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Dorogawaonsen Visitor Center

Water profile

Dorogawaonsen Visitor Center

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

SimpleSodium Bicarbonate-Chloride spring

A gentle simple thermal spring, weakly alkaline at pH 8.29 — soft on the skin, sitting in the Japanese beauty-water family thanks to its mild alkalinity. Lightly mineralized at 241 mg/kg of dissolved solids, it makes for an undemanding soak. The 29 °C source is a cold-mineral grade spring (under the 'low-temperature' class) reheated before bathing.

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%)
  • Sodium62.9mgP19 national
  • Calcium5.1mgP18 national
  • Magnesium0.30mgP16 national
  • Potassium0.50mgP5 national
  • Zinc0.02mgP49 national
  • Copper0.0040mgP57 national
  • Aluminum< —mg
  • Barium< —mg
  • Iron (II)< —mg
  • Lithium< —mg
  • Manganese< —mg
  • Ammonium< —mg
  • Strontium< —mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Bicarbonate95.0mgP41 national
  • Chloride24.0mgP18 national
  • Carbonate18.1mgP64 national
  • Fluoride3.3mgP67 national
  • Sulfate3.3mgP13 national
  • Hydrogen phosphate2.5mgP90 national
  • Bromide0.50mgP47 national
  • Hydrogen sulfide0.80mgP66 national
  • Iodide< —mg
  • Nitrate< —mg
  • Thiosulfate< —mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid22.4mgP7 national
  • Metaboric acid2.2mgP20 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide3.7mgP26 national
  • Free hydrogen sulfide< —mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic0.02mgP34 national
  • Cadmium< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

Source temperature
29.0°C
Low temp.
Tonicity
0.24g/kg
Hypotonic
Free CO₂
3.70mg/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.