Let the goodness soak in
Nothing beats a vacation other than a do-nothing sort of day during your vacation. As warned yesterday, this post is short on activity and longer on food. Got my food in early with a few more konbini inari and a rather goopy and tasty soba noodle breakfast.
My breakfast, pre-goop-ifying up all the things. Soba, with sauce, and grated yam, okra, and mushrooms
Today was our long travel day, going from Hiroshima to Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama. One thing for people who read this and want to travel here, unlike in Hiroshima where Suica/Pasmo/Icoca works if you don’t have the local Paspy card, on the Iyotetsu, you need to use the local I-card or pay cash. Anyway, back to trains. It is not uncommon to have themed trains here. We might be used to whole-train advertising at home, but here, they go for the themes. My friend was very excited for our Anpanman Train, which went as far as to have the theme music made into the announcement jingle.
Outside of Anpanman Train 
Ceiling inside of Anpanman Train
Once you get to the Dogo Onsen station via tram, it was a short walk to the hotel, and along the way, you will see the Dogo Onsen building. The story, I’m told, goes that a injured phoenix dipped into the waters there and was magically healed, and so the emperor at that time claimed the room for himself.
My friend booked us at the very fancy Yamatoya Honten Ryokan, around the corner from Dogo Onsen. I am very excited to be sleeping here tonight, as the last roykan I stayed at (in Rendaiji) my first time here was the best night of sleep I had in years.
We were treated to a brief explanation (translation provided by friend greatly apperciated) of a mask used in Noh, which we got to try on, and one of their instruments (the otsuzumi, or hip drum), which we got to play. Shortly after, we took in a brief one-man Noh show on the stage they have here at the hotel performed by the same person who gave us the previously mentioned workshop.
After this comes the part we had been anticipating all day, the dinner! I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. I will say the last time I had an orange that good was the juice I had in Thailand. From what my friend tells me, this prefecture is known for their oranges (much thinner skin than I am used to, and oh, so very sweet! Expect more orange things in the next post.
The table as we walked in 
Four eager and hungry travelers Our appetizer (we think it was edamame tofu and a fish with green bean) Fish cake soup Sashimi platter (ebi, o-toro, kanpachi and tai (sea bream) Nabe pot Nabe pot done! The broth was amazing! Grill-it-yourself beef The sizzle! Just about done Manjuu stuffed with meat Fried fugu Rice and soup MIKAN!!! Mikan, mostly picked clean Four very satisfied travelers Karuta, a game of poems
Once you’re stuffed with dinner, then it’s off to the onsen to soak away your cares. This time, unlike my first experience at an onsen, I had other people in the room. I know some out there are nervous about nudity, but it’s something you’ll get over real fast, as no one else has any issue with it here. I only wish there was a cold soak pool here, but next best thing is soaking in the outdoor pool, nice evening chill contrasting with the hot spring makes for a perfect end to a day. We’re all now jelly, so we shall ooze off to bed. Thanks for reading!
