Dogo Onsen Honkan

42 Reviews
Photo: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com

Dogo Onsen, in central Matsuyama, is one of Japan's oldest hot springs with the main honkan one of the most famous locations at its very center. This wooden public bathhouse dates back to 1894 (Meiji Period) and is said to be one of the inspirations behind film director Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed Spirited Away anime.

Notice

Renovation works are being carried out until July 11, 2024. During the first phase, two baths on the first floor remain open to the public while the floors above will close. Parts of the building will be covered with scaffolding during the renovation, though it is also the intention to maintain visible parts of the exterior to minimize the impact on tourists.

The main building will be closed for 23 days from June 18 to July 10, 2024 in preparation for its full reopening on July 11, 2024. Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-yu Izumi and Dogo Onsen Tsubaki-no-yu will still be open during the temporary closure of the main building. Read More

Overview

Address

5-6 Dogoyunomachi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-0842 (Directions)

Hours

6:00 - 23:00 Open Now

Opening Hours

Monday 6:00 - 23:00
Tuesday 6:00 - 23:00
Wednesday 6:00 - 23:00
Thursday 6:00 - 23:00
Friday 6:00 - 23:00
Saturday 6:00 - 23:00
Sunday 6:00 - 23:00
Holidays 6:00 - 23:00

Phone Number

089-921-5141

Website

https://dogo.jp/en/

General Amenities

  • Restroom
  • Paid parking
  • Souvenir shop

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4 articles
Dogo Onsen Honkan

Dogo Onsen Honkan

Anonymous

Dogo Onsen is said to be the model for the bathhouse in the animation “Spirited Away”. It’s the oldest hot spring in Japan, with a history going back over 3,000 years

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Dogo Onsen

Dogo Onsen

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A visit to one of Japan's oldest hot springs, relax and ponder the lives of bathers throughout history at one of the inspirations for anime film Spirited Away

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Every March, Dogo Onsen is dressed up in lanterns and red pinstripes to celebrate its cultural history and provide a platform for the local community to get together.

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Dogo Onsen Honkan

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Reviews

Near Dogo Onsen Honkan

Dogo no Machiya café

Dogo no Machiya café

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Dogo no Machiya is a beautiful café with courtyard gardens and stylish Japanese décor. It’s ideal for breakfast, lunch, or a relaxing sit.

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Nikitatsu-An Restaurant

Nikitatsu-An Restaurant

Anonymous

The Nikitatsu-An restaurant in Dogo serves reasonably priced Japanese food to accompany the high-quality sake and beer produced in the brewery next door.

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Isaniwa Shrine

Thought to be at least 1000 years old, Isaniwa is one of Japan’s three shrines dedicated to the deity Hachiman. After climbing a long stretch of stone stairs, passing a double-story gate, a magnificent bright-red structure emerges. The architectural details are especially grand with the building’s swooping tile roofs, gold-leaf columns and ornate, cloudlike beam engravings. In addition to the spectacular architecture, there are displayed paintings of warriors and warfare (as Hachiman is the guardian of warriors and protector of Japan) and even numerous documents on Japanese mathematics. A hall of treasures features swords and armor for samurai history buffs. Other relics include animal paintings and calligraphy. Supposedly, Isaniwa Shrine originally marked the location where Emperor Chuai and Empress Jingu, who reigned in the third century AD, bathed at one of Japan’s oldest bathhouses, Dogo Onsen, now just a few hundred meters away. The shrine was moved to by the Kono samurai clan in the fourteenth century to the current location where, after conquering the stairs, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Matsuyama city. It was rebuilt in the 17th century by the Matsudaira clan; the current buildings with their great vermilion surface date from 1667. The original imperial bathers are enshrined there. Despite its age, the shrine is still buzzing with worshippers and even couples celebrating or taking pictures for their wedding. Although visitors note that the stairs are a little treacherous, the views and tranquil atmosphere only add to the experience of walking around the colonnade and absorbing a rich and long history—and if you’re lucky, observing a modern-day ceremony. If the trip does tire you out, you can always relax at Dogo Onsen at the foot of the compound.

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