Dogo Onsen

Dogo appears in the Nihon Shoki and is generally named as one of Japan's oldest springs, in use for something over a thousand years. The Honkan, the main bathhouse, was built in 1894 as a deliberately elaborate public building - three storeys of wood, a bell tower on the roof struck three times a day, corridors, stairs and a warren of tatami rest rooms above the baths where bathers take tea in yukata after soaking. There is also the Yushinden, a suite built in 1899 for imperial visits, shown on a tour. The building is often cited as one of the influences on the bathhouse in Spirited Away, though the studio has never confirmed a single source and other buildings are named too. A long restoration ran through the 2020s with parts staying open under a decorated wrap; two newer bathhouses nearby take the overflow.

What you actually see

• An 1894 wooden bathhouse - three storeys with a roof bell struck three times daily.
• Rest rooms above the baths - tatami rooms where bathers take tea in yukata.
• The Yushinden - an 1899 imperial bathing suite, shown on a tour.
• Tiered tickets - price depending on which bath and which rest room you take.

When to go

All year. Half a day. Early morning opening, at six, is the local habit.

Honest expectations

Long restoration work has kept parts closed and covered - check what is open. The Spirited Away connection is popular belief rather than confirmed fact. Queues form for the upper-tier rooms. Tattoo rules apply.

Nearby

Matsuyama Castle is west; the Shikoku pilgrimage temples 51 and 52 are close.