Dogo Yukemuri Cafe どうごゆけむりかふぇ (Matsuyama, JAPAN) ★★★★☆

Dogo Yukemuri Café (どうごゆけむりかふぇ) is a hugely popular traditional Japanese sweet shop located in the historic Dogo Onsen hot spring district of Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture.

Set inside a charming 120-year-old traditional building, it perfectly blends nostalgic charm with modern, photogenic Japanese desserts especially their freshly grilled dango.

These dangos can be served with their housemade gelato, which comes in 14 different flavors.

We didn’t realize they also had a separate tea salon on the mezzanine floor until our server mentioned it — then we noticed the separate entrance. 

After climbing the stairs, we finally arrived at the retro, spacious tatami seating area on the second floor.

It’s not easy to get a seat at this 10-seat salon, but somehow all six of us managed to do it at the same time.

Now it was time to enjoy freshly grilled dangos with our scoops of gelato.

Little nugget went for his usual vanilla, with a scoop of marble gelato, while I chose blueberry cheesecake and salted caramel.

Dangos (糰子) are Japanese dumplings made with a mix of regular rice flour and glutinous rice flour. They’re usually formed into round shapes and served in sets of three to five pieces on a skewer. I usually call them the Japanese "Tong But Lut" (Hong-Kong-style Mochi 糖不甩). 

They are best enjoyed with sugar, syrup, and in this case, a dusting of brown sugar powder.

Dogo Yukemuri Cafe is a must-do for any visitors in Dogo Onsen. It's just across the street from Botchan Karakuri Clock, another famous attraction in Dogo.

And Dogo Haikara Dori Street (Dogo Shopping Street) is also right at the doorstep.

Food Rating: 6/10

Price: ￥￥

Address: 3-16 Dogoyunomachi, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-0842, Japan

Closest Train Station: Dogo Onsen

Tel: +81 (0)89-909-9997

Opening Hours: 10:00am - 7:30pm daily