Dogo Onsen Main Building

Dogo Onsen Main Building is a public bathhouse built around natural hot spring water, standing in the Dogo Onsen district of Matsuyama since what's said to be ancient times. It was the first public bath in Japan to be designated a national Important Cultural Property, and a six-year preservation and repair project on the building wrapped up in December 2024.

The simplest option is a soak in the ground-floor Kami-no-Yu bath, priced like a neighborhood sento. From there, tiers go up: second-floor tatami rest rooms after bathing, access to both the Kami-no-Yu and Reino-Yu baths, third-floor private rooms, and two newly opened reservation-only private lounges named Shirasagi-no-Ma and Hisho-no-Ma, each booked through the official reservation site or by phone on the day. The Mata-shinden hall, a lavishly decorated former imperial bathing chamber, is viewable on a guided tour but isn't a working bath.

This is a day-use facility only — no overnight stays, though the local ryokan association can arrange lodging nearby. It's open every day from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm, with individual course checkout and service times varying by plan, so it's worth checking the current schedule for the course you want. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap and hair dryers are provided; towels and yukata can be rented at the counter. A combined three-bath ticket covering this building, Tsubaki-no-Yu and Asuka-no-Yunoyu is sold at a discount versus paying separately, valid for two days from purchase. A small shop sells drinks, souvenirs and bathing amenities on site.