Dōgo Onsen: One of the oldest and most famous hot springs in Japan

There are 27,000 hot springs (Onsen, 温泉) and 3,000 hot spring towns (Onsengai, 温泉街) in Japan. Dōgo Onsen (道後温泉) is one of the oldest and most famous hot springs in Japan.

Dōgo Onsen locates in Matsuyama, Ehime prefecture and has been known as a Japan's three oldest hot springs (Sankosen, 三古泉). Dōgo Onsen has a history of over 1,200 years, also mentioned in the oldest Japanese poetry collection (Manyōsyū, 万葉集). Dōgo Onsen Honkan, a symbol of Dōgo Onsen, is a traditional, beautiful Japanese-style building constructed in 1894. You can enjoy two types of hot springs in Dōgo Onsen Honkan, Tama-no-yu and Kami-no-yu.

Before going to Dōgo Onsen, I recommend you to visit Matsuyama castle in the center of the Matsuyama city. You can go to Matsuyama castle (松山城) which is one of the Japan's 12 original castles in 15 minutes by tram from Dōgo Onsen. Matsuyama castle locates on the top of Mt. Katsuyama, taking 30-minutes walk from the foot of the mountain. After having a bath in the hot spring, you can enjoy Ehime's mandarin orange juice and ice cream in the shopping street in Dōgo Onsen.