What to Bring to Dogo Onsen's Public Baths, and Whether You Can Go Empty-Handed (Towels and Amenities)

What to Bring

What you need depends on the bathhouse and course. If you bring a towel, plan for one to use before and after bathing. If your course includes a towel, you do not need to rent one at the shop.

“Not listed” means the official website has no corresponding entry for that item. Prices are from the shop list on each bathhouse's page and include tax.

Dogo Onsen Honkan: Towels Vary by Course, and Shampoo Is Provided

At the Honkan, both Kami no Yu and Rei no Yu have shampoo, conditioner and body soap. Towels vary by course: the Rei no Yu 3rd-floor private room, Rei no Yu 3rd-floor reserved room and Rei no Yu 2nd-floor seating include a rental towel and rental bath towel. Kami no Yu 2nd-floor seating and Kami no Yu ground floor do not have towels.

If you forget a towel, you can rent or buy one at the shop. The shop list on the Honkan page gives a rental towel at 110 yen, a rental bath towel at 320 yen, an original face towel at 360 yen and an original bath towel at 1,800 yen.

Asuka no Yu: Shampoo on the 1st Floor, Towels by Course

At Asuka no Yu, the 1st-floor bath has shampoo, conditioner and body soap, but the 2nd-floor special bathroom does not. Towels vary by course: the 2nd-floor special bathroom includes a rental towel and rental bath towel, and the 2nd-floor private room includes a rental towel. The 2nd-floor large hall and 1st-floor bath do not have towels.

The shop list on the Asuka no Yu page gives a rental towel at 110 yen, a rental bath towel at 320 yen, an original face towel at 650 yen and an original bath towel at 2,200 yen.

Tsubaki no Yu: No Amenities Are Provided, So Bring Your Own

Dogo Onsen Tsubaki no Yu does not provide shampoo, conditioner, body soap or similar items. You may bring your own towels and body soap. If you forget something, you can buy it at the shop. The shop list on the Tsubaki no Yu page gives shampoo and conditioner at 50 yen each, a rental towel at 110 yen, a rental bath towel at 320 yen, an original face towel at 650 yen and an original bath towel at 2,200 yen.

Bringing Your Own Items and the Shop

All 3 baths sell a bathing garment that covers scars for 500 yen. Rental towels and rental bath towels are listed at 110 yen and 320 yen on each bathhouse's page, but at 100 yen and 300 yen on the FAQ. Check at the shop.

Bathing Manners

The following are the main rules related to bathing.

• Do not bathe after drinking alcohol.
• Wash your body before entering the tub.
• Tie back long hair and do not put towels in the tub.
• Do not reserve spots or leave personal belongings unattended, and do not run in the bathing area.
• Do not wash your body at the water outlet, and sit down when using the shower.
• Drink water after bathing.
• Do not take photos in the changing room or bathing area, and do not use mobile phones or smartphones there.
• Lock your locker, and wear the key band on your wrist in the bathing area so you do not leave it behind.
• Do not submerge or swim in the tub, and do not dye or cut hair or do laundry.
• Do not bathe in swimwear or while wearing a towel.
• Wipe your body before returning to the changing room, rinse used buckets and stools with water, and put them back where they belong.
• Press the faucet once and water runs for a set time, then stops automatically.

According to the FAQ, you may bathe in a special bathing garment designed to cover scars from breast cancer surgery, skin grafts and similar procedures. Clothing other than a bathing garment, such as underwear or swimwear, is not allowed. At all 3 baths, please refrain from eating or drinking food or beverages you bring in.

Payment (Do You Need Cash?)

All 3 baths list cashless payment on their pages. Accepted methods are credit cards, debit cards (branded debit), electronic money, transit IC cards and QR codes.

There are situations where cash is required.

• Asuka no Yu: The shoe locker requires 100 yen in cash (returned when you retrieve your shoes).
• Tsubaki no Yu: Shoe lockers and changing boxes may require cash.

For whether the Honkan's shoe lockers and lockers require cash, ask at the Honkan counter.

Lockers, Valuables and Hairdryers

Dogo Onsen Honkan and Asuka no Yu have free lockers in each changing room, and there are paid coin lockers in several places in the buildings. At Tsubaki no Yu, use the lockers in each changing room or the paid lockers in the building (changing locker 10 yen). Large carry-on cases and similar items can be left at the paid luggage storage at the Honkan and Asuka no Yu. Manage valuables yourself.

Hairdryers cost 10 yen for 3 minutes at Tsubaki no Yu and are free at the Honkan and Asuka no Yu.

The “Dogo 3-Bath Tour Ticket” for Visiting All 3 Public Baths

If you want to bathe at all 3 public baths in succession (Dogo Onsen Honkan, Tsubaki no Yu and Asuka no Yu), there is the “Dogo 3-Bath Tour (Shuto) Ticket.”

• Price: 1,440 yen for adults and 680 yen for children (about 20% cheaper than the regular prices)
• Baths included: One entry each to the Kami no Yu ground floor at Dogo Onsen Honkan, Tsubaki no Yu and the 1st-floor bath at Asuka no Yu
• Course changes: You cannot change to another course even by paying the difference
• Where to buy: The counters at the 3 baths
• Validity: 2 days, the day of purchase and the following day

Of the baths covered by this ticket, the Kami no Yu ground floor and the Asuka no Yu 1st-floor bath do not provide towels, and Tsubaki no Yu does not provide shampoo or similar items. If you plan to visit all 3 baths, bring a towel and shampoo.

Not Listed on the Official Website

The official website's FAQ and “Bathing Manners” page do not confirm the following:

• Whether an “empty-handed” set is available

• Whether people with tattoos (irezumi) may bathe

• A guideline for how long to spend at the public baths (the Tsubaki no Yu page states a use time of within 1 hour)

• Dogo Onsen official website: FAQ

• Dogo Onsen official website: Bathing Manners

• Dogo Onsen official website: Dogo Onsen Honkan

• Dogo Onsen official website: Dogo Onsen Annex Asuka no Yu

• Dogo Onsen official website: Dogo Onsen Tsubaki no Yu

Sources and Verification Dates

The content of the Dogo Onsen official website's (dogo.jp) FAQ and “Bathing Manners” pages is as of 2026-10-11. The shop, payment and cash-required information is as of 2026-10-23.