The Honkan by day
Morning in Dogo, and the Honkan in daylight. It’s Japan’s oldest bathhouse, built in 1894 and still in use.
The Botchan clock
Out at Dogo Onsen Station there’s the Botchan karakuri clock, which pops up characters from Natsume Soseki’s novel Botchan on the hour.
Rilakkuma, ready for his home turf.
Dogo Park
Behind the station, a climb up to Dogo Park, where the old Yuzuki Castle used to be.
The view over Matsuyama from the top:
Rilakkuma in Dogo
While we were there, Dogo was doing a Rilakkuma collaboration, with a shop full of Dogo-only Rilakkumas in yukata. We may have spent ¥7,610.
Inside the Honkan
Then into the Honkan for the tour (¥1,000 for two). The baths are separate, men’s and women’s, so no photos there.
Upstairs are the old tatami rest rooms, where bathers used to lounge with tea and crackers after the bath.
And Yushinden, the private bath built for the imperial family, which has only been used a handful of times.
Onward to the Botchan train, and towels!
Information About Dogo Onsen Honkan
Japan's oldest hot spring bathhouse, a wooden building from 1894 in the middle of Dogo. It's still a working public bath, and you can also tour the upstairs rooms and the imperial bath, Yushinden.
PS: Dogo is 20 minutes from central Matsuyama on the old Iyotetsu tram.