Dogo Onsen
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Dōgo Onsen (道後温泉) is a hot spring in Shikoku, Japan. It is located in Ehime prefecture, directly adjacent to Matsuyama, the biggest city in Shikoku.
[edit] History
Dogo Onsen is one of the oldest and best-known onsen hot springs in Japan, with a history stretching back over 1500 years. The springs are mentioned in the Man'yōshū (written c. 759), and according to legend even Prince Shotoku (574-622) used to partake of the waters.
Dogo Onsen was also the favorite retreat of writer Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) when he was working near Matsuyama as a teacher in what was at the time rural Shikoku. In Soseki's loosely autobiographical novel Botchan, the eponymous main character is a frequent visitor to the springs, the only place he likes in the area.
Modern haiku poet Masaoka Shiki (1867-1902), a noted critic of Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), was also a resident of Dogo Onsen. His poems are prominently inscribed in many places around town.
[edit] Present
The present building of the Dogo Onsen public bath was built in 1894. Built on three levels for maximum capacity, the baths remain extremely popular and are usually crowded at peak times (esp. around 6 p.m. before dinner).
While Dogo is largely engulfed in the suburban sprawl of modern-day Matsuyama, the area around Dogo retains the feel of resort town, with guests from all over the country wandering the streets in yukata robes after their bath. Dogo is easily accessible from central Matsuyama by tram.
The main building in the movie Spirited Away was modeled on the present building of the Dogo Onsen public bathhouse. Spirited Away was directed by famed animator Hayao Miyazaki in 2001 and it was named Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards.
