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Mori no cottage

Water profile

Mori no cottage

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

BicarbonateSodium spring

A sodium-led bicarbonate spring of the classic jūsō-sen (soda-water) family. The source emerges cold at 14.7 °C, a cold-mineral spring heated for bathing. Weakly alkaline at pH 8.4 with the soft, slightly slippery feel that places it squarely in Japan's beauty-water tradition. Moderately mineralized at 3.49 g/kg total dissolved solids, the water carries a faint hydrogen-sulfide note and visible gas bubbles at the wellhead.

Good for

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%)
  • Sodium930mgP83 national
  • Calcium8.0mgP23 national
  • Potassium11.9mgP48 national
  • Magnesium0.60mgP21 national
  • Iron (III)0.15mgP59 national
  • Aluminum0.05mgP29 national
  • Manganese0.05mgP22 national
  • CopperNDmg
  • Iron (II)< —mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Bicarbonate2,500mgP99 national
  • Chloride1.2mgP1 national
  • Carbonate0.50mgP16 national
  • Bromide0.25mgP30 national
  • Hydroxide0.04mgP35 national
  • Thiosulfate0.04mgP33 national
  • Iodide0.04mgP23 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid22.7mgP8 national
  • Metaboric acid0.22mgP6 national
  • Metaarsenious acidNDmg
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide8.0mgP35 national
  • Free hydrogen sulfide0.20mgP68 national

Measured at the source

pH
8.40
Weakly alkaline
Source temperature
14.7°C
Cold mineral
Tonicity
3.49g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
2.1L/min
Low
Free CO₂
8.00mg/kg
Low

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. Li H et al. Bicarbonate Ionized Water Bathing Enhances Natural Killer Cell Activity. Scientific Reports 14:51851, 2024.
  4. 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.