This is a scene from the 3000-year history of Dogo Onsen! An egret with an injured leg started to soak in a hot spring flowing though rocks. Eventually, he healed his wound and flew away!

Dogo Onsen, located in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture is Japan’s oldest hot spring with a history of 3000 years. In Japanese mythology, when the age of gods, Okuninushi-no-Mikoto and Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto traveled to Iyo Province (current Ehime Prefecture). During the travel, Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto got sick. Okuninushi-no-Mikoto put Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto on his palms, soaked in a hot spring and Sukunahikona-no-Mikoto got well. In addition, it is said that many emperors and Imperial family member including Prince Shotoku, Emperor Keiko, Emperor Chuai, Empress Jingu, Emperor Jomei, Emperor Saimei, Emperor Tenji, Emperor Tenmu, etc. visited Dogo Onsen from the age of gods to the Asuka, Nara Period (end of 6th century to the end of 7th century). In the modern era, Dogo Onsen was loved by politicians and people of cultures such as Ito Hirobumi, Natsume Soseki, Masaoka Shiki, Yosano Akiko, Nitobe Inazo, etc.

Public bath at Dogo Onsen

There are three public baths at Dogo Onsen: “Dogo Onsen Honkan”, “Tsubaki-no-Yu” and “Annex Asuka-no-Yu”. You can enjoy taking a bath without accommodation.

Dogo Onsen Honkan

“Dogo Onsen Honkan” is a public bath and a symbolic building of Dogo Onsen. Its nickname is “Botchan Yu”. In 1895, Natsume Soseki was assigned to the former Matsuyama Junior High School in Matsuyama City as an English teacher. And he came to “Dogo Onsen Honkan” almost every day.

In Natsume Soseki’s novel “Botchan”, it is depicted as “Sumida no Onsen”. “Dogo Onsen Honkan” is designated as an important cultural property of Japan. Also, in “Michelin Green Guide”, Dogo Onsen is awarded two stars.

Penthouse “Shinrokaku” of Dogo Onsen Honkan

One of the origins of Dogo Onsen, the story of “Egret legend” has been handed down. The story was about the egret with an injured leg. He started to soak in the hot spring every day and finally, he healed his wound. Egrets can be seen in many places as a symbol of Dogo Onsen. The most famous one is the egret of a penthouse “Shinrokaku” of “Dogo Onsen Honkan”.

Tsubaki-no-Yu of Dogo Onsen

In 596, Prince Shotoku visited Dogo Onsen for spa treatment was deeply impressed by the marvelous hot spring and built a monument. There is a restored stone monument in “Tsubaki-no-Yu”.

Yushinden, a private bathroom for the imperial family

“Dogo Onsen Honkan” has the only bathroom specially reserved for the Imperial family in Japan called “Yushinden”. Emperor Showa was visited there. General guests cannot take a bath here, but you can see it from 6 am to 9 pm.

In the “Annex Asuka-no-Yu”, “Yushinden” has been reproduced and you can experience bathing in yukata called “Yucho” which was worn by noble people when taking a bath. This is a limited sightseeing plan for 8 groups per day.

Botchan Karakuri Clock

In the Hojoen in front of Dogo Onsen Station, there is “Botchan Karakuri Clock” inspired by “Shinrokaku” of “Dogo Onsen Honkan”. From 8:00 to 22:00, Karakuri Clock moves once in every hour and characters from “Botchan” appear. There is also a “footbath” next to the clock tower using the hot spring source of Dogo Onsen.

Botchan Train

In the Natsume Soseki’s novel “Botchan”, the steam locomotive of Iyo Railway at that time appears as “a matchbox-like train”. This train was called “Botchan Train” because the main character, Botchan was on board when he was transferred to Matsuyama Junior High School in Matsuyama, Shikoku. Since 2001, a diesel locomotive “Botchan Train” has been operating in Matsuyama City.