EHIME, Jul 24 (News On Japan) - The Dogo Onsen main building, which has been undergoing restoration and repair work, has fully reopened for the first time in five and a half years.
The moment the hot spring reopened was filled with smiles, and the area around the main building is enveloped in a celebratory mood.
Despite the continuous rain, preparations for a kitchen car event planned to coincide with the full reopening were underway at Gochan Square, located near the main building, just past 10 a.m.
'I'm thrilled to be here today. As someone who loves Dogo Onsen, I found it quite sad to see it covered up. Now that it's finally open, I’m very happy to be able to celebrate,' said one excited visitor.
Bonnie Bakery, known for its unique face-shaped bread, was one of the vendors at the event. They offered eleven varieties of bread, including their most popular Dogo-themed bread, which sold out quickly.
Kozono, which operates Gochan Square, is capitalizing on the onsen's reopening by hosting the kitchen car event and renovating the interior of their specialty chocolate store to attract more tourists.
'We’ve been eagerly waiting for this moment,' said a local shop owner who recently renovated his store to make it more customer-friendly in anticipation of increased tourist traffic. 'We hope more people come and enjoy the newly reopened onsen.'
Dogo Onsen's reopening attracted a large crowd of tourists in the morning.
'Having the onsen fully open again changes everything,' said a local resident. 'We've been waiting for this day, and our expectations are high.'
The number of tourists, including international visitors, who visited Dogo last year exceeded pre-COVID levels from 2019, reaching 77,600. This achievement has filled local businesses and residents with great joy and optimism.
To address the ongoing labor shortage, the shopping district plans to use AI cameras to collect data on visitor traffic patterns. Starting this autumn, they aim to analyze this data to ensure adequate staffing during peak times. Additionally, plans are underway to revamp the joint website for local ryokan and the shopping district to enhance visitor convenience and satisfaction.
'We have the infrastructure ready to welcome guests, but we need to improve the services to ensure sustainability,' said a local business owner. 'By promoting IT and DX (digital transformation), we hope to revitalize the entire Dogo area.'
Ishida, who manages a souvenir shop in the Dogo shopping district, noted a change in visitor behavior. 'Previously, tourists would complete their visit within Dogo, but now they are exploring further, staying at city hotels and enjoying the wider area. We aim to support this shift by providing relevant information and encouraging broader exploration.'
To further this goal, Ishida has been collaborating with local business leaders over the past two years, sharing information and strategies to attract more visitors to the area. 'It's not just a Dogo issue; it's a challenge for all of Matsuyama and Ehime. We are committed to working together as one community to enhance the overall visitor experience.'
Source: 日テレNEWS
