Onsen OniOnsen Oni

Search Onsen Oni

Search onsen, areas, prefectures and pages.

Yakushi no Yu

Water profile

Yakushi no Yu

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

SimpleSodium Chloride-Sulfate-Bicarbonate spring

A gentle simple thermal spring that feeds the municipal bathhouse it is named after; the certificate records it only as the community-bath source. Weakly alkaline and lightly mineralized, it is soft on the skin and makes no demands on the bather. The posted notice singles out autonomic nervous system instability, insomnia and depressed mood as the indications specific to this spring type, so it is water framed for unwinding rather than for a strong mineral hit. It reaches the tubs reheated to a comfortable bathing temperature, but is otherwise served free-flow, without recirculation.

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

On the certificate:Autonomic nervous system instabilityConvalescenceFatigue recoveryGeneral health improvement

Take care

Contraindications
  • Active stage of any illness (especially with fever)
  • Active tuberculosis
  • Advanced malignant tumors, or marked physical debilitation such as severe anemia
  • Severe heart or lung disease causing breathlessness on slight exertion
  • Severe kidney disease accompanied by edema
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Any visible bleeding
  • Acute exacerbation of a chronic illness

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%)
  • Sodium65.5mgP19 national
  • Calcium14.0mgP30 national
  • Potassium2.4mgP23 national
  • Magnesium0.30mgP17 national
  • Lithium0.10mgP28 national
  • Ammonium0.10mgP24 national
  • Aluminum0.0000mg
  • Iron (II)0.0000mg
  • Iron (III)0.0000mg
  • Hydrogen0.0000mg
  • Manganese0.0000mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloride53.3mgP27 national
  • Sulfate49.3mgP38 national
  • Bicarbonate59.8mgP34 national
  • Fluoride2.3mgP62 national
  • Nitrate1.4mgP86 national
  • AsO20.0000mg
  • BO20.0000mg
  • Bromide0.0000mg
  • Carbonate0.0000mg
  • Hydrogen sulfide0.0000mg
  • HSiO30.0000mg
  • HSO40.0000mg
  • Hydroxide0.0000mg
  • S0.0000mg
  • Thiosulfate0.0000mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid42.9mgP23 national
  • Metaboric acid3.6mgP27 national
  • Metaarsenious acid0.10mgP53 national
  • H2SO4Free0.0000mg
  • Phosphoric acid0.0000mg
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide0.70mgP15 national
  • Free hydrogen sulfide0.0000mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic0.08mgP60 national
  • CadmiumNDmg
  • ChromiumNDmg
  • CopperNDmg
  • MercuryNDmg
  • LeadNDmg

Measured at the source

pH
8.00
Weakly alkaline
Source temperature
37.2°C
Warm
Tonicity
0.30g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
324.7L/min
Typical
Free CO₂
0.70mg/kg
Low

On the certificate

  • Chronic muscle or joint pain and stiffness (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lower back pain, neuralgia, frozen shoulder, bruises, sprains — chronic phase)
  • Muscle stiffness associated with motor paralysis
  • Cold sensitivity
  • Peripheral circulation disorders
  • Reduced gastrointestinal function (heaviness, bloating)
  • Mild hypertension
  • Impaired glucose tolerance (diabetes)
  • Mild hypercholesterolemia
  • Mild asthma or emphysema
  • Hemorrhoid pain
  • Stress-related symptoms (sleep disorders, depressed mood)
  • Spring-type-specific indication: autonomic nervous system instability
  • Spring-type-specific indication: insomnia
  • Spring-type-specific indication: depressed mood

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.

How the water is handled

Water treatment

Pure source water· 源泉かけ流し (gensen kakenagashi)
from Article 18 disclosure
  • Added water
    No
  • Reheated
    Yes
  • Recirculated
    No
  • Disinfected
    No
  • Bath additives
    No

Educational, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, consult a physician before onsen therapy.