ABOUT
About this spot
Dogo Onsen Honkan, in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, is the symbol of Dogo Onsen, Japan's oldest hot spring town, said to have a 3,000-year history. The substantial three-story wooden building, built in the 27th year of Meiji, is designated a national Important Cultural Property, and stepping in, you are wrapped in a nostalgic atmosphere as if you had traveled back in time. In July 2024, the long preservation and repair work was completed and the entire building reopened. In addition to the "Kami no Yu" on the first floor, you can also visit the second-floor rest rooms and "Yushinden," the bathing chamber exclusive to the imperial family. The "Botchan no Ma," associated with Natsume Soseki, is a must-see spot for fans. The hot spring is 100% free-flowing from the source, with no heating or water added at all. The smooth water that blends into your skin gently soothes the fatigue of daily life. After bathing, strolling the nearby Haikara-dori (shopping street) or gazing at the fantastical illuminated building is part of the fun. Whether with family or friends, or as a reward to yourself on a solo trip, please spend a supreme time where history and culture live on.
Last updated March 29, 2026