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Iruka Onsen Hotel Seiryuusou

Water profile

Iruka Onsen Hotel Seiryuusou

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

SimpleSodium spring

An alkaline simple thermal spring served at 43.2 °C. With pH 9.1, the water sits in the slippery, skin-smoothing range that earns the Japanese "beauty-water" label. Aside from a noticeable fluoride reading (about 14 mg/kg), the mineral load is light, leaving the bath gentle and soft on the body.

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%)
  • Sodium119mgP34 national
  • Potassium0.40mgP4 national
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Fluoride14.1mgP96 national
  • Sulfate4.7mgP15 national
  • Chloride0.74mgP1 national

Measured at the source

Source temperature
43.2°C
Hot
Tonicity
Hypotonic

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.