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Ryokan Hakone Ginyu

Water profile

Ryokan Hakone Ginyu

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

ChlorideSodium Chloride spring

A sodium-dominant chloride spring (Na 84%, Cl 82% of ions) — the classic salty, heat-retaining style of Japanese chloride water. Hot at 52.6 C and weakly alkaline at pH 8.4, it sits firmly in Japan's beauty-water family. Moderately mineralized at about 1,162 mg/kg dissolved solids, with an unusually generous 191 mg/kg of metasilicic acid that leaves a thin silica film and a noticeably smoother skin feel.

Good for

Warming

Salt forms a film on the skin that slows heat loss, so the warmth lingers long after the bath (the classic heat-keeping water, nettō 熱の湯).

cold sensitivity

On the certificate:Cold sensitivity

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

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:切り傷

Recovery

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

fatigue, stress

On the certificate:Insomnia

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%)
  • Sodiummg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloridemg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid191mgP83 national
  • Metaboric acid14.9mgP68 national

Measured at the source

Source temperature
52.6°C
Hot
Tonicity
1.16g/kg
Hypotonic

On the certificate

  • 神経痛・神経症
  • 皮膚病
  • 乾燥肌

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. Kario K et al. Hemodynamic Effects of Hot Spring Bathing. Hypertension Research 46(3):711–720, 2023.
  3. Naito Y et al. A Hot-Spring Water Improves Inflammatory Conditions in an Atopic Dermatitis Model. Biomedicines 13(11):2707, 2025.
  4. Donaubauer AJ et al. Serial radon spa therapy on pain in musculoskeletal disorders. Frontiers in Immunology, 2024.
  5. Verhagen AP et al. Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD000518, 2015.
  6. Li H et al. Bicarbonate Ionized Water Bathing Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity. Scientific Reports 14:51851, 2024.
  7. 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.