Onsen OniOnsen Oni

Search Onsen Oni

Search onsen, areas, prefectures and pages.

Tsutsumigawa Hot Spring

Water profile

Tsutsumigawa Hot Spring

Spring chemistry and what it does, with the research behind it.

SimpleSodium Carbonate-HSiO3-Sulfate spring

A simple thermal spring with strong alkalinity (pH 10.0) — the slippery, skin-smoothing feel sits squarely in Japan's beauty-water family. Lightly mineralized at 134 mg/kg total dissolved solids, so the water is gentle on the body without any heavy mineral grip. The wellhead carries a faint rotten-egg whisper of H₂S, lending a quiet sulfurous accent to the otherwise colorless and transparent water.

Good for

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

Recovery

Warmth and buoyancy lower stress markers and improve sleep; habitual bathing is linked to lower rates of depression.

fatigue, stress

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.

Cationsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Sodium40.5mgP10 national
  • Calcium2.1mgP8 national
  • Potassium0.30mgP3 national
  • Aluminum0.0000mg
  • Barium0.0000mg
  • Copper0.0000mg
  • Iron (II)0.0000mg
  • Iron (III)0.0000mg
  • Hydrogen0.0000mg
  • Lithium0.0000mg
  • Magnesium0.0000mg
  • Manganese0.0000mg
  • Ammonium0.0000mg
  • Strontium0.0000mg
  • Zinc0.0000mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Carbonate23.8mgP72 national
  • HSiO341.0mgP82 national
  • Sulfate22.8mgP32 national
  • Hydroxide1.5mgP89 national
  • Chloride1.7mgP2 national
  • BO20.30mgP44 national
  • Hydrogen sulfide0.30mgP47 national
  • Fluoride0.10mgP9 national
  • Bromide0.0000mg
  • Bicarbonate0.0000mg
  • Hydrogen phosphate0.0000mg
  • Iodide0.0000mg
  • Nitrate0.0000mg
  • S0.0000mg
  • Thiosulfate0.0000mg
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide9.7mgP40 national
  • Free hydrogen sulfide0.0000mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic0.01mgP24 national
  • Cadmium< —mg
  • Copper< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

pH
10.00
Alkaline
Source temperature
35.5°C
Warm
Tonicity
0.13g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
160L/min
Typical
Free CO₂
9.70mg/kg
Low

Evidence

  1. 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.
  2. Naito Y et al. A Hot-Spring Water Improves Inflammatory Conditions in an Atopic Dermatitis Model. Biomedicines 13(11):2707, 2025.
  3. Li H et al. Bicarbonate Ionized Water Bathing Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity. Scientific Reports 14:51851, 2024.
  4. Takeda M et al. Hot spring bathing practices have a positive effect on mental health in Japan. Heliyon 9(9):e19631, 2023.

Educational, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, consult a physician before onsen therapy.