The Dogo Onsen is the oldest and most famous Onsen in Japan. It was also the inspiration for giant onsen in the Miyazaki film, "Spirited Away". It's about $3 to get in with general admission. This is if you just want to take a bath. However, if you spend another $3, they loan you a yukata (think short and simple kimono) and after your bath you get to drink tea and eat crackers on the 2nd floor. I would recommend spending the extra $3 to do this, it's such a great experience. Everything is traditional and everyone is dressed as they would be 200 years ago. You might fool yourself into thinking you're back in the time of the samurai. For another $3 you get access to another room on the 2nd floor, where tea and cookies are provided. You can lounge around for an hour and de-stress in this traditional, and a bit more exclusive, room. They also have private rooms on the 3rd floor available for booking if you want to hold a little get together. When I first entered the Dogo district I thought I had gone back in time. Dispite the obvious intrusion of modern conveniences (like convenience stores and shopping courts) there is a lot here that will help you envision the past. I remember eating some cold chicken I had bought at the nearby Lawson (convenience store, like Japanese 7/11) and looking up at the Dogo Onsen while sitting on nearby stone steps. Japanese tourists in traditional night garb were walking up and down the street, fanning themselves in the evening heat. I remember that there were a couple stray cats wandering around this area. I shared some of my food with one of the more friendly cats, the cat was thin and seemed to really appreciate it. As I sat with my new companion we watched people on rickshaws beind escourted around the area. The occasional appearence of a big annoying "dogo onsen bus" broke the atmosphere a couple times, but generally it was one of those simply perfect moments in life. If you head to the train stop from the onsen you are bound to walk through the shopping court. There's lots to see here as it's mostly locals who specialize in very specific items or foods. It's at least worth a look. There is also a youth hostel near the onsen. It's run by a very sweet, if a little bit crazy, man. Apparently he suceeded from Japan and his hostel is on independant land where he can do as he likes. The night by night cost is pretty cheap, about $20. I think it's a great deal considering they have multiple computers with internet access, great showers, and great common areas. Plus, whenever you come back to the hostel after a day of exploring, the owner will look you in the eyes and say, "welcome home". All in all, Dogo Onsen is a very unique and wonderful treasure in Japan. Not many foreigners visit it, though. It's a bit of a shame.