Dogo Onsen Annex
Asuka-no-Yu bathhouse facilities
Front page > Introduction to the Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu bathhouse
Grand Opening on Tuesday, December 26, 2017
Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu is a new bathhouse constructed in the architectural style of the Asuka period.
Architectural concept
An Asuka period style bathhouse
Constructed in the architectural style of the Asuka period, the Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu stands as a picturesque symbol of Japan’s oldest hot spring, steeped in the history and legends of visits by Prince Shotoku and the Empress Saimei. Just like the Dogo Onsen Honkan, the Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu is a skin-conditioning hot spring that flows straight from the source with no reheating or addition of water.
The building’s roof is topped with a cupola, a symbol of Dogo Onsen, and in the entrance courtyard is a camellia grove known as Tsubaki-no-Mori, recreating a scene from the time when Prince Shotoku visited Dogo Onsen.
Inside are spacious large bathing rooms as well as open-air baths, which the Dogo Onsen Honkan does not have. There are also two special private bathing rooms that are replicas of the Yūshinden, the bathing room reserved solely for the Imperial Family at the Dogo Onsen Honkan. Here guests can experience bathing in a yucho* bathing robe. The Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu also has a spacious 100 m² resting lounge and 5 private resting rooms where guests can enjoy Dogo Onsen hospitality with a tea service.
* Also called a “yukatabira,” the yucho is believed to have been worn by nobility and is the origin of today’s yukata.
Introducing a new Onsen culture
Based on the theme of “Ancient Dogo” and designed to depict the stories and legends of Dogo Onsen through a collaboration of traditional Ehime handicrafts and cutting-edge art, the Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu combines revivifying onsen waters with a stimulating introduction to a new onsen culture that can only be experienced here in Dogo, Matsuyama.
Building layout
Interior design
The entrance: Gateway to ancient Dogo
Evoking the look of a temple gate, at the entrance, light shades made of air-purifying zeolite washi paper beckon guests to a warm bath to purify body and mind.
The entrance also features a carving of a work by the calligrapher Sisyu. The Japanese characters水流香 (Sui Ryū Ka) represent the fusion of an illustrious history and the new onsen culture.
At the rear of the entrance is a woodcut mural featuring a large yudama icon, a symbol of Dogo Onsen, that was carved with traditional Japanese wakugi nails, known as “the nails that last 1,000 years.” These nails were also used in rebuilding the West Pagoda and cloisters of the World Heritage-designated Yakushi-ji Temple in Nara. The atmosphere enables guests to truly feel they have come to Japan’s oldest hot spring, Dogo Onsen.
At the entrances to the men’s and women’s bathing areas are hung noren curtains made of Iyo Kasuri, one of Japan’s top three kasuri fabrics.
The bathing areas: Open-air baths and large rooms surrounded by murals
In the large bathing rooms, Tobe porcelain panel wall murals like those featured in the Dogo Onsen Honkan depict scenes from poems related to Dogo Onsen. The mural in the men’s bathing room features sacred Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest peak in Iyo, from the poem of Yamabe-no-Akahito, and the scene in the women’s bathing room is of Nikitatsu port on the Seto Inland Sea from the poem of Nukata-no-okimi. These porcelain panel murals surround the baths on three sides.
In the outdoor baths, decoration panel wall murals made of Ehime Prefecture’s Hime hinoki cypress depict magnificent mountain and ocean scenes. Lanterns made using the same type of kikuma-gawara roof tiles used on Matsuyama Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace evoke the ancient world described by Man'yoshū poems.
left: Projection mapping in the women’s bathing room
right: Projection mapping in the men’s bathing room
Projection Mapping
Projection mapping on the porcelain panel paintings creates a feeling of the changing seasons as time flows.
There are three types of projection mapping, in the morning, afternoon, and at night, and are shown every 30 minutes.
No.2 Special private bathing room: A replica of the Yūshinden
Su are bamboo mats used to make Japanese washi paper, and Iyo su are known for their especially fine weaving technique. Here in these special private bathing rooms—that replicate the Dogo Onsen Honkan’s Yūshinden bathing room, reserved solely for the Imperial Family—blinds called “misu” as delicate as lace curtains create an elegant atmosphere.
The large resting lounge: Spacious at 100m²
Hanging shades made of ozu handcrafted washi paper (designated a national traditional handicraft) with metal foil gilding combine the delicate softness of the washi paper with the opulent weightiness of the gilding to create a unique impression. The resulting effect produced by these hanging shades and the room lighting is an atmosphere of grace and elegance.
The lampshades of Iyo bamboo wickerwork were made using a traditional Matsuyama handicraft called “yachara ami” that legend says was introduced to Dogo Onsen when Prince Shotoku visited.
The private resting rooms: Five hideaways
depicting the legends of Dogo Onsen
Each of these five private rooms ("Ma") uses traditional Ehime handicrafts to depict a different story or legend of Dogo Onsen.
Shirasagi-no-Ma
The traditional handicraft of Iyo mizuhiki paper cord is used to illustrate the legend of the injured egret that was able to take flight again after being healed by the waters of Dogo Onsen.
Tamanoishi-no-Ma
The mural in this room makes use of the unique characteristics of the Tsutsugaki technique of paste-resist dyeing to depict the legend of the Tamanoishi.
Tsubaki-no-Ma
Based on the theme of the Tsubaki-no-Mori camellia grove, camellias are depicted on towels from Imabari, Japan’s largest towel producing area.
Karimiya-no-Ma
Members of the Imperial Court made many visits to Dogo Onsen between the Asuka and Heian periods. This room uses a Sakurai lacquerware maki-e technique to depict scenes from that era.
Yugeta-no-Ma
Based on the theme “The Bathtubs of Iyo,” the Saijo danjiri carving technique employing 100 different carving tools was used to depict the bustle of Dogo Onsen described in the Tale of Genji as “all the bathtubs in Iyo.”
Usage fees
| Course | Package | Fee | Included amenities | Tea service | Business hours | Usage time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st floor bathing room | 1st floor bathing room without resting lounge | Adult 610 yen Child 300 yen |
1st floor bathing room: Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryers |
None | 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. (last admission 10:30 p.m.) |
90 min. |
| 2nd floor large resting lounge | 1st floor bathing room ＋ 2nd floor large resting lounge |
Adult 1,280 yen Child 630 yen |
1st floor bathing room: Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryers 2nd floor large resting lounge: Rental yukata |
Tea and Japanese sweets | 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last admission 9:00 p.m.) |
90 min. |
| 2nd floor private room | 1st floor bathing room ＋ 2nd floor private room |
Adult 1,690 yen Child 830 yen |
1st floor bathing room: Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryers 2nd floor private room: Rental yukata, rental towels |
Tea and Japanese sweets | 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last admission 9:00 p.m.) |
90 min. |
| 2nd floor special private bathing room (family-style bath) |
1st floor bathing room ＋ 2nd floor special private bathing room |
Group 2,040 yen ＋ Adult 1,690 yen 830 yen for child |
1st floor bathing room: Body wash, shampoo, conditioner, hair dryers 2nd floor special private bathing room: Rental yukata, rental towels, rental bath towels, yucho bathing robes |
Tea and Japanese sweets | 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (last admission 8:40 p.m.) |
90 min. |
* A portion of the fees paid by visitors to Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu is used for preservation and repair of Dogo Onsen Honkan, a National Important Cultural Property.
Reservations for Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu’s special private bathing rooms are accepted by telephone up to 3 months in advance.
The Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu has two special private bathing rooms. One is a replica of the Yūshinden, the bathing room in the Dogo Onsen Honkan reserved solely for the Imperial Family, and the other is a modern-style bathing room with Iyo misu blinds and ceiling murals.
* Telephone: 089-932-1126 (Dogo Onsen Consortium)
* E-mail：y-asukanoyu@lesp.co.jp
* Business hours: 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
