Dōgo Onsen 道後温泉
Matsuyama city’s hot springs district
Shikoku’s legendary Dōgo Onsen hot springs area is focused around Dōgo Onsen Honkan, a 19th century public bath-house that featured in Natsume Soseki’s 1906 novel Botchan.
Dōgo Onsen is a favorite for domestic visitors - it claims to be Japan’s oldest hot spring.
You’ll find all sorts of accommodation (on booking sites), vibrant pedestrian streets with shops selling Dōgo Onsen souvenirs, plus guests wandering around in their accommodation’s unique yukata (cotton kimono).
There are two other modern bath-houses near the Honkan, but the classic photo is taken before the entrance of the venerable old building.
Getting there
Take Matsuyama city’s excellent tram to its eastern terminal at Dōgo Onsen.