{"id":63729,"date":"2020-04-06T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-06T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=63729"},"modified":"2020-04-13T18:41:58","modified_gmt":"2020-04-13T09:41:58","slug":"matsuyama-shikoku-pilgrimage-dogo-onsen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/matsuyama-shikoku-pilgrimage-dogo-onsen\/","title":{"rendered":"Matsuyama, Japan \u2013 Shikoku Pilgrimage and Dogo Onsen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Matsuyama in Shikoku, Japan<\/a><\/strong> is known for the Dogo Onsen<\/strong>, but also as a stop on the Shikoku Pilgrimage Trail<\/strong>. We were lucky enough to experience the many facets of Matsuyama city in Shikoku during our three-day trip, and of course we want to share them with you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We spent the night at the Dogo Onsen Hotel Kowakuen Haruka<\/a><\/strong>, which live up to its name because the main building of Dogo Onsen is visible from everywhere<\/strong> in the hotel, be it from the dining room or the balcony of our hotel room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hotel is also connected to the Dogo Onsen via a covered path<\/strong>, so that only a few steps have to be taken outdoors. This is especially useful during rainy weather, when you want to go to the onsen dressed in yukata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We took our dinner at the hotel. Our personal sukiyaki <\/em>was already waiting for us at the table when we came to the dining room. During dinner, we could enjoy the view of the Dogo Onsen, which was lit up in the darkness of night<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to sukiyaki<\/em>, two other dishes were served. For me, there was a vegetarian option, while my partner was served fish in the first course<\/strong>. There were small delicacies which were also eye-catching. The second course consisted of tender beef accompanied by local vegetables<\/strong>. In addition, there was the option to choose something from the buffet. Sushi, tempura<\/em>, karaage<\/em> (including puffer fish karaage<\/em>), various salads and desserts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The selection left nothing to be desired! On the contrary, it took a lot of time and an empty stomach to try out everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tram line in Japan?<\/strong> Yes! You will find it in Matsuyama<\/strong>, and with a bit of luck, even spot the actual Botchan tram<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dogo Onsen tram station <\/strong>is less than a 10-minute walk away from Hotel Kowakuen Haruka and is the home of Botchan<\/strong>. At least, when the Botchan is not being driven through the streets of Matsuyama, it will be waiting there to tell you its story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The original Botchan, an import from Germany<\/strong>, served Matsuyama residents as a means of transport for 67 years, starting in 1888<\/strong>. The steam locomotive<\/strong> received the name Botchan from a novel, written by Natsume S\u014dseki<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Botchan which is currently driven through Matsuyama\u2019s streets is a diesel locomotive<\/strong>. Twice a day, you have the chance to see Botchan driven through Matsuyama city, up to four times a day during the holiday season. For 800 yen you can have the chance to ride on it through the city.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After visiting Botchan, we wanted to take a bath in Dogo Onsen Honkan<\/a><\/strong>, the main building of Dogo Onsen<\/strong>. Because of the wet rainy weather, we were especially looking forward to soaking in the hot water and made our way back to Dogo Onsen Honkan through Dogo Shotengai, a famous shopping street<\/strong> in Matsuyama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogo Onsen Honkan, which was built in 1894, stands as a symbol for Dogo Onsen, the oldest bathhouses in Japan.<\/strong> It is also one of the places that inspired Hayao Miyazaki\u2019s masterpiece \u201cSpirited Away\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because the second and third floors of Dogo Onsen Honkan are currently under construction due to conservation measures, we could only visit the baths on the ground floor, which are called Kami-no-Yu<\/strong>. These stone baths, called Yugama<\/strong>, have walls decorated with Tobe ceramic<\/strong>, and a carved stone waterspout<\/strong> in the center, representative of Dogo Onsen Honkan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For such a historic onsen<\/em> with a history of more than 100 years<\/strong>, the entrance fee of just 420 yen per person<\/strong> is a bargain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The shopping street<\/strong>, which connects Dogo Onsen and the Dogo Onsen tram station is known as Dogo Shotengai<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This 250-meter-long shopping street with around 60 shops<\/strong> offers typical souvenirs as well as Ehime specialties<\/strong>. A special experience was our visit to the shop \u201c10 Factory<\/a>\u201d<\/strong>, which revolves around Ehime\u2019s specialty \u2013 Mikan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At least eight different types of mikan ice cream, juices, salad dressings, oils, pickled oranges and more<\/strong> can be purchased here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, we were curious and tried out Iyokan, Amanatsu and Unshu ice cream<\/strong>, plus a juice made of Kawachibankan orange<\/strong>. The selection of oranges is simply gigantic, and it was quite interesting to try out the different varieties and tastes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should definitely plan to visit this shop if you stroll through the shotengai<\/em>. Or you can take a detour to the other baths of Dogo Onsen, the Dogo Onsen Asuka-no-Yu bathhouse and the Dogo Onsen Tsubaki-no-Yu bathhouse<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDogo Onsen Hotel Kowakuen Haruka<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Botchan \u2013 The Tram of Matsuyama<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Dogo Onsen Honkan in Matsuyama Japan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Walking through Dogo Shotengai<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ishiteji Temple \u2013 A Stop on the Shikoku Pilgrimage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n