道後温泉別館 飛鳥乃湯泉（あすかのゆ）

The 2nd largest of the 3 main hot springs at Dogo. Was apparently built during the restoration of the original building. I went here instead and it was not crowded, had both an indoor and outdoor bath, sauna and overall a relaxing and pleasant experience, would recommend this one if you want to avoid the crowds in the main Dogo onsen.

You can get a free coupon from tourist information (airport) by showing your passport. Offer valid until end March 2026 as far as I know. Relaxing onsen experience. Best to bring your own towel but if you don't have you can rent one at the reception. Note: this is the annex, not the original old onsen

This is the annex of the main Dōgo Onsen building, so everything feels newer and more modern while still keeping a traditional vibe. I opted for the standard entry and rented a bath towel for ¥300. One important note: there was no lotion available on the first floor, and they do not sell any on site. I am not sure about the upper floors since I did not go up, but I recommend bringing your own lotion if your skin dries out easily. The indoor tub is larger than the main Dōgo Onsen second floor, and there is also a small outdoor tub with a roof overhead. There is a spacious shower area before you enter the bath. I went in the evening, so there were more people compared to my morning visit at the main building, but it was still comfortable. Overall, it felt roomier than the main Dōgo Onsen second floor. If I come back, I would like to try the upper floor options here.

I made a reservation for the private bath. There are only 2 of them so book it early (we booked two months in advance). We had a private tatami room and bath, but also had access to the first floor baths and we asked to have our tea and sweets in the large resting hall, which is very beautiful. It is not crowded at all, very clean and new but tastefully designed. I enjoyed the projection video on the traditional bath mural. The only thing missing is moisturizing products so do bring it for after the bath. They provided towels and robes.

We chose a private room for 90 minutes. It was a beautiful and picturesque place to rest and stretch out after a hot bath, especially since we had just arrived on the overnight ferry.