An alkaline simple thermal spring, analysed on water piped in from Gero Onsen's central delivery pump station rather than from a well on the property. The alkalinity gives the slippery, soap-like feel that places it squarely in Japan's beauty-water family, while the water itself is lightly mineralised (374 mg/kg of dissolved solids), so it stays gentle over a long soak. Metasilicic acid at 59.7 mg/kg leaves the thin silica film that makes skin feel noticeably smoother afterwards.
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.
- Sodiumsalt's cation — pairs with chloride to make the water saltyNa⁺110mgP32 national95%
- Calciumsettling and calming; can leave a white mineral bloomCa²⁺4.3mgP16 national4%
- PotassiumK⁺1.9mgP22 national1.0%
- Aluminumshows up in acidic volcanic waterAl³⁺0.09mgP39 national
- FeTotalFe< —mg
- Magnesiummild; a laxative if you drink itMg²⁺< —mg
- Manganesetrace; companion to iron springsMn²⁺< —mg
- Chloridetable-salt anion — coats the skin and holds heat inCl⁻105mgP42 national56%
- Carbonatestrongly alkaline; slippery feelCO₃²⁻26.0mgP80 national17%
- Bicarbonate"soda" — softens skin, leaves it smoothHCO₃⁻37.5mgP24 national12%
- Fluoridetrace; drinking limits applyF⁻10.1mgP90 national10%
- Sulfate"gypsum / Glauber's salt" — vessels and wound healingSO₄²⁻12.7mgP26 national5%
- Hydrogen sulfideHS⁻0.70mgP62 national0.4%
- NitrateNO₃⁻0.20mgP42 national0.0%
- Metasilicic acidmetasilicic acid — a natural moisturizer for silky skinH₂SiO₃59.7mgP36 national
- Metaboric acidmetaboric acid — mildly antibacterialHBO₂6.1mgP41 national
- Metaarsenious acidHAsO₂0.10mgP53 national
- Free carbon dioxidefizz — widens blood vessels (strong above 1000 mg/kg)CO₂< —mg
- Free hydrogen sulfide"egg" smell — opens vessels, antibacterialH₂S< —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.
- Naito Y et al. A Hot-Spring Water Improves Inflammatory Conditions in an Atopic Dermatitis Model. Biomedicines 13(11):2707, 2025.
- Donaubauer AJ et al. Serial radon spa therapy on pain in musculoskeletal disorders. Frontiers in Immunology, 2024.
- Verhagen AP et al. Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD000518, 2015.
- 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.