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Shosenkaku Kagetsu

Water profile

Shosenkaku Kagetsu

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

SimpleSodium-Calcium Chloride spring

A hot (57.2 °C) simple thermal spring — sodium and chloride dominate the ionic balance, but total dissolved solids (948.6 mg/kg) sit just below the 1,000 mg/kg threshold, so the certificate classifies it as simple thermal spring rather than a true chloride spring. Weakly alkaline at pH 7.9, soft on the skin, with a faint chloride character running underneath.

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%)
  • Sodium225mgP55 national
  • Calcium87.5mgP68 national
  • Potassium4.2mgP32 national
  • Ammonium0.30mgP40 national
  • Strontium0.60mgP72 national
  • Lithium0.40mgP50 national
  • Aluminum< —mg
  • Barium< —mg
  • Copper< —mg
  • Iron (II)< —mg
  • Magnesium< —mg
  • Manganese< —mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloride406mgP72 national
  • Sulfate136mgP60 national
  • Bicarbonate18.8mgP12 national
  • Fluoride1.1mgP49 national
  • Bromide1.7mgP69 national
  • Iodide0.90mgP76 national
  • Carbonate0.10mgP11 national
  • Hydrogen sulfide< —mg
  • Thiosulfate< —mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid47.8mgP27 national
  • Metaboric acid17.6mgP72 national
  • Metaarsenious acid0.60mgP85 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide0.40mgP14 national
  • Free hydrogen sulfide< —mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic0.39mgP90 national
  • CadmiumNDmg
  • MercuryNDmg
  • LeadNDmg

Measured at the source

Source temperature
57.2°C
Hot
Tonicity
0.95g/kg
Hypotonic
Free CO₂
0.40mg/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. 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.