Dogo Onsen Reopens After 5 Years

Jul 12, 2024 | News On Japan

Ehime, Jul 12, 2024 (News On Japan) - Dogo Onsen in Ehime has reopened after five and a half years of renovations. Some people waited as long as eight hours to be the first to take a bath.

The main building of Dogo Onsen, Japan's oldest hot spring, presented an unexpected sight on the morning of the 11th, the day of its reopening.

At 5:40 a.m. on July 11th, despite it being just after dawn, a line of Dogo Onsen enthusiasts had already formed. Even in the rain, over 20 people eagerly awaited the opening.

A university student at the front of the line said, 'I've been here since 10 p.m. last night. Eight hours. I wanted to be the first to take a bath.'

The building opened at 6 a.m.

Dogo Onsen Main Building, boasting a 3,000-year history and featured in Natsume Soseki's novel "Botchan," underwent extensive renovations while partially remaining open. How has it changed?

The newly opened "Shirasagi Room" is spacious and open, offering a view of the iconic 'Shirasagi' (white heron) symbol of the main building.

In this lounge, visitors can enjoy a new dessert, 'Dogo Yukari no Shirasagi.' The soft cookie dough's sweetness pairs well with the mild acidity of the inside.

Meanwhile, the bath fee has increased from 460 yen to 700 yen. In return, shampoo, body soap, lockers, and washbasins have been updated.

Additionally, air conditioning has been installed in the lounge and changing rooms, making the environment more comfortable.

The university student who waited eight hours was delighted, saying, 'I'm very satisfied. It was truly worth the wait.'

Source: FNN

Toyota to Launch Self-Driving Taxis in 2027

Toyota Motor will begin operating fully autonomous taxis in 2027 through a partnership with U.S. self-driving technology company Waymo, marking a major step in the Japanese automaker's efforts to expand driverless transportation services.

Mount Fuji Puts on First Snowcap

Mount Fuji has received its first snowcap of the season, the Japan Meteorological Agency announced on October 30, after temperatures at the summit plunged to minus 9.4 degrees Celsius, marking the arrival of winter conditions on Japan's highest mountain.

Chinese Female Spy Suspected of Targeting Nvidia Chief

U.S. intelligence agencies suspect that a Chinese female intelligence operative developed a close relationship with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in an attempt to obtain confidential corporate and U.S. government information, according to a report published by The New York Times on October 29th.

Japan Blocks Websites Leaking GMO Personal Data

The Japanese government has asked major telecommunications operators to forcibly block access to websites believed to contain personal information stolen in a cyberattack on GMO, it emerged on October 29th, as authorities moved to prevent further exposure of sensitive data online.

Typhoon No. 31 Heads Toward Japan's Remote Islands

Typhoon No. 31 was located near Minamitorishima Island in the Pacific Ocean, as of 3 a.m. on October 30, and was expected to approach the Ogasawara Islands south of Tokyo over the October 31-November 1 weekend while maintaining very strong intensity, bringing a growing risk of dangerously high waves, powerful swells and extremely rough seas.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Travel NEWS

Golden Ginkgo Tunnel Lights Up Sapporo

Hokkaido University's famous ginkgo avenue in Sapporo has reached its peak autumn color, attracting residents and tourists to the campus ahead of the two-day Hokudai Golden Leaf Festival on October 31 and November 1, an event that drew 35,000 visitors last year.

Wakayama's Famous Sea Rocks Come Alive After Dark

A spectacular illumination of the Hashigui Rocks, a nationally designated natural monument in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, is set to begin on October 30, transforming a series of unusual coastal rock formations into a colorful nighttime attraction.

Japan's First Wintry Blast Brings Snow and Freezing Winds

Japan's first major cold spell of the season brought snow, freezing winds and record-low autumn temperatures across the country, with 639 observation points registering their coldest readings of the season on October 29, while forecasts issued that evening indicated that temperatures would recover on October 30 as rain spread across much of the country.

Typhoon No. 31 Heads Toward Japan's Remote Islands

Early Snow Blankets Japan as Winter Arrives Ahead of November

Japan's first significant snowfall of the season has brought winter conditions to Hokkaido and northern Honshu, with snow depths exceeding 10 centimeters in several mountain and inland locations on October 28, while a fresh wave of cold air is expected to bring further snowfall over the weekend of October 31 and November 1.

Osaka's Tsutenkaku Tower Celebrates 70th Anniversary

Osaka's iconic Tsutenkaku Tower celebrated the 70th anniversary of its reopening on October 28, marking seven decades since the landmark was rebuilt in 1956 as a symbol of the city's postwar recovery, while new attractions continue to draw visitors to the surrounding Shinsekai entertainment district.

Strong Earthquake Shakes Narita Airport

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Chiba Prefecture at around 12:07 a.m. on October 29, registering a maximum intensity of 5-lower on Japan's seven-level seismic scale and sending tremors across a wide area of eastern and central Japan, including Narita Airport, where footage captured the moment of shaking.

Japan's Tax-Free Shopping Overhaul to Reshape Inbound Tourism Strategies

Japan will introduce a major overhaul of its tax-free shopping system for foreign visitors on November 1, replacing immediate tax exemptions at stores with a refund system that requires travelers to pay the full consumption tax upfront and claim reimbursement when leaving the country, a change expected to reshape retail strategies and purchasing behavior across the tourism industry.

< 2 3 4 5 >