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Arima Gyoen

Water profile

Arima Gyoen

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

金泉(有明1号泉・有明2号泉の混合泉)Kinsen (Gold Spring — blend of Ariake No. 1 and Ariake No. 2)

ChlorideSodium Chloride spring

Arima's signature Kinsen (Gold Spring) — a 55:37 blend of the Ariake No. 1 and No. 2 wells emerging at 81 degrees Celsius. As iron-laden water meets the air it oxidises into the famous reddish-brown turbid bath, with a sharply salty, metallic taste. At 26.13 g/kg dissolved solids and 15,470 mg/kg of chloride it is a hypersaline chloride spring exceeding ocean salinity, with iron at 46.6 mg/kg giving the rust-red coating. Heavy, mineral-coated water that leaves a thick salt veil on the skin.

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

On the certificate:神経痛Joint painMuscle pain

Cuts

Mineral-rich chloride, sulfate and sulfur waters have a long-recorded soothing effect on minor cuts and slow-healing skin.

minor wounds

On the certificate:切り傷やけど

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%)
  • Sodium7,072mgP98 national
  • Calcium1,330mgP97 national
  • Potassium1,625mgP99 national
  • Lithium24.6mgP100 national
  • Iron (II)46.6mgP98 national
  • Magnesium13.7mgP65 national
  • Strontium21.2mgP97 national
  • Manganese8.8mgP98 national
  • Barium15.8mgP99 national
  • Zinc0.87mgP95 national
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloride15,470mgP99 national
  • Bicarbonate166mgP54 national
  • Sulfate23.2mgP33 national
  • Bromide29.5mgP95 national
  • Fluoride2.4mgP62 national
  • Carbonate0.06mgP8 national
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metaboric acid184mgP98 national
  • Metasilicic acid94.6mgP54 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide60.9mgP73 national
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Copper0.0020mgP42 national
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Radon< —mg

Measured at the source

pH
6.66
Neutral
Source temperature
81.0°C
Hot
Tonicity
26.13g/kg
Hypertonic
Flow rate
46L/min
Low
Free CO₂
61mg/kg
Low

On the certificate

  • Chronic gynecological conditions
  • 月経障害

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.

ラドン泉 2号(銀泉)Radon Spring No. 2 (Ginsen / Silver Spring)

RadonSodium-Calcium Chloride spring

One of Arima's Ginsen (Silver Spring) sources — Radon Spring No. 2, emerging at a mild 33.3 degrees Celsius. Colorless, tasteless, and odorless at the wellhead, with very low total mineralization (0.519 g/kg). The defining feature is radon at 554 Bq/kg (41.2 Mache units), enough to fall squarely in the Japanese 'hormesis' tradition as a weakly radioactive simple thermal spring. A light, gentle counterpoint to the heavy, hypersaline Kinsen across the same site.

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

On the certificate:神経痛Joint painMuscle pain

Recovery

Warmth and buoyancy lower stress markers and improve sleep; habitual bathing is linked to lower rates of depression.

fatigue, stress

On the certificate:InsomniaAutonomic nervous system instability

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%)
  • Sodium118mgP34 national
  • Calcium41.2mgP54 national
  • Potassium2.9mgP26 national
  • Magnesium0.80mgP24 national
  • Lithium0.40mgP50 national
  • Strontium0.50mgP68 national
  • Iron (II)0.50mgP52 national
  • Aluminum0.01mgP19 national
  • Barium0.08mgP36 national
  • Manganese0.05mgP22 national
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Chloride200mgP53 national
  • Bicarbonate91.1mgP40 national
  • Fluoride5.2mgP79 national
  • Sulfate6.9mgP18 national
  • Bromide0.40mgP39 national
  • Carbonate0.10mgP11 national
  • Iodide< —mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid45.6mgP26 national
  • Metaboric acid5.2mgP38 national
  • Metaarsenious acid0.40mgP81 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide10.3mgP41 national
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Radon554mgP91 national
  • Cadmium< —mg
  • Copper< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

pH
7.17
Neutral
Source temperature
33.3°C
Low temp.
Tonicity
0.52g/kg
Hypotonic
Flow rate
108L/min
Typical
Free CO₂
10mg/kg
Low
Radon
554Bq/kg
High

On the certificate

  • Cold sensitivity
  • 慢性皮膚病
  • Gout
  • うつ

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. Donaubauer AJ et al. Serial radon spa therapy on pain in musculoskeletal disorders. Frontiers in Immunology, 2024.
  3. Verhagen AP et al. Balneotherapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD000518, 2015.
  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.