Okunoyu

Water profile

Okunoyu

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

SimpleSodium Sulfate-Chloride spring

A gentle simple thermal spring in the hypotonic, neutral, high-temperature class, emerging at 73.1 °C — among Japan's hotter natural sources. Lightly mineralized and easy on the body, it is nonetheless rich in metasilicic acid, placing it in Japan's beauty-water family: the silica leaves a thin moisturizing film that makes skin feel smoother. The water is nearly colorless and clear, carrying a faint note of hydrogen sulfide and a whisper of metallic taste from its trace iron — real character for a spring classified as simple.

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

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%)
  • Sodium75.8mgP20 national
  • Calcium19.0mgP37 national
  • Potassium36.9mgP79 national
  • Magnesium4.1mgP45 national
  • Iron (II)2.5mgP77 national
  • Lithium0.60mgP59 national
  • Aluminum0.20mgP67 national
  • Manganese0.60mgP73 national
  • Ammonium0.30mgP37 national
  • Zinc< —mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Sulfate192mgP65 national
  • Chloride51.2mgP27 national
  • Bicarbonate25.6mgP16 national
  • Fluoride1.3mgP54 national
  • Bromide0.30mgP35 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid75.3mgP48 national
  • Metaboric acid3.9mgP30 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide33.4mgP61 national
  • Free hydrogen sulfide0.90mgP72 national
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic0.01mgP32 national
  • Copper< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

Source temperature
73.1°C
Hot
Tonicity
0.49g/kg
Hypotonic
Free CO₂
33mg/kg
Low
Free H₂S
0.90mg/kg
Low
Radon
1.78Bq/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. Donaubauer AJ et al. Serial radon spa therapy on pain in musculoskeletal disorders. Frontiers in Immunology, 2024.
  4. Verhagen AP et al. Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD000518, 2015.
  5. Li H et al. Bicarbonate Ionized Water Bathing Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity. Scientific Reports 14:51851, 2024.
  6. 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.