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Tennen Onsen Hinoki No Yu

Water profile

Tennen Onsen Hinoki No Yu

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

SimpleCalcium-Sodium Sulfate spring

An alkaline simple thermal spring (pH 9.2) emerging at 41.5 °C — a hot source by Japan's classification. Lightly mineralized at 670 mg/kg, it's gentle on the body, and the alkalinity gives it the slippery beauty-water feel typical of this style. The water is nearly colorless and clear at the wellhead, carrying a faint bitter taste and a slight rotten-egg note of H₂S — small carbonate and sulfide traces add quiet texture to an otherwise unobtrusive water.

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%)
  • Calcium90.9mgP70 national
  • Sodium104mgP30 national
  • Potassium1.8mgP20 national
  • Strontium0.20mgP44 national
  • Magnesium0.04mgP5 national
  • Lithium0.03mgP14 national
  • AluminumNDmg
  • CopperNDmg
  • Iron (II)NDmg
  • Iron (III)NDmg
  • ManganeseNDmg
  • AmmoniumNDmg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Sulfate403mgP82 national
  • Carbonate7.8mgP44 national
  • Chloride8.1mgP11 national
  • Bicarbonate4.9mgP3 national
  • Fluoride0.70mgP40 national
  • Hydrogen sulfide0.05mgP20 national
  • Bromide0.05mgP8 national
  • BO2NDmg
  • Hydrogen phosphateNDmg
  • HSiO3NDmg
  • IodideNDmg
  • NitrateNDmg
  • HydroxideNDmg
  • ThiosulfateNDmg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid48.3mgP27 national
  • Phosphoric acidNDmg
  • Metaarsenious acidNDmg
  • Metaboric acidNDmg
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxideNDmg
  • Free hydrogen sulfideNDmg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic< —mg
  • Cadmium< —mg
  • Chromium< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

pH
9.20
Alkaline
Source temperature
41.5°C
Hot
Tonicity
0.67g/kg
Hypotonic

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.