 In 2012, a research group from the University of Tokyo and Ehime University said they had discovered rare earth deposits in Matsuyama.Located in the northwestern part of Shikoku, Ehime faces the Seto Inland Sea to the north and is bordered by Kagawa and Tokushima in the east and Kōchi in the south.The prefecture includes both high mountains in the inland region and a long coastline, with many islands in the Seto Inland Sea.