident register populationMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Resident register population as of January 1, 2026 |
Sources (24)
- Imabari City, City Overview
- Imabari City, Municipal Overview FY2025: Industry, Economy and Port
- Imabari City, Relocation and Exchange Information
- Imabari City, Central District Grand Design
- Imabari City, Neuvola Promotion Division
- Imabari City, Shimanami Kaido Toll Relief Program
- Imabari City, Public Transport Map
- Imabari City, Class 2 Driver's License Support Program
- Imabari City, Sekizen Ferry (Okamura–Imabari route)
- Imabari City, Resident and High School Student Survey Results for the Comprehensive Plan (summary)
- Imabari City, Supporting Materials for the Comprehensive Plan (survey summary)
- Koho Imabari, July 2025 issue
- Imabari City, Disaster Prevention and Hazard Maps
- Imabari City, Comprehensive Disaster Prevention Map (mainland edition)
- Imabari City, Reservoir Hazard Maps
- Ehime Prefecture, Ehime Landslide Disaster Portal
- Wikipedia (Japanese), Imabari
- MAFF, Local Cuisine: Imabari Yakitori
- Ehime Prefectural Police, Crime Statistics Overview (2024 crime statistics report, Table 22, offenses by municipality)
- Ehime Prefectural Police, 2025 Crime Overview
- Ehime Prefectural Police, 2023 Crime Statistics Report
- e-Stat, Portal Site of Official Statistics of Japan (Population Census, Housing and Land Survey, Economic Census, Survey of Medical Institutions, School Basic Survey, Report on Internal Migration)
- National Land Numerical Information, Official Land Price L01 (MLIT)
- MIC, Survey on Municipal Tax Assessment
Data years: mainly 2025 (2020–2026 by indicator)
Published 2026-11-10 · Data updated 2026-11-10