Botchan Karakuri Clock
A mechanical clock in Hojoen plaza in front of Dogo Onsen Station. Installed in 1994 to mark the 100th anniversary of the main building of Dogo Onsen, characters from the novel Botchan appear on the hour. A free foot bath sits beside it.
The Botchan Karakuri Clock is a mechanical clock located in Hojoen, a plaza in front of Dogo Onsen Station. It was installed in 1994 as part of the project celebrating the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Dogo Onsen Honkan. It features a mechanism where characters from Soseki Natsume's novel "Botchan" appear to welcome visitors, and it is one of the representative photo spots in Dogo.
Operating Hours
It operates from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Normally it runs every hour, and every 30 minutes on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, in March, April, August, and November, during the New Year's holiday period (December 28 to January 5), and during Golden Week (May 1 to 5). When it operates, different music plays depending on the time of day, such as "Kono Machi de," "Iyo Manzai," "Botchan's Theme," and "Lullaby-style Iyo-bushi."
Adjacent Footbath
Near the clock, there is a footbath that uses the hot spring source of Dogo Onsen, which can be used free of charge.
Location
Dogo Yunomachi, Matsuyama City (In front of Dogo Onsen Station, Hojoen)
Source: Matsuyama City Official Website. Please check the official website for the latest operation information.
Last confirmation date: July 2026
Articles that mention this place
歴史
Botchan Train — The Meiji-Era Steam Train Named After "Botchan"
Iyo Railway was depicted as a "matchbox-like train" in Soseki's novel "Botchan." This article introduces its history from its opening in 1888, 78 years of steam locomotives, the Heisei-era restored operation, to current usage information. You can check the history and how to ride before seeing it in Dogo.
まちの記憶
Dogo Onsen Station and Hojoen — Gateway to the Hot Spring Town and the Karakuri Clock
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Practical
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Walking the town
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Walking the town
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Getting around
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Practical
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For international travelers visiting Dogo Onsen, this article explains the status of multilingual information provided on official websites and at tourist information centers, as well as key points when exploring the local area.
Practical
Locations of Free Foot Bath Spots in the Dogo Onsen Area and Preparations for Use
This section explains the operating hours of the free foot bath spots (Hojoen and Sora no Sanpodo) scattered around the Dogo Onsen area, as well as information on amenities you should bring or prepare when strolling.
Walking the town
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This is an example of a standard stay time schedule when visiting Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture for 2 days and 1 night. It explains a reasonable route that combines the operating hours of the public bathhouses, bathing procedures, and surrounding sightseeing spots.
Getting around
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This is an example of a route to explore the Dogo Onsen area by utilizing a layover time of approximately 4 hours from Matsuyama Airport or Matsuyama Sightseeing Port. It explains the access procedures for the limousine bus, baggage storage, and how to walk around the town in a short period of time.
実用情報
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旅程
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More spots in Central Dogo Onsen Area
See all in this area →Hotel Patio Dogo
A 101-room hotel directly facing Dogo Onsen Honkan. Tsubaki-no-Yu and Asuka-no-Yu, as well as the shopping street, are within walking distance, making it convenient for visiting the external bathhouses.
Dogo Post Office
Dogo Post Office is located in the Dogo Onsen district. It offers postal, savings, and insurance services, and is conveniently located for sending mail and using the ATM.
Lawson Dogo Haikara-dori
Lawson Dogo Haikara-dori is a convenience store located along Haikara-dori. It can be visited during shopping street strolls.
Obanzai Bar Umegae
A hideaway bar on the first floor of the long-established ryokan Yamatoya Honten. It serves a weekly changing selection of obanzai side dishes and craft beer.
Hyotan Dogo
Established in 1980, this is a restaurant specializing in Chinese ramen and oden. It is considered the originator of Matsuyama’s local ramen, Hyotan Dogo.
Hatoya
A souvenir shop located in Dogo Shotengai. It handles zori and geta, and displays a variety of products including sweets such as Usuzumi Yokan.
Imabariya
A souvenir shop in the Dogo Onsen district. It sells kasuri-patterned hime-daruma and hime-temari, along with sweets, local sake and Imabari towels.
Dogo Shusse Inari Jinja Shrine
An Inari shrine located in the Dogo Onsen town area (Dogo Yunomachi, Matsuyama City). The worship hall, which had been demolished due to aging, was rebuilt in 2018.
More "Parks & Gardens" spots
See all in this category →Iwaidani Kita Park
A park for local residents in a quiet residential area. It has a combined play structure notable for its circular monkey bars, offering a calm, spacious place for children to play.
Joshin-ji Temple
A Tendai Buddhist temple in Iwaidani-higashi-machi, Matsuyama. One of the four temples associated with the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira family, it was relocated to its present site in 1635 (Kan'ei 12) by Matsudaira Sadayuki. The grounds contain the mausoleum of Matsudaira Sadayuki, a designated Ehime Prefecture historic site.
Iwaidani 1-chome Park
A small park ideal for a baby's or toddler's first park outing. It has a sandpit edged with urethane and spring-mounted playground rides shaped like a chick and a rabbit.
Hojoen
The plaza in front of Dogo Onsen Station. With the Botchan Karakuri Clock and a free foot bath that is easy to drop by, it is the starting point of a Dogo stroll.
Shin-Ishite Park
A popular family park along the Ishite River. It has colorful combined playground equipment and a sandpit, and the restrooms are equipped with diaper-changing sheets.
KKR Dogo Yuzuki
A lodging and banquet facility in Iwasaki-cho, Matsuyama. Close to the Dogo Onsen district, it is an inn where guests can enjoy hot springs and meals, and it is also open to the general public.
Iwaidani Park
A neighborhood park with fine views set within a residential area. The cherry blossoms are beautiful in spring, and it has a combined play structure with a swing, seesaw, and slide.
Ishitegawa Green Space (Iwazeki Bridge Area)
An area defined by Iwazeki-bashi, a red suspension bridge completed in the Taisho era. You can enjoy strolling and photography with the murmur of the river as background.