[A must-see for hot spring beginners] Learn about the effects of hot springs and enjoy them even more!

• Table of Contents
• Gentle on the skin and great for hot spring beginners! "Simple hot springs" improve muscle fatigue and poor circulation
• If you want beautiful skin, pay attention to "alkalinity"!
• Stay warm forever! Chloride springs keep you warm

Gentle on the skin and great for hot spring beginners! "Simple hot springs" improve muscle fatigue and poor circulation

*Image is for illustrative purposes only.

"Simple hot springs" are suitable for so-called "general indications," including muscle pain, sprains, stiff shoulders, and other muscle fatigue, as well as poor circulation and insomnia. They are characterized by their light hot spring ingredients (hereafter referred to as "spring quality") and their colorless transparency. Compared to other hot springs, the ingredients are lighter and less irritating, so they are gentle on the skin and recommended for people with sensitive skin, the elderly, small children, and those seeking medical treatment. They also don't cause a hot spring reaction, making them suitable for hot spring beginners.

Ticket Information

[Hotel Green Plaza Tojoko Kurhaus Yu Plaza ]

Address: 317 Higashiyama, Maebuchi, Kato City, Hyogo Prefecture

Spring quality: alkaline simple hot spring, hypotonic alkaline low temperature hot spring

Note: Bath ticket (face towel included)

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~Trivia~ The determining factor for whether a hot spring is "alkaline," "neutral," or "acidic" is pH

Hot springs with a hydrogen ion concentration (pH) value of 8.5 or higher are classified as "alkaline," those with a pH value of 7.5 or higher are "weakly alkaline," those with a pH value of 7.5 or higher are "neutral," and those with a pH value of 5 or lower are "acidic." Simple hot springs with a pH value of 8.5 or higher are called "simple alkaline hot springs."

The quality of the springs themselves varies, and when you bathe in an alkaline hot spring, your skin will feel smooth. This is caused by a chemical reaction between the alkali and sebum. The taste is bitter.

"Acidity" makes the skin smooth. It has a bactericidal effect, and the old keratin peels off like a scab through a chemical reaction. It has a sour taste.

If you want beautiful skin, pay attention to "alkalinity"!

*Image is for illustrative purposes only.

Hot spring quality is required by law to be displayed in a conspicuous place at hot spring facilities. Compounds such as "alkaline," "neutral," and "acidic" are displayed, and the efficacy varies depending on the components.

For example, "alkaline" water is sometimes called "beauty skin water" because it removes sebum and dead skin cells and promotes metabolism.

If you want to have beautiful skin, be sure to check out the words "bicarbonate spring," "sulfur spring," or "sulfate spring" when listing the ingredients in a hot spring! Each spring contains different ingredients that have a different skin-beautifying effect, so first of all, when you arrive at the hot spring facility, be sure to check the spring quality chart (hot spring ingredient chart).

Ticket Information

[Hanamaki Shinzuna Onsen Musubi no Yado Airinkan ]

Location: 23 Nishibenda, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture

Spring quality: Sodium sulfate spring, hypotonic, weak alkaline hot spring, sodium/calcium sulfate spring, hypotonic, neutral hot spring, etc.

Note: Day-trip bathing ticket

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[Shosuke no Yado Taki no Yu (Higashiyama Onsen)]

Address: Fukushima Prefecture Aizuwakamatsu City Higashiyama-cho Yumoto 108 Shosuke no Yado Taki no Yu

Spring quality: Calcium/sodium/sulfate chloride spring, weakly alkaline (ph8.64), hypotonic, high temperature spring

Note: Day trip bath ticket, day trip bath ticket + Japanese meal, day trip bath ticket + stone pot meal, day trip bath ticket + Aizu beef meal. Tickets can only be purchased in store.

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[Oedo Onsen Monogatari Hotel New Shiobara Yusenkyo]

Address: 705 Shiobara, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture

Spring quality: Sodium/calcium chloride/bicarbonate hot spring, neutral hypotonic hot spring

Note: Bath ticket

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~Trivia~ Drink plenty of fluids and pour hot water over yourself before entering a hot spring

Some people like to enjoy a hot spring for a long time because they have come all the way to the hot spring, but one thing to be careful of is that if you stay in the bath for too long, you will get overheated. The average human sweat when bathing is over 500 milliliters! That's more than the amount of sweat that fills one plastic bottle. If you are bathing in water that is warmer than usual, you will sweat even more than that, so it is important to hydrate before bathing.

Also, avoid soaking in the bath as soon as you arrive at the hot spring. This is not only bad manners, but also health-wise. This can lead to a sudden rise in blood pressure when you enter the hot spring, which in the worst case scenario could lead to a stroke or myocardial infarction. For this reason, when you enter the hot spring, you should first "pour the hot spring over yourself." When "pour the hot spring over yourself," you pour the hot spring over the parts of your body furthest from your heart. This will warm your body before you enter the hot spring.

Stay warm forever! Chloride springs keep you warm

*Image is for illustrative purposes only.

There are many hot spring facilities in Japan. Among them, the most popular is the "chloride spring," which is fitting for a country surrounded by the sea. This is a hot spring that literally contains salt, and you can enjoy relaxing baths as your body floats in it. Another feature of this hot spring is that it prevents sweat from evaporating, keeping you warm and warm for longer.

Ticket Information

[Spa Resort Hawaiians]

Location: 50 Warabihira, Tokiwa Fujiwara-cho, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture

Spring quality: Sulfur-containing sodium chloride/sulfate hot spring (commonly known as sulfur spring)

Remarks: The large open-air bath is one of the largest in the world

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~Trivia~ Can you not only bathe in hot springs, but also eat and drink there?

*Image is for illustrative purposes only.

Not only can you bathe in it, but you can also drink and eat it, and it is often included in the local specialties. One famous example is "Hell Steaming," which is steamed using the high heat of the hot springs of Beppu Onsen (Oita). This is a cooking method that has been used since the Edo period.

Also, hot spring manju, which can often be seen in hot spring towns, is said to be made from hot spring water and the high heat of hot springs. There are various theories, but it is said that it started in Kusatsu Onsen (Gunma). Other gourmet foods that use hot spring water include steamed dishes, yudofu, and even ramen.

Of course, you can drink the hot spring water as is, but this is only possible in places where permission is granted by law.

What did you think? There are many hot spring resorts all over Japan.

There are many different styles of hot springs, such as staying overnight at an inn or hotel, or stopping off at a foot bath or day spa while out and about.

Please enjoy the various hot springs in Japan.

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*Please check the opening hours and holidays of the facilities listed before visiting them.