Last Updated: June 1, 2025

Matsuyama’s Dogo Onsen

One of Japan’s Oldest Hot Springs

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

Previously, in my exhaustive exposé on Matsuyama City, I introduced the hot spring town of Dogo Onsen. Alas, as it was an overview of all things to see and do in the region, I didn’t really have time to go deep on any one particular topic. So, in this piece, we’re going to do what many claim is Japan’s oldest natural hot spring enclave the due justice it deserves. Welcome to Dogo Onsen, a place so revered that even the imperial family of Japan frequented here to bathe.

Like with anywhere in Japan that has been around since ancient times, the origins of Dogo Onsen are shrouded in mystery. The earliest mentions we have are from the Man’yoshu, the oldest extant collection of classical Japanese poetry. Seeing as this dates from well over a millennium ago, we can at least assume that the famous onsen town has been around since the 700s when the Man’yoshu was compiled. I don’t know about you, but that is quite the historical legacy.

Nowadays, Dogo Onsen’s main allure for many international tourists is Dogo Onsen Honkan. Officially Japan’s first public bathhouse, this building has been awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide and is also designated a National Important Cultural Property. More famously, though, Dogo Onsen Honkan…