5 Onsen in Ehime worth your time

A historic Taisho-era wooden inn and registered cultural property offering alkaline cold mineral water springs near the Hiji River.

What it is

• A single three-story wooden inn featuring an irimoya style roof.
• The current structure was completed during the Taisho period.
• Operations at this hot spring site began during the Meiji 30s era.
• The site is a registered tangible cultural property and designated Hot Spring Heritage.

What to see

• Traditional architecture including a three-story wooden building with an irimoya roof.
• Natural surroundings near the Kanogawa Dam on the Hiji River.
• Alkaline cold mineral water springs used for bathing.

Getting there

• The nearest bus stop is located at Kanogawa Bridge.
• A narrow two kilometer road leads to the site from the main highway.
• The inn is sixteen kilometers from the Uchiko-Ikazaki Interchange.

Read more about Oyabu Onsen

A renovated day-use hot spring facility inside a theme park offering specialized carbonated baths and saunas for a low fee.

What it is

• A day-use hot spring facility located inside the Minetopia Besshi main building
• The facility reopened in 2016 after a full renovation of the former Healthy Land Besshi
• The water is classified as a hypotonic neutral cold mineral spring
• It is a public bathhouse that does not offer overnight stays

What to see

• Outdoor baths featuring artificial carbonated and oxygenated spring water
• Indoor facilities including a sauna, stone baths, and salt baths
• The bathing area is located on the fourth floor of the building

When to go

• The facility is open daily from 10:00 to 22:00

Getting there

• It is a 15-minute bus ride from Niihama Station

Official site

besshi.com

Read more about Besshi Onsen

A large entertainment complex near JR Matsuyama Station featuring natural hot springs, bowling, and a rooftop garden.

What it is

• A commercial entertainment complex opened in 2001 in Matsuyama.
• The facility houses a bowling alley, karaoke, and a mahjong parlor.
• It features a natural hot spring using water pumped from 1,700 meters underground.
• The building includes an indoor theme park and a 3,700 square meter rooftop green space.

What to see

• Natural hot spring baths containing alkaline simple weak radioactive water.
• A large rooftop garden spanning 3,700 square meters.
• Extensive indoor recreation facilities including bowling lanes and karaoke rooms.

Getting there

• Located directly in front of JR Matsuyama Station.
• A three-minute walk from the JR Matsuyama Station exit.

Read more about Kisuke BOX

One of Japan's oldest hot springs featuring a historic bathhouse that inspired the film Spirited Away and classic literature.

What it is

• One of the three oldest hot spring areas in Japan.
• The main building is a designated National Important Cultural Property.
• The site served as a model for the bathhouse in the film Spirited Away.
• The facility features simple thermal spring water ranging from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius.

What to see

• The historic Dogo Onsen Honkan which reopened fully in July 2024.
• Yushinden, a special bathroom reserved exclusively for the Imperial Family.
• The modern Asuka-no-Yu public bathhouse.
• A mechanical clock and foot bath located in Hojoen Park.

Getting there

• Accessible via the Iyo Railway Botchan Train.

Official site

dogo.jp

Read more about Dōgo Onsen

A newly rebuilt municipal hot spring complex in Ehime featuring sodium chloride baths, dining, and an adjacent rural park.

What it is

• A municipal public bath and health complex located in Ikata Town.
• The facility features sodium chloride type hot spring water.
• The site includes an RV park and accommodation called Kamenoyu Bettei.
• The current single-story wooden and steel structure reopened in February 2024.

What to see

• The modern wooden and steel architecture of the main bathhouse.
• Kamegaike Rural Park situated directly adjacent to the hot spring.
• Dining Kai restaurant located on the premises for local meals.

Read more about Kamegaike Onsen