Shirakawa Onsen Chimujirubansupa KōBe

Water profile

Shirakawa Onsen Chimujirubansupa KōBe

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

SimpleSodium Bicarbonate-Chloride-Fluoride spring

An alkaline simple thermal spring at pH 8.5. Mineralization is light (263 mg/kg), yet the alkalinity places it in Japan's beauty-water family, giving a soft, slippery feel on the skin. The water is colorless and odorless, and at a source temperature of 28 °C it is classed as a cold thermal spring.

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%)
  • Sodium82.0mgP23 national
  • Magnesium0.90mgP26 national
  • Calcium0.90mgP2 national
  • Potassium0.90mgP12 national
  • Lithium0.10mgP27 national
  • Strontium< —mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Bicarbonate113mgP44 national
  • Chloride33.9mgP24 national
  • Fluoride14.0mgP97 national
  • Sulfate4.0mgP15 national
  • Bromide< —mg
  • Carbonate< —mg
  • Iodide< —mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metaboric acid13.5mgP61 national
  • Metasilicic acid5.3mgP1 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free hydrogen sulfide1.0mgP75 national
  • Free carbon dioxide< —mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic0.0020mgP10 national
  • Mercury0.0005mgP43 national
  • Cadmium< —mg
  • Chromium< —mg
  • Copper< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

Source temperature
28.0°C
Low temp.
Tonicity
0.26g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
78.4L/min
Typical
Free H₂S
1.00mg/kg
Typical

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.