Yamatoya Besso

Dogo Onsen [Ehime]

Yamatoya Besso, a small luxury Japanese style hotel in Dogo Onsen with only 19 rooms, is an authentic Japanese traditional ryokan reputed for its omotenashi - a hospitality in which a dedicated room attendant serves for your comfort throughout your stay. At Yamatoya Besso, each room with a unique interior designed for the beauty of simplicity by carpentry techniques is decorated with calligraphy of haiku poems by writers associated with this historic hot spring town of Dogo. This is a place for a genuine Japanese experience of enjoying a natural hot spring, delicious food served privately in your room, simple but beautiful artwork throughout the building, and their sincere spirit of hospitality.

Basic Information

Dining

• Dinner and breakfast are served in your room by your room attendant.
• Kaiseki cuisine dinner is arranged every month with seasonal delicacy and ingredients from the rich nature of Ehime Prefecture.

Bath

• Indulge yourself in a famous natural hot spring of famous Dogo Onsen. Shared bath has both open-air bath and indoor bath.
• Beer server to enjoy icy-cold draft beer after hot spring.
• Private bath in each room.

Others

• Check in from 15:00
• Check out by 11:00
• English: OK
• Internet: Wi-Fi available

Room Type and Prices

All 19 rooms at Yamatoya Besso are designed in the traditional Sukiya-zukuri architectural style, using high-quality hinoki cypress. Each room is equipped with a private bath and can accommodate between 1 and 6 guests.

• Rooms with Open-Air Baths (1st Floor) - Tatami rooms with futon bedding, featuring private open-air or semi open-air baths
• Japanese-Western Style Rooms (3rd Floor) - Rooms combining Japanese aesthetics with Western-style twin beds and an indoor bath
• Japanese-Style Suites (2nd & 3rd Floors) - Suites featuring tatami rooms with futon bedding and an indoor bath

Prices differ depending on room type and seasonality, generally starting from 50,000 yen / person for double occupancy under the standard plan, including dinner and breakfast. Please check with us when booking.

Access

From Tokyo

Tokyo - [1.5 hours by air] - Matsuyama Airport - [30 min. by car] - Yamatoya Besso

From Shimanami (cycling)

About 1-hour by car from Imabari, southern end of Shimanami cycling

Reservation Request

Nearby Sightseeing Spots

Dogo Onsen

Dogo Onsen is one of Japan's oldest hot spring towns and an emblem of Ehime located to the east of central Matsuyama. The main attraction here is Dogo Onsen Honkan, a wooden public bathhouse which has welcomed visitors since 1894. It offers two gender-separated, old-fashioned public baths and large communal tatami rooms where you can relax with a cup of tea and sweet treats after a soak in the hot spring. What makes Dogo Onsen Honkan even more special is that it has a special section for the emperor's exclusive use which was constructed for the Imperial Family's visit in 1899. You can see a lavishly decorated room and a bath and toilet.
After enjoying its healing waters, take a stroll around or riding on a rickshaw in town in yukata robe.

Matsuyama Castle (10 min by tram, bus or car)

Perched high on a hill in Matsuyama City center, Matsuyama Castle is famed as one of Japan's twelve castles that have survived since 1868 intact. This castle complex includes 21 buildings which are listed as Important Cultural Properties and is considered one of the most complex and interesting castles in the country to explore. To ascend the hill to reach the castle, you can hike, take a ropeway, or ride a single-chair chairlift. From the castle tower, a beautiful panoramic view of the entire Matsuyama City and the Seto Inland Sea can be enjoyed.

Shimanami Kaido (1 hour by car or train)

Shimanami Kaido is 70-kilometer bridge-and-island toll road that connects Onomichi in Hiroshima prefecture and Imabari in Ehime prefecture. Along with an express way runs a cycling and walking route. Shimanami Kaido is known as "cycling paradise", attracting cyclists from home and abroad who would like to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Seto Inland Sea. Not only cycling along the main road, it is also recommended that you make a detour to visit the islands and explore the history, culture and local lifestyle. You could complete the main 70-kilometer road in one day, but it is highly recommended that you spend 2 or 3 days at a leisurely pace to make the most of it.

Shikoku Pilgrimage

Shikoku Pilgrimage, commonly called as "Ohenro" or "Henro", connects 88 temples inspired and trained by Kukai, a monk who founded Japanese Shingon Buddhism in the 9th century. This pilgrimage route extends four prefectures in Shikoku for about 1,400 kilometers, which makes it one of the world's longest circular pilgrimage routes.
People's purposes of making a pilgrimage are varied. Some come for religious reasons, some to get away from regular life, and some to reflect and find themselves. Walking on the pilgrimage route with steep mountain roads and stone steps in pastoral countryside or along calm coastal area will be a spiritual journey.
Though it takes 40-50 days to complete walking throughout, Michi Travel Japan is happy to help you hike some of the pilgrimage route that allows you to connect with local community and tradition. If you would like to experience Shikoku Pilgrimage as a day trip from Matsuyama or Dogo Onsen, we suggest the following private tour
Shikoku Pilgrimage 1day Experience Private Tour in Ehime