Dogokan

It’s a large onsen hotel with spacious Japanese-style rooms. I found the upgrade to a larger room category absolutely worth it for the extra space and more relaxed stay.

It’s an older hotel, and you can see that in the rooms, furnishings, and general quality. Still, it looks nice, the staff are nice, and it has its own onsen.

The dinners were the highlight for me: over our two nights, each meal had its own theme and distinctive flavors. The ingredients and cooking methods gave us a wide range of dishes, and the carefully put-together breakfasts added to an experience that felt like a blend of Shikoku specialties, refined shojin ryori, and elaborate banquet food. The colors, aromas, flavors, presentation, and tableware were all carefully considered. We appreciated the staff’s explanations and the chefs’ craftsmanship. Every dish felt both delicious and artful, with warmth behind it. We stayed two nights in Room 801 and were grateful for two distinctly wonderful experiences. There was no open-air bath in our room, which was a little disappointing since those are only available on the 7th floor, but the thoughtful touches made up for it. The complimentary snacks and tea were delightful, two refrigerators made it easy to store late-night snacks, and the massage chair was so comfortable I could nap in it and relax completely. I noticed just two small things that could be improved. At breakfast, the dishes being collected in the neighboring section sometimes clattered loudly and disrupted the atmosphere a little. I also occasionally noticed perfume on staff or perhaps fragrance in the air. It wasn’t overwhelming, but at times it got in the way of fully enjoying the food’s aroma. Everything else was impeccable. When we went to get our car, we found the hotel had cleaned it for us. That was such a thoughtful surprise and made us feel cared for. Dogo Onsen has long been a favorite retreat for many renowned figures, and after staying here, I understand why. We’ve fallen in love with it too. The service was on par with many luxury hotels: staff greeted us warmly and remembered our room number and preferences. What touched us most was the extra personal attention. Staff offered to take photos, welcomed us back, asked about our day’s adventures, and chatted with us. Their thoughtful gestures made us feel very welcome, almost shy about receiving so much attentive service. The stay was comfortable and relaxing, full of heartfelt hospitality and unforgettable memories. If we get the chance, we’d absolutely return to this onsen retreat.

We had a wonderful private dinner in our room. The food was exceptional, but our server, Maki, made the evening with her compassion, kindness, wisdom, and professionalism. Her service was even better than the meal.