DÔGO ONSEN HONKAN

According to the texts, it is the oldest baths in Japan. History has it that the thermal waters of Dōgo date back to Mikoto Okuni-nushi, son of Susano'o, an important figure in Shintō mythology who became both the benefactor of agriculture, but also the power of war (8,000 spears). Then, various emperors came to relax at the Dōgo and enjoy the benefits of the waters gushing out at 43°C. The public bath, itself, dates from 1894 and a private bath was built in 1899, in the shoin style, for the emperor's rest. One can see the Botchan Hall, where the action of Sōseki Natsume's novel Botchan, The Young Gentile, is set. This novel chronicles the life of a young mathematics teacher caught up in the tug of war in a provincial society, Matsuyama, as Japan's doors open to the West. This novel is one of the classics of Japanese literature. In another register, the Dogo Onsen inspired Miyazaki for his famous Journey of Chihiro, whose Yubaba baths look strangely like Dogo Onsen. The director worked there for a long time on his sketches. The atmosphere around the baths reminds the scenes of the cartoon. At 6:30 am, the drum is beaten to announce the opening of the baths. There are small rest rooms on the third level. Be careful, the entrance fee does not include towels, soap, and even a hair dryer (try to come with shampoo, soap and towel in addition to your yukata). A restoration of the place has been started in 2019.