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Izumi-so

Water profile

Izumi-so

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

SimpleSodium Chloride-Sulfate spring

A gentle alkaline simple thermal spring, blended from some thirty wells across the Izunagaoka district. At pH 9.3 it is strongly alkaline, giving the slippery feel of the Japanese beauty-water family, while the dissolved-solids total of just 0.63 g/kg keeps the water light on the body. The wellhead runs at 62.5 °C, placing it among Japan's hotter natural sources.

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%)
  • Sodium177mgP46 national
  • Calcium20.9mgP40 national
  • Potassium0.30mgP3 national
  • Iron (II)0.10mgP30 national
  • Aluminum< —mg
  • Copper< —mg
  • Iron (III)< —mg
  • Magnesium< —mg
  • Manganese< —mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloride142mgP47 national
  • Sulfate181mgP63 national
  • Carbonate18.8mgP66 national
  • Bicarbonate16.9mgP11 national
  • BO26.0mgP86 national
  • Hydroxide0.30mgP74 national
  • AsO20.20mgP87 national
  • Hydrogen phosphate0.10mgP34 national
  • Bromide< —mg
  • Hydrogen sulfide< —mg
  • Iodide< —mg
  • Thiosulfate< —mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid65.0mgP41 national

Measured at the source

pH
9.30
Alkaline
Source temperature
62.5°C
Hot
Tonicity
0.63g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
1,883L/min
Very high

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.