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Goshonoyu Onsen

Water profile

Goshonoyu Onsen

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

ChlorideSodium-Calcium Chloride spring

A blended-tank source drawing from four wells (No.27 through No.30), classified as a sodium-calcium chloride spring on the hot side at 58 °C. Chloride accounts for 98 % of the anion balance, making this a remarkably clean chloride water — salty and notably heat-retaining. Total dissolved solids sit at 4.0 g/kg with sodium and calcium close to parity on the cation side, the kind of composition that keeps the body warm long after stepping out.

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

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

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

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%)
  • Sodium1,030mgP85 national
  • Calcium457mgP92 national
  • Potassium47.9mgP84 national
  • Magnesium2.0mgP35 national
  • Strontium5.5mgP91 national
  • Lithium0.80mgP70 national
  • Barium1.1mgP90 national
  • Manganese0.30mgP53 national
  • Iron (II)0.04mgP17 national
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloride2,300mgP88 national
  • Bicarbonate53.4mgP29 national
  • Fluoride2.4mgP62 national
  • Bromide8.0mgP87 national
  • Iodide0.20mgP52 national
  • Nitrate0.20mgP36 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid86.7mgP49 national
  • Metaboric acid4.5mgP34 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide9.4mgP40 national
  • Free hydrogen sulfide< —mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic0.07mgP59 national
  • Mercury0.0005mgP51 national
  • Copper< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

Source temperature
58.4°C
Hot
Tonicity
4.00g/kg
Hypotonic
Free CO₂
9.40mg/kg
Low
Free H₂S
0.04mg/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. 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. Donaubauer AJ et al. Serial radon spa therapy on pain in musculoskeletal disorders. Frontiers in Immunology, 2024.
  5. Verhagen AP et al. Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD000518, 2015.
  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.