Dogo Onsen Honkan (道後温泉本館) is the symbol and main attraction of Dogo Onsen. The charismatic bath house was built in 1894 during the Meiji Period. Its wooden interior is a maze of stairways, passages and rooms, usually bustling with activity by staff and guests. Dogo Onsen Honkan is said to have served as inspiration for the award-winning animated film "Spirited Away" by Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli.
The Honkan offers two gender-separated, old-fashioned public baths made of stone. The main bath on the first floor is called Kami no Yu (Bath of the Gods), while the smaller but more distinguished Tama no Yu (Bath of the Spirits) is on the second floor. Large communal tatami rooms on the second floor and smaller private rooms on the third floor provide bathers with space to rest and enjoy a snack. Four different admission plans provide visitors with varying levels of access to the Honkan's facilities.
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