Best Hot Spring In Ehime

700,000 tourists visit Dogo Onsen a year. Besides bathing in the Dogo Onsen Main Building, which is a national important cultural property, you can enjoy walking around the town wearing a yukata and touching the thoughts of ancestors in the town of literature and haiku.

The History of Digo Onsen

The oldest hot spring in Japan that has been loved by many celebrities including Soseki Natsume

Dogo Onsen is said to have opened about 3000 years ago, making it the oldest hot spring in Japan.

Prince Shotoku praised Dogo Onsen as “Tenjukoku (heaven)” and it is also appeared in “Kojiki” and “Nihonshoki”. This onsen has been so loved by many celebrities since ancient times that it appears in Natsume Soseki’s novel “Botchan“.

The smooth hot springs have a reputation as “Bijin no Yu (water for beauty)”. You can fully enjoy it at two outdoor hot springs including the Dogo Onsen main building, as well as footbaths and handbaths that are available for free.

Where Is Dogo Onsen Located?

Great accessibility

Dogo Onsen is located in the center of Matsuyama City, about 20 minutes by tram from JR Matsuyama Station and about 10 minutes by bus or tram from Matsuyama Castle. It takes about 40 minutes by bus from Matsuyama Airport to Dogo Onsen.

Furthermore, you can reach Dogo Onsen Station by the retro “Botchan Train”, which is a duplicate of the steam locomotive that Natsume Soseki wrote in his novel “Botchan” as “a train like a matchbox”, from the tram stops such as JR Matsuyama Station on the Iyo Railway, Matsuyama City Station, and Okaido.

The Symbol Of Dogo Onsen

Dogo Onsen Main Building

The current Dogo Onsen Main Building, which sits in the center of the Dogo Onsen town, is a public bath that was established in 1894.

The building designed by castle carpenter Matahachiro Sakamoto has a profound appearance with a wooden three-story tower and a tower, which were considered to be rare even at that time. In 1994, it was designated as a national important cultural property for the first time in Japan as the current public bath.

As a result of continuous expansions and renovations from the Meiji era to the early Showa era, the hall has a complex structure of narrow passages and steep stairs, creating a labyrinth-like atmosphere.

There are 4 bathing courses that combine 2 types of bathrooms and 3 types of break rooms. You can enjoy from the bathtub to the faucet water of the washing place because all water used here comes directly from the source without any processing.

The appearance of the building in the daytime is beautiful, but that at night when the surrounding gas lights are lit and the entire building emerges brightly is also exceptional.

A New Bathhouse Reminiscent Of The Asuka Period

“Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka no Yusen” Grand Opening!

A new hot spring facility “Dogo Onsen Annex Asukanoyu” opened in February 2017 at Dogo Onsen. Same as the Dogo Onsen Main Building, it offers “Bijin no Yu (water for beauty)” as well. It also features a bathhouse reminiscent of the Asuka period, such as the visit of Prince Shotoku in 596 and the story of Emperor Saimei in 661.

☆ Asukano Yuizumi won the “2018 Good Design Award (sponsored by Japan Institute of Design Promotion)”
The combination of the appearance reminiscent of the Asuka period and the traditional crafts of Ehime and the creation of the public space in the courtyard were highly evaluated.

Other Spots Where You Can Enjoy Dogo Hot Spring

Open-air hot spring bath

There are various bathing facilities where you can enjoy the famous hot springs of Dogo, such as outdoor baths, footbaths (free), and one-day bathing facilities. Why don’t you fully enjoy the hot spring paradise, Dogo?

Wandering around Dogo Onsen Town After The Bath

Many tourist spots are within walking distance

In adition to many shrines and temples around the Dogo Onsen main building, a shopping street full of hot spring gourmet food and souvenirs, and a museum unique to the town of literature and haiku gather within walking distance, so don’t mis them after the bath.