I stayed at a popular hotsprings called Dogo Onsen
I stayed at Dogo Onsen while traveling around Shikoku.
Getting there is quite straightforward: you simply take the tram from Matsuyama Station, and after about 30 minutes, you arrive at the final stop, Dogo Onsen Station.
The boarding area is located across from Matsuyama Station.
You can get there via an underpass, or by exiting the station and walking along the left side to reach a pedestrian crossing.
I chose to go through the underpass.
伊予鉄に乗ります
The “Botchan Train”—an Iyo Railway train designed to resemble a steam locomotive—runs between Matsuyama Station and Dogo Onsen.
Although it is a sightseeing train, it is quite solidly built.
I took this photo of the Botchan Train on a different day, but I wasn’t quick enough with my camera and only managed to capture the rear.
坊ちゃん列車
For more details, please check the information about the Botchan Train on the Iyotetsu website.
Iyotetsu Homepage for Bocchan Train
I actually wanted to ride the Botchan Train myself, but the timing didn’t work out.
Since the service runs so infrequently, catching a ride on it would have been a truly rare experience.
Upon arriving at Dogo Onsen Station, the entrance to the Dogo Onsen shopping street appears right in front of the station.
夜の道後温泉駅
道後温泉商店街
The mechanical clock in front of the station started moving just as my train arrived; I watched it for a while and really enjoyed the elaborate setup.
It’s a nice touch that the mechanical figures are depicted taking a bath—it really captures the spirit of Dogo Onsen.
The clock looked magical and lovely when illuminated at night.
The hotel is very conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from Dogo Onsen Station.
I stayed at Hotel Patio Dogo this time.
I have written a review of my stay, so I would appreciate it if you took a look at that to see what the hotel is like.
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It doesn’t show up on Google Maps, but taking the shopping street marked “Dogo” (shown in the photo above) is actually a shortcut.
(If you walk straight through the shopping street and turn right at the end, you’ll come out right in front of the Dogo Onsen Honkan.)
And the Dogo Onsen Honkan is located right next to the hotel.
It’s truly impressive.
It has a wonderful atmosphere.
ベタだけど撮ってしまった王道アングル
道後温泉の看板がかっこいい
The atmosphere is especially nice at night.
At first glance, this looks like the entrance to the Dogo Onsen Honkan, but the actual entrance is actually off to the side.
It seems they were collaborating with Osamu Tezuka’s *Phoenix* (Hi no Tori) at the time, as they were showing a *Phoenix* projection mapping display.
*Osamu Tezuka is a popular Manga writer.
For dinner, I had a 500-yen set meal at a local *izakaya* nearby called “Botchan,” which is run single-handedly by a middle-aged woman.
It was a hearty meal and a great bargain!
坊ちゃん Bocchan
Address: 6-23 Dogo Yunomachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL：089-931-8333
Business Hours：It appears they serve both lunch and dinner, but please check directly with the restaurant for their business hours.
道後温泉の商店街をぶらぶら
After dinner, I stroll through the shopping street in front of the Dogo Onsen Honkan.
The shopping street at Dogo Onsen was lined with a number of stylish souvenir shops.
I ended up buying a bit too many souvenirs.
Here are the two souvenir shops I recommend:
Iori and Jugomangoku.
伊織 道後支店 Iori Dougo Branch
Iori is a shop specializing in Imabari towel products, such as hand towels and bath towels.
Everything was so colorful and cute that I ended up buying quite a few items.
(The main store is also nearby.)
Address：20-21 Dogo Yunomachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL：089-913-8122
Business Hours：9:00~21:30 (Please check the website for information on closed days, changes to business hours, etc.)
Shop’s Homepage：https://www.i-ori.jp/user_data/iori_yunomachi.php
十五万石 Jyugo Man Goku
This is a souvenir shop.
They have a wide variety of items, and since each one looked so delicious, I had a hard time choosing.
My favorite is the marmalade marketed as “The World’s Most Delicious Marmalade.”
I bought some to take home and enjoyed it on toast.
It had plenty of syrup and was absolutely delicious.
Address: 20-23 Dogo Yunomachi, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL：0120-150-047
Business Hours：8:30~22:00 (Please check with the shop regarding closed days, changes to business hours, etc.)
Experience and Stroll Through Dogo Onsen
Dogo Onsen is quite popular, so depending on the time of day, you might have to wait 15 to 20 minutes to get in.
It was relatively uncrowded between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM, but from 8:00 PM onwards, it remained quite busy late into the night.
At 6:00 AM, the Dogo Onsen bell rings.
I visited in the morning.
I had assumed there wouldn’t be a line, but I was surprised to find three or four people waiting outside and the interior surprisingly crowded.
Photography is prohibited inside, so I couldn’t take any pictures, but the place had the atmosphere of a traditional *sento* (public bathhouse), and I was struck by how deep the bathtub was.
I had hoped to enjoy a leisurely morning soak, but I could barely find a spot at the washing station, and the bath itself was packed with people.
After breakfast, I took a stroll around the Dogo Onsen area.
空の散歩道
Behind the Dogo Onsen Honkan, there is a small hill known as the “Sky Promenade” (Sora no Sanpomichi), where you can gaze at the main bathhouse while soaking your feet in a footbath.
伊佐爾波神社（いさにわじんじゃ）Isaniwa Shrine
It is said that items associated with Matsudaira Sadanaga, the Lord of the Matsuyama Domain, are kept here.
We make our way up the steep, stone-paved path.
From just outside the temple grounds—at the top of the stone-paved path—you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Dogo Onsen town.
愛宕大権現(石手寺) Atago Daigongen (Ishite-ji Temple)
A large straw sandal is displayed at the entrance of the temple.
It is apparently the 51st temple on the pilgrimage route, and the temple grounds are said to house a three-story pagoda and numerous cultural assets.
Personally, I found the compact grounds packed with a variety of features—such as a tower, a bell, strings of a thousand paper cranes, and a cave—creating a unique atmosphere unlike any other temple.
I stepped inside the cave myself, but the indescribable air there gave me goosebumps.
It was too frightening for me to make it all the way through.
I highly recommend visiting in person to experience that mysterious atmosphere for yourself.
