An alkaline simple sulfur spring. At the wellhead the water carries a faint yellowish tint, a soft rotten-egg whiff of hydrogen sulfide, and a barely sweet note on the tongue. At pH 9.4 it sits firmly in the Japanese beauty-water family, with the slippery feel that strong alkalinity gives on the skin. Mineralization is light at 0.413 g/kg, so the body of the water stays gentle rather than heavy.
Good for
Skin conditions
Sulfur and acidic waters are antibacterial and keratolytic, studied for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
atopic skin, eczema
Circulation
Skin-absorbed CO₂ and hydrogen sulfide relax the vessel walls; carbon-dioxide springs can raise peripheral blood flow several-fold.
tired legs
Aches & joints
Warmth eases stiffness and raises the pain threshold. Radon and sulfate springs show the strongest evidence for joint and muscle pain.
stiff shoulders
Smooth skin
Bicarbonate and alkalinity gently lift dead keratin while silica hydrates, leaving skin smooth. This is the basis of the beautifying-water (bijin-no-yu 美人の湯) reputation.
dry, rough skin
Cuts
Mineral-rich chloride, sulfate and sulfur waters have a long-recorded soothing effect on minor cuts and slow-healing skin.
minor wounds
Recovery
Warmth and buoyancy lower stress markers and improve sleep; habitual bathing is linked to lower rates of depression.
fatigue, stress
Take care
Sensitive-skin caution
Strongly acidic or sulfur-rich water can sting broken, atopic-flare, or dry elderly skin. Ease in slowly and rinse off if it stings.
broken or dry skin
Full composition
The bar is each ion's share of charge (mval%) within its group; over 20% names the spring. Gases, silica and trace metals are measured by mass only.
- Sodiumsalt's cation — pairs with chloride to make the water saltyNa⁺110mgP32 national96%
- Calciumsettling and calming; can leave a white mineral bloomCa²⁺1.8mgP7 national2%
- Potassiumminor; matters for drinking limitsK⁺2.5mgP25 national1%
- AluminumAl³⁺0.10mgP54 national0.2%
- Magnesiummild; a laxative if you drink itMg²⁺0.40mgP18 national
- Carbonatestrongly alkaline; slippery feelCO₃²⁻63.0mgP94 national38%
- Bicarbonate"soda" — softens skin, leaves it smoothHCO₃⁻95.0mgP41 national28%
- Chloridetable-salt anion — coats the skin and holds heat inCl⁻16.0mgP16 national8%
- Thiosulfateoxidized sulfurS₂O₃²⁻—mg1%
- Sulfate"gypsum / Glauber's salt" — vessels and wound healingSO₄²⁻23.0mgP32 national
- Fluoridetrace; drinking limits applyF⁻5.5mgP79 national
- Metasilicic acidmetasilicic acid — a natural moisturizer for silky skinH₂SiO₃88.0mgP50 national
- Metaarsenious acidHAsO₂0.05mgP38 national
- Metaboric acidmetaboric acid — mildly antibacterialHBO₂0.04mgP4 national
- Free carbon dioxidefizz — widens blood vessels (strong above 1000 mg/kg)CO₂2.0mgP21 national
- Free hydrogen sulfide"egg" smell — opens vessels, antibacterialH₂S0.10mgP61 national
Measured at the source
Evidence
- Maeda M. 温泉の医学的効果とその科学的根拠. J. Hot Spring Science 70:197–207, 2021.
- Tei C, Kihara T. Waon Therapy for Chronic Heart Failure. J. Cardiology 53(2):214–218, 2009.
- Coavoy-Sánchez SA et al. Hydrogen sulfide and dermatological diseases. Int. J. Dermatology, 2019.
- Naito Y et al. A Hot-Spring Water Improves Inflammatory Conditions in an Atopic Dermatitis Model. Biomedicines 13(11):2707, 2025.
- Akiyama H et al. Antimicrobial effects of acidic hot-spring water on S. aureus. J. Dermatological Science 24(3):193–200, 2000.
- Toriyama T et al. Carbon dioxide foot bathing on critical limb ischemia. International Angiology 21(4):367–373, 2002.
- Donaubauer AJ et al. Serial radon spa therapy on pain in musculoskeletal disorders. Frontiers in Immunology, 2024.
- Verhagen AP et al. Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD000518, 2015.
- Li H et al. Bicarbonate Ionized Water Bathing Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity. Scientific Reports 14:51851, 2024.
- Takeda M et al. Hot spring bathing practices have a positive effect on mental health in Japan. Heliyon 9(9):e19631, 2023.
- Ministry of the Environment, Japan. 禁忌症及び入浴又は飲用上の注意事項 (2014 notice).official