Dogo Onsen
A Meiji Period wooden bathhouse where the Imperial Family choose to bathe.
Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama is one of Japan's oldest onsen hot spring resorts, dating back over 1,000 years. The main wooden bathhouse was built in 1884 and to this day a bathroom is still specially reserved for the Imperial Family. The bathhouse is a maze of narrow stairways, wooden passages and bathrooms always busy with onsen bathers. It is said to have provided the inspiration for Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli animation Spirited Away.
Please note: In January 2019 a major restoration project set to last for seven years began on Dogo Onsen. During this time part or all of the building will be covered in scaffolding, but two of the baths will remain open to the public.
For more information email us: [email protected] or call: + 61 7 3186 8800
Important notice: We are pleased to be able to offer so many amazing experiences in Japan. However, we are sorry that we can only include these as a part of a full Japan holiday package which includes your accommodation and transport alongside the experiences presented in this section of the web site.
Interested in this Experience? It is included in this tour:
-
Discover the road less travelled
Hidden Japan
Are you looking for more depth of cultural insight, with experiences that take you away from the tourist trail? This tour gives you both, liberating you from the pressure of ticking off destinations or visiting “must-see” locations and steering you instead towards the road less travelled.
Other Onsen experiences
View more >Unzen hells
Like a scene from a sci-fi movie, volcanic steam vents and larva pools punctuate the lunar landscape.
I Love Yuu bath house
Naoshima's best bath house is unlike any other in Japan. Wacky modern art meets traditional relaxation.
Kurama Onsen
A perfect outdoor hot spring bath up in the mountains just a stone throw from Kyoto.