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Kotobukitei

Water profile

Kotobukitei

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

SimpleSodium Bicarbonate-Fluoride spring

A blended alkaline simple spring combining Yunoyama Onsen's Omote-yu No.1 and No.2 in a two-to-one ratio at the mixing tank. At pH around 9.0 the water sits firmly in Japan's beauty-water family, with a soft, slippery feel on the skin. Total dissolved solids are light at 190 mg/kg, but the source carries a notable 46.5 Bq/kg of radon — enough to place it in the radon-bearing 'hormesis' tradition. Cold at the wellhead (25.9 °C), so the bath is reheated for soaking.

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%)
  • Sodium50.0mgP14 national
  • Calcium4.0mgP15 national
  • Ammonium0.50mgP49 national
  • Potassium0.60mgP7 national
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Bicarbonate66.6mgP34 national
  • Fluoride11.4mgP93 national
  • Carbonate9.6mgP50 national
  • Chloride9.9mgP13 national
  • Sulfate4.0mgP14 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid27.7mgP10 national
  • Metaboric acid3.0mgP24 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide5.9mgP31 national
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic< —mg
  • Cadmium< —mg
  • Copper< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg
  • Radonmg

Measured at the source

pH
9.00
Alkaline
Source temperature
25.9°C
Low temp.
Tonicity
0.19g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
79.5L/min
Typical
Free CO₂
5.90mg/kg
Low
Radon
47Bq/kg
Typical

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.