Dogo Onsen 道後温泉

Historical onsen, yesteryear splendor

The onsen honkan dates from the 19th century, but the legendary origins of this onsen stretch back a millennia. The carpentry of the honkan is ornate, the interiors of the baths feature stonework and elegant murals in ceramic tile. The onsen is actually a complex of three bathhouses, the other two Asuka no Yu with a replica of the imperial bath and Tsubaki no Yu with granite pools. What I found pleasantly surprising is that, for a historically important onsen, it's not more expensive than the average onsen. The honkan is under renovation and restoration for the next few years.