Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka-no-Yu

A “new bath” evoking the Asuka period

Asuka-no-yu, the Dogo Onsen annex opened in 2017, adopts Asuka-period architecture befitting “Japan’s oldest onsen”, where legend places visits by Prince Shotoku and Empress Saimei. A Dogo-style turret tops the roof and the courtyard recreates the “camellia grove” of the ancient stele. Like the Honkan the water is unheated, undiluted and free-flowing — and unlike the Honkan there is an open-air bath. Inside, Ehime crafts meet contemporary art on the theme of “ancient Dogo”: Tobe-ware ceramic murals (Mt Ishizuchi in the men’s bath, the Nikitatsu sea in the women’s), Iyo-kasuri curtains, Kikuma-tile lanterns, gilded Ozu washi and camellias rendered in Imabari towels. The 2F special bath replicates the Honkan’s imperial Yushinden, and you can bathe in a yucho, the ancient forerunner of the yukata.

Tips & cautions

- Queues are usually longer at the Honkan; for a rotenburo plus a rest, Asuka-no-yu is the practical choice.

- 2F courses include tea, sweets and yukata; bath and rest must fit within 90 minutes.

- No soap in the special bath — wash in the 1F bath first. No outside food or drink.

- The ¥1,440 pass covers only the 1F bath course.

- Projection-mapping and other events are held in the courtyard (see the official calendar). Cards, IC and QR payments accepted.

Getting there

About 3 min on foot from the Dogo Onsen tram stop, beside the plaza west of the Honkan (Dogo-Yunomachi 19-22). No dedicated parking — use the paid Dogo Onsen car park or nearby pay lots.