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Satoyama no Bettei Shimoda Central Hotel

Water profile

Satoyama no Bettei Shimoda Central Hotel

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

SimpleSodium Sulfate-Bicarbonate-Chloride spring

A hot (49 °C) simple thermal spring drawn from a mixing tank that blends multiple wellheads on the property. Mineralization is light at 243 mg/kg dissolved solids, but the pH sits high at 9.1 — alkaline enough to give the slippery, soft-on-the-skin feel of the Japanese "beauty-water" family. The water is nearly colorless and clear, with no taste or odor, and is one of the rarer simple springs also approved for drinking.

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%)
  • Sodium58.9mgP17 national
  • Calcium6.2mgP20 national
  • Potassium1.0mgP14 national
  • Aluminum0.06mgP31 national
  • Copper< —mg
  • Iron (II)< —mg
  • Iron (III)< —mg
  • Magnesium< —mg
  • Manganese< —mg
Anionsshare of charge (mval%)
  • Sulfate48.2mgP39 national
  • Bicarbonate51.6mgP28 national
  • Chloride24.3mgP19 national
  • Carbonate10.1mgP51 national
  • Hydroxide0.20mgP66 national
  • Fluoride0.10mgP9 national
  • Bromide< —mg
  • Iodide< —mg
  • Thiosulfate< —mg
Non-dissociatedmeasured by mass
  • Metasilicic acid41.7mgP23 national
  • Metaboric acid0.60mgP10 national
Dissolved gasesmeasured by mass
  • Free carbon dioxide< —mg
  • Free hydrogen sulfide< —mg
Trace metalsmeasured by mass
  • Arsenic< —mg
  • Copper< —mg
  • Mercury< —mg
  • Lead< —mg

Measured at the source

pH
9.10
Alkaline
Source temperature
49.0°C
Hot
Tonicity
0.24g/kg
Hypotonic

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.