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Yunokuni Kaikan

Water profile

Yunokuni Kaikan

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

SimpleSodium Sulfate-Bicarbonate spring

An alkaline simple thermal spring: hot at the wellhead (47 °C) yet only lightly mineralized at 791 mg/kg dissolved solids. At pH 9.0 it has the slippery, alkaline feel of Japan's beauty-water family, soft on the skin. Metasilicic acid is fairly generous at 111 mg/kg, leaving a thin silica film that smooths the skin. The water runs almost colorless and transparent, carrying a faint rotten-egg note of hydrogen sulfide.

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%)
  • Sodium196mgP51 national
  • Calciummg
  • Potassiummg
  • Magnesiummg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Sulfate290mgP72 national
  • Bicarbonate148mgP51 national
  • Chloride25.5mgP19 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid112mgP59 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide0.0000mg
  • Free hydrogen sulfide0.0000mg

Measured at the source

pH
9.00
Alkaline
Source temperature
47.0°C
Hot
Tonicity
0.79g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
115L/min
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.