Matsuyama in 2 days: stay in Okaido or Dogo?
Spend one night near Okaido to visit the castle keep, or near Dogo Onsen to return to your accommodation after bathing. The Okaido route visits the keep and hot springs on different days. The Dogo route enjoys honmaru views without entering the keep. Move the final visit to the previous day or skip it if departing the following morning.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
Stay in Okaido for the castle and hot springs
Spend one night near Okaido to visit the castle keep and bathe the next day. Visit the castle and hot springs on separate days, then return to Okaido after your bath before departing.
Stay in Okaido for the castle and hot springs →2 days, 1 nightStay in Dogo and see the castle views
Spend one night in Dogo to rest nearby after bathing. The next day, enjoy city views from Matsuyama Castle’s honmaru grounds. This route includes the return ropeway but no keep interior visit.
Stay in Dogo and see the castle views →Stay in Okaido for the castle and hot springs
Spend one night near Okaido to visit the castle keep and bathe the next day. Visit the castle and hot springs on separate days, then return to Okaido after your bath before departing.
Day 1: go up to Matsuyama Castle
Spend one night near Okaido, visiting the castle keep on day 1 and Dogo Onsen Honkan on day 2.
- Matsuyama Airport or JR Matsuyama Station → Okaido stop
From JR Matsuyama Station, take city tram 5 towards Dogo Onsen and get off at Okaido. From the airport, collect your luggage and choose a limousine bus that stops at Okaido. Some airport departures do not stop there, so check the timetable for your travel date. Arrival-day transport is excluded from the sightseeing subtotal below.
City tram timetableAirport limousine routes, fares and timetable for 1–24 October 2026Reaching the lower station
- Okaido stop → Shinonomeguchi lower ropeway station
Walk from Okaido tram stop to the Shinonomeguchi lower ropeway station. The official estimate is about 5 minutes.
- Shinonomeguchi lower ropeway station → Upper station and keep ticket office
Buy an adult return ticket for ¥520 at the lower station and take the ropeway. From the upper station, walk through the honmaru grounds to the keep ticket office. The operator’s roughly 30-minute estimate from the lower station’s first floor to the ticket office excludes time inside the keep.
- Keep ticket office → Matsuyama Castle keep
Adult keep admission is ¥520, separate from the return ropeway ticket. Usual hours are 09:00–17:00, with last admission 30 minutes before closing. Hours differ in August and December–January; check the closing time for your date before entering.
- Matsuyama Castle keep → Lower ropeway station and Okaido shopping street
After your visit, return to the upper boarding point and take the ropeway down. Walk from the lower station towards Okaido for a meal or rest.
If you arrive too late for keep admission, have a meal in the city on day 1. Before moving the castle visit to day 2, check whether you can still finish bathing and reach your departure service. Drop one of the two visits if time is short.
Day 2: bathe at Dogo Onsen, return to Okaido and depart
- Okaido accommodation → Dogo Onsen Honkan
Take city tram 3 from Okaido towards Dogo Onsen. Get off at the terminus, Dogo Onsen Station, and walk along Haikara-dori to Honkan. The Kami-no-Yu bath-only option costs ¥700 for adults, operates 06:00–23:00 with reception until 22:30, and allows 60 minutes. Reservations are not accepted. Leave separate time for the walk from the station and on-site waiting.
Bathing options, prices and reservation conditionsCity tram timetableApril 2026 fare table, page 2Official walking map of Dogo Onsen Station, shopping street and Honkan
- Dogo Onsen Honkan → Okaido stop
After bathing, return to Dogo Onsen Station and take tram 3 towards Matsuyama-shi, getting off at Okaido. Have a meal or rest in the shopping area, then choose the airport or JR departure route below. Move bathing to another day if you depart in the morning.
Included costs: Keep ¥520 + return ropeway ¥520 + Kami-no-Yu ¥700 + two tram rides: ¥500 cash or ¥460 with an IC card
Separate costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, luggage storage, separately used transport between accommodation, stops, stations and attractions, arrival-day transport, airport limousine buses, taxis and additional transport are separate.
This is the subtotal for one adult visiting the castle keep, taking the return ropeway, bathing at Honkan’s Kami-no-Yu and taking two trams between Okaido and Dogo Onsen on day 2. Both tram rides cost ¥500 when paid in cash or ¥460 with a nationwide transit IC card. The extra tram to the JR station or airport bus on departure day is excluded.
Castle fees and hoursBathing options, prices and reservation conditionsApril 2026 fare table, page 2Boarding and payment methods
Stay in Dogo and see the castle views
Spend one night in Dogo to rest nearby after bathing. The next day, enjoy city views from Matsuyama Castle’s honmaru grounds. This route includes the return ropeway but no keep interior visit.
Day 1: bathe at Dogo Onsen Honkan
Spend one night near Dogo, bathing at Honkan before visiting the honmaru grounds the next day. The return ropeway is included; the keep interior is excluded.
- Matsuyama Airport or JR Matsuyama Station → Dogo Onsen Station stop
From JR Matsuyama Station, take city tram 5 towards Dogo Onsen and get off at Dogo Onsen Station. From the airport, check that your limousine bus leaves after your actual arrival and stops at Dogo Onsen Station. Not every airport departure goes there. Arrival-day transport is excluded from the sightseeing subtotal.
City tram timetableAirport limousine routes, fares and timetable for 1–24 October 2026Bathing options, prices and reservation conditions
- Dogo Onsen Station and Haikara-dori → Dogo Onsen Honkan
Walk along Haikara-dori from Dogo Onsen Station to Honkan, where you can bathe in the hot springs.
Bathing options, prices and reservation conditionsOfficial walking map of Dogo Onsen Station, shopping street and Honkan
- Dogo Onsen Honkan → Dogo accommodation
Honkan’s Kami-no-Yu bath-only option costs ¥700 for adults, operates 06:00–23:00 with reception until 22:30, and allows 60 minutes. Advance reservations are not accepted. Waiting or temporary operating changes may delay your bath. Afterwards, choose an open restaurant on Haikara-dori for dinner and return to your accommodation in Dogo. The distance from Honkan depends on the accommodation’s address.
Bathing options, prices and reservation conditionsOfficial walking map of Dogo Onsen Station, shopping street and Honkan
Day 2: visit the honmaru grounds via Okaido and return
- Dogo accommodation → Matsuyama Castle honmaru grounds
Take tram 3 from Dogo Onsen Station towards Matsuyama-shi and get off at Okaido. Walk about 5 minutes to the Shinonomeguchi ropeway station and buy an adult return ticket for ¥520. Walk from the upper station to the honmaru plaza. The operator’s roughly 30-minute estimate covers the ropeway and walk from the lower station’s first floor to the keep ticket office. Allow separate time in the grounds, which are free. This route excludes the keep interior.
Castle fees and hoursReaching the lower stationCity tram timetableApril 2026 fare table, page 2
- Matsuyama Castle honmaru grounds → Dogo Onsen Station
Return from the honmaru grounds to the upper boarding point and take the ropeway down. Walk to Okaido stop, take tram 3 towards Dogo Onsen and get off at Dogo Onsen Station. Choose the airport or JR departure route below to suit your destination.
Included costs: Return ropeway ¥520 + Kami-no-Yu ¥700 + two tram rides: ¥500 cash or ¥460 with an IC card; keep excluded
Separate costs: Flights, accommodation, meals, luggage storage, separately used transport between accommodation, stops, stations and attractions, arrival-day transport, airport limousine buses, taxis and additional transport are separate. Keep interior admission of ¥520 is excluded.
This amount covers a return ropeway trip to enjoy the honmaru views without entering the keep, plus two tram rides between Dogo Onsen and Okaido on day 2. Add ¥520 if you want to enter the keep. The extra departure tram to the JR station or airport bus is excluded.
Castle fees and hoursBathing options, prices and reservation conditionsApril 2026 fare table, page 2Boarding and payment methods
Questions before you go
Does staying in Dogo include a Honkan bath?
Dogo Onsen Honkan is a public bathhouse separate from your accommodation. This route uses the Kami-no-Yu bath-only option: ages 12+ ¥700, 06:00–23:00, reception until 22:30 and a 60-minute limit. Advance reservations are not accepted and queues may occur. Check Honkan admission separately from accommodation rates. Other relaxation-room options change the price. Facility conditions checked 9 October 2026.
Official sources and check dates
- Castle fees and hours ·
- Reaching the lower station ·
- Bathing options, prices and reservation conditions ·
- Airport limousine routes, fares and timetable for 1–24 October 2026 ·
- Matsuyama Airport bus information ·
- City tram timetable ·
- April 2026 fare table, page 2 ·
- Boarding and payment methods ·
- Official walking map of Dogo Onsen Station, shopping street and Honkan ·