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Hakushū Shiozawa Onsen Fossa・Maguna No Yu

Water profile

Hakushū Shiozawa Onsen Fossa・Maguna No Yu

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

ChlorideSodium-Calcium Chloride spring · +含硫黄

A sodium-calcium chloride spring carrying sulfur, salty and heat-retaining in character. At the wellhead its pH of 10.0 makes it strongly alkaline, giving the pronounced slippery feel of Japan's beauty-water family. It carries hydrogen sulfide, so a faint rotten-egg note and a light salty tang come through at the source. A cold-mineral-leaning low-temperature spring (33 C at source), it is reheated for bathing.

Good for

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

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

Contraindications
  • see attached panel

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%)
  • Sodium425mgP72 national
  • Calcium97.9mgP73 national
  • Potassium2.7mgP25 national
  • Ammonium0.10mgP24 national
  • Magnesium0.10mgP11 national
  • Barium0.10mgP53 national
  • Strontium0.10mgP26 national
  • Aluminum0.0000mg
  • Iron (II)0.0000mg
  • Iron (III)0.0000mg
  • Hydrogen0.0000mg
  • Lithium0.0000mg
  • Manganese0.0000mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloride775mgP79 national
  • Carbonate18.6mgP65 national
  • HSiO341.1mgP84 national
  • Sulfate6.7mgP17 national
  • Hydrogen sulfide4.3mgP89 national
  • BO24.8mgP80 national
  • Fluoride1.8mgP56 national
  • Hydroxide1.6mgP92 national
  • Bromide2.5mgP74 national
  • Bicarbonate60.0mgP32 national
  • Iodide0.30mgP62 national
  • Thiosulfate0.10mgP45 national
  • Hydrogen phosphate0.0000mg
  • HSO40.0000mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid0.0000mg
  • Phosphoric acid0.0000mg
  • Metaarsenious acid0.0000mg
  • Metaboric acid0.0000mg
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide0.0000mg
  • Free hydrogen sulfide0.0000mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic< —mg
  • Cadmium< —mg
  • Copper< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

pH
10.00
Alkaline
Source temperature
33.2°C
Low temp.
Tonicity
1.38g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
71.1L/min
Typical

On the certificate

  • see attached panel

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.