 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
What if there were no Hot Spring Spas? It might be unimaginable situation for Japanese people ……. Because, Hot Spring Spas have been ‘nationwide’ tradition for healing that has three thousand-year history. |
|
|
|
|
| 1. The Charm of Dogo Hot Spring Spa |
| Dogo Hot Spring Spa, Onsen in Japanese,
is said to be the oldest hot spring in Japan and is one of the three
old hot springs. (The other two are; Arima in Hyogo prefecture and
Shirahama in Wakayama prefecture.) Quite a few emperors, empresses
and royal family members have visited here. Also many important figures
have enjoyed bathing here as well. Soseki Matsume, a novelist, who
appeared in the previous 1000 yen bill, depicted Dogo Onsen in his
first novel ’Botchan’. It goes: ‘Every place is
less attractive than in Tokyo and that is beyond comparison, but Onsen.
So I go to Onsen every evening before dinner, thinking I should take
advantage of being here.··Onsen building is new-built
three storied and the higher fare allows you to wear yukata and it
is only 8 sen and further more you will be served tea in a cup for
distinguished guests. ··After this, Dogo Onsen has been
called Botchan Bath. The main building of Onsen was built in 1894
and designated as an important cultural property as only one usable
facility for bathing in Japan. It costs only 300 yen for experiences, both an old hot spring and an important cultural asset. So why don’t you visit there? If you pay some additional charges, you can enjoy wearing yukata and taste Japanese tea and sweets; also you can have a look at the very special bath only for royal families, Yushinden. |
| 2. The legends of Dogo Hot Spring Spa |
| (1) Tama-no–Ishi (A precious rock) |
| Once upon a time, two gods, a patron
god of Japan, Okuninushi-no-mikoto and a very tiny thumb-sized god,
Sukunanohikona-no-mikoto visited Dogo Onsen during their journey of
nation-building. Then Sukunanohikona-ono-mikoto became seriously ill
and fell into coma. Okuninushi-no-mikoto was very worried about the
tiny god and put him on the palm and soaked him into the hot spring
water. Soon the tiny god recovered his health and he danced on a nearby
rock with joy, saying “I think I had a nap, I feel good and
I feel like dancing!” The rock is now called ‘Tama-no-Ishi’ and you will see the tiny god’s footprints on it. The rock is on display outside the main building of Dogo Onsen on the north side. |
| (2) Legend of White Heron |
| Here is another story for origin of
Dogo Hot Spring Spa. Long time ago, a white heron, which had a wounded leg, came to the village of Dogo district everyday. The village people wondered and went to the place the white heron alighted. They saw a hot spring gushing out of a crevice of some rocks. The white heron was soaking its wounded leg into the hot water. After sometime, the leg was healed. This story spread in no time and many people came to bathe in this hot spring. On the roof of the main building of Dogo Onsen, or around the building as well, you will see many images of white herons, symbol of Dogo Hot spring. |
| 3. Added Values of Dogo Onsen |
| (to see) |
| The main building of Dogo Onsen is said
to be an origin of Yuya, a huge public bath, where the central character
of a movie, “Sen to Chihiro”(‘Spirited Away’
directed by Hayao Miyazaki), wandered into. Not only the similarities
of its appearance and complicated building structure, they both were
visited by gods! Dogo Onsen is unique that they used only stones which are well known for high qualities for bath tubs, Aji-ishi and Mikage-ishi (both are granite stone) |
| (to eat) |
| At Dogo Onsen, you can enjoy not only bathing but some kind of traditional experience such as putting on yukata and being served Japanese tea and sweets. Tea is served using water boiled in a traditional tea kettle. And at the third floor of the building you can have Matsuyama-specialty, ‘Botchan Dango’(Japanese sweet beans dumpling) |
| (to listen to) |
| Dogo Onsen has been chosen as one of
“Hundred of scenic places with nice sounds in Japan” Namely,
a drum in the top of the main building (Shinro-kaku) is beaten at
6:00 a.m., 12:00, and 6:00 p.m. The water in the bath tubs is changed every day and many Onsen-goers would make a long line to bathe in ‘the first fresh water’ before the gates open. |
