Japan Travel

Dogo Onsen

Matsuyama is the largest city on Shikoku and the capital of Ehime Prefecture. At the heart of the city stands Matsuyamajo, a beautiful, original castle. The castle’s hilltop vantage point offers a view of the city and a glimpse of the Seto Inland Sea.

The city is also famed for being the setting of Natsume Soseki’s popular novel, entitled “Botchan”. Often read as part of the Japanese school curriculum, the novel describes Matsuyama during the turbulentMeiji Restoration. Natsume’s novel helped make the city renowned throughout Japan.

Dogo Onsen is frequently mentioned in “Botchan” and is one of Matsuyama’s main tourist attractions. Referring to both a district northeast of the city center and a specific bath house, Dogo Onsen is one of Japan’s oldest hot spring resorts.

Dogo Onsen Honkan

Dogo Onsen is one of Japan’s oldest and most famous hot springs, located to the east of centralMatsuyama. The area is popular with tourists for its beautiful bath house and many ryokan. Dogo Onsen has also been a frequent destination for Japan’s most prestigious guests, the imperial family.

The main attraction in Dogo Onsen is the Dogo Onsen Honkan, a Meiji Period wooden public bathhouse, dating from 1894. The interior of the building is a maze of stairways, passages and rooms, all of which bustle with bathers and staff. It is said to have served as inspiration for Miyazaki’s popular animated film “Spirited Away”.

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Botchan Dango sweets

Four different bathing options provide visitors with varying levels of access to the Honkan’s facilities (see details below under “Hours and Fees”). At the lowest level, bathers can use the large, public bath called Kami no yu (”bath of the gods”).

At the other end of the spectrum, bathers have access to both the Kami no yu and the smaller Tama no yu (”bath of the spirits”), as well as to private rooms for enjoying a complementary post bath snack of botchan dango (Japanese sweets) and tea. Furthermore, they can take a look at the exclusive bathing facilities reserved for visiting Emperors.

In front of Dogo Onsen Honkan, a covered arcade is filled with gift shops and snack stores. It stays open late to serve ryokan guests who come out for evening walks in their yukata. Nearby, the Shiki Museum displays information on one of Matsuyama’s most celebrated figure, Masaoka Shiki, who introduced modern haiku poetry.

How to get there

Dogo Onsen is a four minute walk from Dogo Onsen Station, the terminus of three tram lines. From JR Matsuyama Station, take tram line 5 (20 minutes, 150 yen). From Matsuyama-shi Station, take tram line 3 (15 minutes, 150 yen).

Information by http://www.japan-guide.com