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You Puru Nirasaki

Water profile

You Puru Nirasaki

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

BicarbonateSodium Chloride spring · +Chloride

A sodium-led bicarbonate-chloride spring at 44.5 °C, weakly alkaline at pH 7.8 and soft on the skin. Moderately mineralized at 1,423 mg/kg total dissolved solids, the water carries a faint hydrogen sulfide note and a slightly acidic taste — a quiet, well-balanced bath rather than a chemistry showpiece.

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

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

Cuts

Mineral-rich chloride, sulfate and sulfur waters have a long-recorded soothing effect on minor cuts and slow-healing skin.

minor wounds

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%)
  • Sodium399mgP70 national
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloride219mgP57 national
  • Fluoride0.81mgP44 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid36.3mgP18 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide61.5mgP73 national

Measured at the source

pH
7.80
Weakly alkaline
Source temperature
44.5°C
Warm
Tonicity
1.42g/kg
Hypotonic
Free CO₂
62mg/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. 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. Li H et al. Bicarbonate Ionized Water Bathing Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity. Scientific Reports 14:51851, 2024.
  5. 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.