Spirit yourself away in the charismatic bath house of Dogo Onsen Honkan
Fans of the famous animation Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli? Why not visit Dogo Onsen Honkan, the model for the spirit bathhouse scene on your next Japan holiday trip? Located in the city of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture, this charismatic bath house was constructed in 1894 during the Meiji Period, making it arguably the oldest hot spring in Japan. Inside the three-storey, castle-style building is a labyrinth of stairways, passages and rooms that let you feel as if you've traveled back in time. The Honkan offers visitors a choice of baths, from two gender-separated, old-fashioned public baths on the first and second floors to smaller private rooms on the third floor for higher-priced options. The baths are granite basins and the water is comparatively hot, safe for every skin with mineral feel and health benefits. After the relaxing bath, you can put on a Yukata and enjoy tea in the tatami-mat lounges or go out and experience the spirit of the old town.
