Historic Dogo Onsen bathhouse fully reopens

S/ Seike Riku, NNN/Nankai Broadcasting Reporter / The opening time is less than 30 minutes away. Many people have lined up along the bathhouse. 

S/ Visitor / I came at 10 p.m. yesterday. I knew that I will be able to go through the precious experience of Dogo Onsen's reopening, so I thought I might as well be the first in line. 

With the sound of the drum at 6 a.m. on July 11, the entrance of the Dogo Onsen Honkan opened. 

People who gathered bought tickets and went inside the public bathhouse in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture. 

Since January 2019, the Dogo Onsen Honkan has been going through conservation renovations including making the facility earthquake resistant. 

It continued operating partially and fully reopened for the first time in five-and-a-half years. 

S/ Visitor / It felt very good. The bathwater is hot, so I still feel warm and nice. 

The Dogo Onsen Honkan now has two private rooms for resting that users can rent. 

Located on the main island of Shikoku in western Japan, the historic bathhouse has been designated as a national important cultural property. 

It is the symbol of Dogo Onsen, which is said to have a history of about 3,000 years and is considered to be one of Japan's oldest hot springs.