ABOUT
About this spot
Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, is counted among Japan's Three Ancient Hot Springs and is Japan's oldest hot spring area, with a history of more than 3,000 years that is even mentioned in the Manyoshu. Its symbol, "Dogo Onsen Honkan," is a historic three-story wooden building constructed in 1894 and was the first public bathhouse in Japan to be designated a national Important Cultural Property. After conservation and repair work lasting about five and a half years, it reopened fully in July 2024. The renewed interior, the tour of the imperial family's private bath "Yushinden," and the atmospheric space that served as the setting of Natsume Soseki's novel "Botchan" captivate visitors. Around it are also scattered other public baths, such as "Asuka-no-Yu Spa," where traditional crafts blend with cutting-edge art, and "Tsubaki-no-Yu," beloved by local residents. Changing into a yukata and strolling "Dogo Haikara Street" while enjoying the local Botchan dumplings and Dogo beer is a pleasure unique to this place. At night, lights like gas lamps illuminate the town, wrapping it in a magical atmosphere as if you had traveled back in time. Whether you soak in history at a leisurely pace on a solo trip or spend a healing moment with friends or someone special, spend a special holiday at Dogo Onsen that refreshes both body and mind.
Last updated March 26, 2026