Onsen OniOnsen Oni

Search Onsen Oni

Search onsen, areas, prefectures and pages.

Zen-no-yu

Water profile

Zen-no-yu

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

SulfateCalcium-Sodium Sulfate spring

A calcium- and sodium-led sulfate spring with sulfate's quiet, mineral-rich body. Alkaline at the wellhead (pH 9.0), the water carries the slippery soft-on-skin feel that puts it in the Japanese 'beauty-water' family. It surfaces at 47 °C — faintly whitish and slightly turbid, with a soft oily note rather than the standard 'clear and odourless' default.

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

On the certificate:神経痛Joint painFrozen shoulderMotor paralysisJoint stiffnessBruisesSprains

Circulation

Skin-absorbed CO₂ and hydrogen sulfide relax the vessel walls; carbon-dioxide springs can raise peripheral blood flow several-fold.

tired legs

On the certificate:Hemorrhoids動脈硬化症

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

On the certificate:Cutsやけど

Recovery

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

fatigue, stress

On the certificate:ConvalescenceFatigue recoveryGeneral health improvement

Take care

Contraindications
  • 急性疾患(特に熱のある場合)
  • Active tuberculosis
  • Malignant tumor
  • 重い心臓病
  • 呼吸不全
  • Renal failure
  • Bleeding disorders
  • Severe anemia
  • 動脈硬化症(高温泉の場合)
  • 高血圧症(高温泉の場合)
  • その他一般に病勢進行中の疾患
  • 妊娠中(特に初期と末期)

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%)
  • Calcium202mgP85 national
  • Sodium212mgP54 national
  • Potassium2.9mgP26 national
  • Magnesium0.10mgP11 national
  • Copper0.01mgP71 national
  • Manganese0.01mgP17 national
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Sulfate825mgP93 national
  • Chloride72.4mgP33 national
  • Bicarbonate17.3mgP11 national
  • Fluoride6.7mgP83 national
  • Bromide0.05mgP8 national
  • Thiosulfate0.05mgP34 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid47.4mgP27 national
  • Metaboric acid46.3mgP86 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free hydrogen sulfide0.10mgP61 national

Measured at the source

pH
9.00
Alkaline
Source temperature
47.0°C
Hot
Tonicity
1.38g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
169L/min
Typical
Free H₂S
0.10mg/kg
Low

On the certificate

  • Chronic digestive disorders
  • Cold sensitivity
  • 高血圧症
  • 慢性皮膚病

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. Tei C, Kihara T. Waon Therapy for Chronic Heart Failure. J. Cardiology 53(2):214–218, 2009.
  3. Coavoy-Sánchez SA et al. Hydrogen sulfide and dermatological diseases. Int. J. Dermatology, 2019.
  4. Naito Y et al. A Hot-Spring Water Improves Inflammatory Conditions in an Atopic Dermatitis Model. Biomedicines 13(11):2707, 2025.
  5. Toriyama T et al. Carbon dioxide foot bathing on critical limb ischemia. International Angiology 21(4):367–373, 2002.
  6. Donaubauer AJ et al. Serial radon spa therapy on pain in musculoskeletal disorders. Frontiers in Immunology, 2024.
  7. Verhagen AP et al. Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD000518, 2015.
  8. Li H et al. Bicarbonate Ionized Water Bathing Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity. Scientific Reports 14:51851, 2024.
  9. 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.