A sodium-led sulfate spring emerging at a hot 49 °C, weakly alkaline (pH 7.7) and moderately mineralized at 1,422 mg/kg dissolved solids — settled, mineral-rich body on the skin. A generous 212 mg/kg of metasilicic acid leaves the kind of silica film that places it in Japan's "beauty-water" family, with skin feeling noticeably smoother afterwards.
Good for
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
Circulation
Skin-absorbed CO₂ and hydrogen sulfide relax the vessel walls; carbon-dioxide springs can raise peripheral blood flow several-fold.
tired legs
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
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⁺215mgP54 national58%
- Calciumsettling and calming; can leave a white mineral bloomCa²⁺60.6mgP61 national19%
- Magnesiummild; a laxative if you drink itMg²⁺32.5mgP77 national17%
- Potassiumminor; matters for drinking limitsK⁺33.7mgP77 national5%
- ManganeseMn²⁺2.1mgP91 national0.5%
- AmmoniumNH₄⁺0.50mgP49 national0.2%
- AluminumAl³⁺0.30mgP67 national0.1%
- ZincZn²⁺NDmg
- Hydrogen phosphateHPO₄²⁻349mgP100 national44%
- Sulfate"gypsum / Glauber's salt" — vessels and wound healingSO₄²⁻427mgP83 national42%
- Chloridetable-salt anion — coats the skin and holds heat inCl⁻81.6mgP36 national14%
- BicarbonateHCO₃⁻1.6mgP2 national0.3%
- FluorideF⁻0.30mgP24 national0.1%
- Hydrogen sulfideHS⁻0.0000mg0.0%
- HydroxideOH⁻0.0000mg0.0%
- ThiosulfateS₂O₃²⁻0.0000mg0.0%
- Metasilicic acidmetasilicic acid — a natural moisturizer for silky skinH₂SiO₃212mgP88 national
- Metaboric acidmetaboric acid — mildly antibacterialHBO₂5.1mgP37 national
- Free carbon dioxidefizz — widens blood vessels (strong above 1000 mg/kg)CO₂22.0mgP53 national
- Free hydrogen sulfide"egg" smell — opens vessels, antibacterialH₂S0.0000mg
- CadmiumCdNDmg
- CopperCuNDmg
- Mercurytoxic trace — part of the drinking-safety checkHgNDmg
- LeadPbNDmg
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.
- 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.