Hirayama Onsen Moto Yu

Water profile

Hirayama Onsen Moto Yu

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

SimpleSodium Carbonate-Bicarbonate spring

A sodium-led alkaline simple thermal spring. At pH 9.6 it is strongly alkaline, giving the pronounced slippery feel of Japan's beauty-water family. A hot source at 43.4 °C, it carries 59.3 mg/kg of metasilicic acid that leaves skin noticeably smoother, and enough radon to fall within the hormesis tradition.

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%)
  • Sodium63.7mgP17 national
  • Potassium5.4mgP36 national
  • Calcium1.7mgP6 national
  • Aluminum0.20mgP69 national
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Carbonate30.1mgP83 national
  • Bicarbonate51.3mgP27 national
  • Chloride21.7mgP18 national
  • Sulfate13.7mgP28 national
  • Fluoride5.1mgP80 national
  • BO21.5mgP66 national
  • Hydroxide0.70mgP82 national
  • Hydrogen sulfide0.20mgP39 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid59.3mgP37 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide< —mg
  • Free hydrogen sulfide< —mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic0.03mgP46 national
  • CadmiumNDmg
  • MercuryNDmg
  • LeadNDmg

Measured at the source

Source temperature
43.4°C
Hot
Tonicity
0.26g/kg
Hypotonic
Radon
34Bq/kg
Typical

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.