Alongside Arima Onsen and Shirahama Onsen, Dogo Onsen is one of the three oldest hot springs in Japan. It is said that Prince Shotoku of the Asuka Period (538 to 710) bathed in its waters, and a quote from that time period is engraved in the baths.

The quote translates as something akin to “Just as the sun and moon share light equally, so too do these waters share their blessings equally to all mankind. This kind of equality is the ideal to which we should strive.” He also left behind other words of praise, stating, “As I reached the summit of Isaniwa Hill, I was greeted by the sprawling mountains and the bright vermillion of camellias in full bloom.” The history and spirit of days gone by are preserved and thriving in the halls of Dogo Onsen.

This inscription, however, is a replication. The actual inscription is buried somewhere underground, but just where it lies, we will never know.