A sodium-led simple sulfur spring of the alkaline family — at pH 9.5 it sits right at the edge of strongly alkaline territory, where the skin takes on a distinctly slippery, soft feel. Mineralization is light (158 mg/kg total), but total sulfur reaches 2.5 mg/kg, just clearing the bar for the sulfur spring classification. The wellhead carries a faint rotten-egg whiff of H₂S, and a sip leaves a soft sulfur taste with an unexpected hint of sweetness — a clean, gently bubbly beauty-water in the Japanese beauty water tradition.
Good for
Skin conditions
Sulfur and acidic waters are antibacterial and keratolytic, studied for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
atopic skin, eczema
Circulation
Skin-absorbed CO₂ and hydrogen sulfide relax the vessel walls; carbon-dioxide springs can raise peripheral blood flow several-fold.
tired legs
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
Recovery
Warmth and buoyancy lower stress markers and improve sleep; habitual bathing is linked to lower rates of depression.
fatigue, stress
Take care
Sensitive-skin caution
Strongly acidic or sulfur-rich water can sting broken, atopic-flare, or dry elderly skin. Ease in slowly and rinse off if it stings.
broken or dry skin
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.
- Sodiumsalt's cation — pairs with chloride to make the water saltyNa⁺45.7mgP12 national99%
- CalciumCa²⁺0.40mgP1 national1.0%
- PotassiumK⁺0.20mgP2 national0.5%
- Aluminumshows up in acidic volcanic waterAl³⁺< —mg
- FeTotalFe< —mg
- Hydrogenmakes the water acidic — sharp and bactericidalH⁺< —mg
- Magnesiummild; a laxative if you drink itMg²⁺< —mg
- Manganesetrace; companion to iron springsMn²⁺< —mg
- Carbonatestrongly alkaline; slippery feelCO₃²⁻36.1mgP86 national58%
- Fluoridetrace; drinking limits applyF⁻5.9mgP81 national15%
- Chloridetable-salt anion — coats the skin and holds heat inCl⁻8.9mgP12 national12%
- Sulfate"gypsum / Glauber's salt" — vessels and wound healingSO₄²⁻8.2mgP19 national8%
- Hydrogen sulfidesulfur character — antibacterialHS⁻2.5mgP81 national4%
- HydroxideOH⁻0.90mgP85 national2%
- BO2BO₂⁻< —mg
- HSiO3HSiO₃⁻< —mg
- Thiosulfateoxidized sulfurS₂O₃²⁻< —mg
- Metasilicic acidmetasilicic acid — a natural moisturizer for silky skinH₂SiO₃48.7mgP28 national
- Metaboric acidmetaboric acid — mildly antibacterialHBO₂< —mg
- Free carbon dioxidefizz — widens blood vessels (strong above 1000 mg/kg)CO₂< —mg
- Free hydrogen sulfide"egg" smell — opens vessels, antibacterialH₂S< —mg
- ArsenicAs< —mg
- CadmiumCd< —mg
- CopperCu< —mg
- Mercurytoxic trace — part of the drinking-safety checkHg< —mg
- LeadPb< —mg
Measured at the source
Evidence
- 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.
- Tei C, Kihara T. Waon Therapy for Chronic Heart Failure. J. Cardiology 53(2):214–218, 2009.
- Coavoy-Sánchez SA et al. Hydrogen sulfide and dermatological diseases. Int. J. Dermatology, 2019.
- Naito Y et al. A Hot-Spring Water Improves Inflammatory Conditions in an Atopic Dermatitis Model. Biomedicines 13(11):2707, 2025.
- Akiyama H et al. Antimicrobial effects of acidic hot-spring water on S. aureus. J. Dermatological Science 24(3):193–200, 2000.
- Toriyama T et al. Carbon dioxide foot bathing on critical limb ischemia. International Angiology 21(4):367–373, 2002.
- Li H et al. Bicarbonate Ionized Water Bathing Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity. Scientific Reports 14:51851, 2024.
- Takeda M et al. Hot spring bathing practices have a positive effect on mental health in Japan. Heliyon 9(9):e19631, 2023.
- Ministry of the Environment, Japan. 禁忌症及び入浴又は飲用上の注意事項 (2014 notice).official