3月13日（金）、羽田12:10発・松山空港13:45着のANA便で道後温泉へ向かいました。着陸前には瀬戸内海の海と島々が見え、旅の始まりから癒されます。空港からはリムジンバスで約40分かけて道後温泉駅へ。駅前では坊っちゃんカラクリ時計を撮影し、夏目漱石が松山で教師をしていたことから『坊っちゃん』の舞台が松山であることを改めて感じました。
宿泊先は「道後御湯」。407号室の温泉露天風呂付き和洋室にチェックインすると、清潔感のある落ち着いた空間で、冷蔵庫のドリンクがフリーなのも嬉しいポイントでした。
荷物を置いてハイカラ通りへ向かい、まずは道後温泉本館で写真撮影。その後、135段の階段を登って伊佐爾波神社へ参拝し、御朱印もいただきました。散策中には道後ビールALT（750円・税込、マドンナビール）をテイクアウトし、「道後ぷりん」で道後ぷりん（540円・税込）と、とろけるぷりん（480円・税込）を味わうなど、食べ歩きも楽しみました。
夕食前には湯築城跡の道後公園展望台へ立ち寄り、太陽の光に照らされた街並みを上から眺めました。夕食はハイカラ通りの「金兵衛」で、道後ビールケルシュ（坊っちゃんビール）、賀儀屋純米大吟醸（1,100円・税込）、雪雀吟醸道後（930円・税込）、京ひな一刀両断純米大吟醸（1,100円・税込）をいただき、刺身盛合せ、今治焼鳥、伊予牛くわ焼き、道後ラーメンなどを堪能しました。
宿に戻ってからは8階展望浴場へ。道後温泉はアルカリ性単純温泉で、無色透明・やわらかい湯ざわり。少しヌルっとした感触があり、匂いはほとんどありません。タオルは持って行く必要がなく、露天風呂からは高台にある松山城が見えます。 部屋に戻ると、ルームサービスでビールや日本酒をオーダーできるとのことでしたが今回は利用せず、冷蔵庫からアサヒスーパードライを取り出し、お茶菓子の和三盆フィナンシェとともにいただき、満腹になりました。
その後は部屋の露天風呂にも浸かり、フロントで依頼したマッサージ（40分4,000円）で腰・首・肩を力強く指圧してもらい、とても効きました。夜中に目が覚めた際には、部屋の露天風呂から満天の星を眺めるという贅沢な時間も過ごしました。
翌14日（土）は8:00から朝食をいただき、じゃこ天を20〜30秒炙って味わい、ご飯をおかわりして満腹に。部屋でネスプレッソ（コロンビア・インド）を飲み、再び露天風呂に浸かってから11:00にチェックアウトしました。
路面電車で大街道駅へ向かい、松山城ロープウェイ乗り場へ。
行きはロープウェイで山頂へ上がり、瀬戸内海を望む景色や、加藤嘉明が伊予20万石を与えられて築いた松山城の歴史を感じながら天守を見学しました。火縄銃や刀を持たせてもらえる体験や、甲冑装着体験もあり、帰りはリフトでゆったり下山しました。
大街道へ戻る途中、「えひめ笑顔の観光物産館」で蛇口からみかんジュースを体験し、昼食は「かどや大街道店」で宇和島づくし鯛めし御膳をいただきました。13:00時点で階段の上まで並ぶ人気ぶりで、卵と出汁を混ぜたタレに鯛刺しを入れ、ご飯にかけて食べるスタイルが絶品でした。吹毛剣大吟醸も美味しく、朝食で満腹だったにもかかわらず、しっかり食べてしまいました。
食後は三越前のタクシー乗り場から松山空港へ向かい、3人ならリムジンバスより安くて早いと感じました。お土産を購入し、カードラウンジに入ろうとしましたがAMEXは対象外で断念し、待合エリアで過ごしました。15:45に手荷物検査を済ませ、JAL PLAZAで道後ビールヴァイツェン（794円・税込）を飲み、16:45発の便で羽田へ戻りました。
温泉、街歩き、グルメ、歴史と、道後温泉の魅力を存分に味わえた2日間でした。
A Relaxing Weekend in Dogo Onsen (March 13–14, 2026)
On Friday, March 13, we flew from Haneda at 12:10 and arrived at Matsuyama Airport at 13:45 on an ANA flight. As the plane descended, the view of the Seto Inland Sea and its islands was soothing and set the tone for our trip. From the airport, we took a limousine bus to Dogo Onsen Station, a ride of about 40 minutes. At the station, we stopped to take photos of the Botchan Karakuri Clock and reflected on how Natsume Soseki once taught in Matsuyama, which inspired the setting of Botchan.
We checked in at Dogo Miyu, staying in Room 407, a Japanese-Western style room with a private open-air hot spring bath. The room felt clean and refined, and the drinks in the refrigerator were complimentary. After dropping off our luggage, we headed to Haikara-dori. We first took photos at the Dogo Onsen Honkan, then climbed the 135 steps to Isaniwa Shrine, where we offered a prayer and received a goshuin stamp. While strolling, we bought a Dogo Beer ALT (750 yen, tax included, Madonna Beer) from Ehime Shugi and enjoyed a Dogo Pudding (540 yen, tax included) and Melting Pudding (480 yen, tax included) from Dogo Pudding.
Before dinner, we visited the Dogo Park observation deck at the Yuzuki Castle Ruins, where we enjoyed a sunny view of the town from above. Dinner was at Kinbei on Haikara-dori, where we had Dogo Beer Kölsch (Botchan Beer), Gagiya Junmai Daiginjo (1,100 yen, tax included), Yukitsuru Ginjo Dogo (930 yen, tax included), and Kyohina Ittoryodan Junmai Daiginjo (1,100 yen, tax included), along with sashimi, Imabari yakitori, Iyo beef kuwa-yaki, Dogo ramen, and more.
Back at the hotel, we headed to the 8th-floor panoramic bath.
Dogo Onsen’s water is an alkaline simple hot spring—colorless, soft on the skin, slightly slippery, and almost odorless. Towels are provided, so there’s no need to bring our own. From the open-air bath, we could see Matsuyama Castle perched on the hill.
Returning to our room, we noticed that room service offered beer and sake, though we didn’t order any this time. Instead, I took an Asahi Super Dry from the refrigerator and enjoyed it with a wasanbon financier, leaving me pleasantly full. We relaxed again in the private open-air bath, and later we requested a massage at the front desk. The 40-minute course (4,000 yen, tax included) was very effective, with firm pressure on our lower backs, necks, and shoulders.
Later that night, I woke up briefly and stepped into the open-air bath again, where I enjoyed a sky full of stars.
On Saturday, March 14, we had breakfast at 8:00. We lightly grilled jakoten for 20–30 seconds, which made it even more flavorful, and I ended up having a second helping of rice. Back in the room, we enjoyed Nespresso coffee (Colombia and India) and took another soak in the open-air bath before checking out at 11:00. We then took the tram to Okaido Station—Suica is accepted—and walked to the Matsuyama Castle Ropeway Station. We took the ropeway up to the castle, where we enjoyed views of the Seto Inland Sea and learned about the history of Matsuyama Castle, built by Kato Yoshiaki when he was granted 200,000 koku in Iyo. There were hands-on experiences such as holding a matchlock gun or sword and trying on armor. We admired the view of the city and sea from the castle tower, then descended by lift.
On the way back to Okaido, we stopped at the Ehime Smile Tourism and Local Products Center to try the famous “mikan juice from a faucet.” For lunch, we went to Kadoya Okaido, where we ordered the Uwajima-style tai-meshi set. At 13:00, the line stretched all the way up the stairs. The dish consists of mixing raw sea bream slices into a sauce of egg and dashi, then pouring it over rice—it was delicious. We also enjoyed a glass of Suimoken Daiginjo. Even though we weren’t very hungry after breakfast, we ended up eating quite a lot because it was so good.
After lunch, we went to the taxi stand in front of Mitsukoshi and headed to Matsuyama Airport. For three people, a taxi is cheaper and faster than the limousine bus. After buying souvenirs, we tried to enter the credit card lounge but learned that AMEX was not accepted, so I waited in the general seating area instead. At 15:45, we passed through security and had a Dogo Beer Weizen (794 yen, tax included) at JAL PLAZA. Our flight departed at 16:45, and we returned to Haneda.
It was a wonderful two-day family trip filled with hot springs, sightseeing, delicious food, and the charm of Dogo Onsen.
That’s all.
