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Magokoro-no-yado Marui-ryokan

Water profile

Magokoro-no-yado Marui-ryokan

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

BicarbonateSodium Bicarbonate spring

A sodium-bicarbonate-led cold-mineral spring at 19.5 °C (below the 25 °C threshold for a thermal source), heated for bathing. Weakly alkaline at pH 8.6–8.7, it carries the soft, slippery touch of Japan's beauty-water family even though mineralization is light at 712 mg/kg. The certificate notes bubbles forming at the wellhead. The lab classifies it as an onsen under the Hot Springs Act on fluoride and sodium-bicarbonate content, but it does not meet the stricter 'therapeutic spring' (ryōyōsen) thresholds, so no formal spring-quality name is assigned.

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%)
  • Sodium203mgP51 national
  • Calcium1.8mgP7 national
  • Potassium1.4mgP17 national
  • Aluminum0.02mgP22 national
  • Iron (II)< —mg
  • Hydrogen< —mg
  • Magnesium< —mg
  • Manganese< —mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Bicarbonate414mgP72 national
  • Carbonate32.4mgP84 national
  • Sulfate29.5mgP34 national
  • Fluoride4.6mgP77 national
  • Chloride2.1mgP3 national
  • BO2< —mg
  • Hydrogen sulfide< —mg
  • HSiO3< —mg
  • Hydroxide< —mg
  • Thiosulfate< —mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid18.7mgP4 national
  • Metaboric acid3.9mgP29 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide1.4mgP20 national
  • Free hydrogen sulfide< —mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Copper0.01mgP76 national
  • Arsenic< —mg
  • Cadmium< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

pH
8.70
Weakly alkaline
Source temperature
19.5°C
Cold mineral
Tonicity
0.71g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
169L/min
Typical
Free CO₂
1.40mg/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.