Drinking Spring Water for Constipation | Chloride, Sulfate & Bicarbonate Springs

Shibu Onsen, said to have been discovered by the monk Gyoki in the Nara period, is home to the No.1 Boring source, which gushes up on its own from a deep borehole at 97.6°C, close to boiling. Nearly clear and carrying a faint whiff of sulfur, the water wraps the body in salty, sulfate-rich warmth yet leaves a light, refreshed feeling afterwards. It suits travelers pausing between cobbled bathhouse visits and anyone seeking deep warmth on a cold mountain night.

Kinosaki Onsen's centrally managed mixed spring gathers water from several wells into a large storage tank, where its temperature is steadied before it flows through a looped pipe beneath the streets to the town's public bathhouses and inns. Managed as a shared resource by the Yushima property ward of Kinosaki, this faintly salty water wraps the body in warmth that lingers long after bathing, suiting travellers who stroll from bath to bath in yukata.

Biratori has bathed in cold mineral water since 1979, first trucking in water that seeped naturally across the river. In 2011 a 1,503 m borehole was sunk at Nibutani on the Saru River, a place that still carries Ainu culture, and tapped a new cold spring. At 12.1°C and a mildly alkaline pH 8.3, it holds 22.06 g/kg of minerals, led by 6,303 mg of sodium, 2,016 mg of calcium and 13,400 mg of chloride, close to seawater in strength. Clear, colorless and intensely salty, it feels like ancient sea water sleeping deep beneath Hokkaido.

Misasa Onsen is said to have been discovered some 850 years ago when a samurai who spared a white wolf was guided to the spring in a dream, and its name is linked to the belief that "by the third morning, ailments are healed." It is known for radium springs with some of the world's highest radon levels. Rakusen wells up naturally from the ground along the Mitoku River, and hot water rises constantly from the spring pocket at the bottom of the tub.

Obuki is the roaring source at the heart of the steaming geothermal field of Tamagawa Onsen, on the southern slopes of Hachimantai. Its output from a single vent is often said to be the largest in Japan, and the fumarole field around it has long produced mineral deposits and the rare hokutolite stone. Every bath in the spa draws on this one source, served either straight or cut with fresh water. At pH 1.13 the water tingles sharply on the skin while warming the body to the core, and it has welcomed long-stay therapeutic bathers for generations, a spring for those who want to meet nature at full strength.

Ikaho is an ancient spa praised in the Man'yoshu poetry anthology. In the Warring States era its stone-step street was laid out as a healing retreat for soldiers wounded at Nagashino, and the koma-guchi system that divides the spring water among the inns survives today. Kogane-no-yu rises clear, but its iron oxidizes in the air and tints the water tea-brown, as its golden name suggests. This neutral water rich in sulfate and bicarbonate warms the body to the core and has long been called a spring for fertility. It is a bath that carries Ikaho's history itself.

Gora Onsen is a unique "steam-created spring," established in the early Showa period, born from the reaction between volcanic steam from Owakudani and water from Sengokuhara. This blessing embodies the fusion of Hakone's natural power and human ingenuity. A gentle salt veil envelops the skin, delivering heat deep into the body's core, ensuring restorative warmth that lingers long after your bath. It's the perfect spring to soothe the fatigue of an active day and quietly replenish your vitality for tomorrow.

Originating from the fumaroles of Owakudani, born from the eruption of Hakone volcano approximately 3,000 years ago, this artificially developed hot spring began to be supplied to Sengokuhara and Gora by Hakone Onsen Kyokyu Co., Ltd. in Showa 5 (1930). Its renowned milky white waters, blended with naturally gushing spring water, offer a pleasant sensation that tightens the skin and a powerful restorative warmth that penetrates deep into the body's core. After bathing, you'll feel surprisingly refreshed and light. It's a perfect companion when you seek to feel the Earth's energy and achieve deep relaxation and rejuvenation for your mind and body.

Struck in 1979 by a local shopkeeper who drilled 1,020 meters beneath the port town of Shari, at the base of the Shiretoko Peninsula, this source rises through the peat beds under the Shari Plain. That journey gives it plant-derived humic matter and a pale amber tint, placing it among Hokkaido's celebrated moor springs. Bicarbonate makes the alkaline water feel soft, while a faint saltiness hints at the nearby Sea of Okhotsk. It has long served locals and working travelers as an unpretentious everyday bath.

Kinosaki Onsen's centrally managed mixed spring gathers water from several wells into a large storage tank, where its temperature is steadied before it flows through a looped pipe beneath the streets to the town's public bathhouses and inns. Managed as a shared resource by the Yushima property ward of Kinosaki, this faintly salty water wraps the body in warmth that lingers long after bathing, suiting travellers who stroll from bath to bath in yukata.

Takanoyu rises by its own pressure from a drilled well on the northern foot of Mount Asama, right beside the Agatsuma Line, and travels about 80 meters by pipe to the baths. Its signature is balance: chloride, sulfate and bicarbonate dissolve in nearly equal measure, so one soak offers the warmth of a salt spring, the softness of a sulfate spring and the smoothness of a bicarbonate spring. Iron leaves brown deposits on the spouts and turns the water a cloudy green-brown on contact with air, a generous spring made for chilly highland nights.

The Kowakien Kyokyu Onsen is a steam-generated spring developed since 1949 to supply the Hakone Kowakien resort area. It utilizes geothermal heat from former fumarolic activity along the Kurumazawa stream, a tributary of the Jakotsu River, blending multiple sources and natural spring water. This source is widely distributed to the various facilities of the Hakone Kowakien resort, operated by Fujita Kanko, forming the foundation of the entire resort.

Named after a peak resembling Switzerland's Weisshorn, this spring in the hills of Kyowa was discovered in 1968 by a borehole drilled to explore metal ore deposits. As the flow declined, a 731 m No. 2 well was drilled in 1975 and an 848 m No. 3 well in 1979, and the two are now blended. The alkaline chloride-sulfate water leaves skin feeling smooth, suiting drivers on the national highway who want to soak away a long journey.

The Yubatake source, naturally gushing from Kusatsu Onsen's iconic Yubatake (Kusatsu's central hot-water field), holds a distinguished history. During the Edo period, it was ranked as the highest-ranking Ozeki in the Onsen Banzuke, recognized alongside the Shirahata source as one of Kusatsu's two major hot springs. Its powerful, pH2 water, permeated with a sulfurous aroma, imparts a refreshing, tightening sensation upon the skin. A soak in this historic, renowned hot spring cleanses the body and mind, offering deep relaxation and rejuvenation from daily fatigue. It is a must-visit for those seeking to feel the energy of a historic hot spring and desire a complete refresh.

Shirahatage Genzen, located in Kusatsu Onsen and adjacent to Yubatake (Kusatsu's central hot-water field), is said to have been discovered by Minamoto no Yoritomo. Historically, it served as the stage for 'Jikan-yu' (timed bathing), supporting balneotherapy culture, and is truly considered the soul of Kusatsu. Its distinctive aroma and powerful waters, which feel as though they firm the skin, seem to awaken the mind and body from within. Surrendering to its embrace offers a pure moment to shed daily clamor and rediscover one's true self. This spring is a sanctuary for those seeking a fresh start and rejuvenation.

This is a representative 'Kinsen' (golden spring) of Arima Onsen, one of Japan's three ancient hot springs. Rich in iron and salt, its waters turn a distinctive reddish-brown upon contact with air. These dense minerals provide deep, lasting warmth, while a salt veil on the skin helps retain moisture, leaving it feeling smooth. Perfect for those struggling with chronic fatigue or poor circulation, or anyone seeking to refresh mind and body. It supports those wishing to regain vitality through the power of its potent waters.

Tanigawa Onsen rises along a clear mountain stream at the foot of Mount Tanigawa and has long been called "Mimosuso no Yu", after a legend that the goddess Konohanasakuya-hime turned the river into hot water by washing the hem of her robe. This water is a blend of three pumped sources of differing temperatures. Clear and colourless, balanced between sulfate and chloride, it wraps the body softly and suits those who wish to soak quietly while gazing at snowy or verdant river views.

This rare, naturally gushing source emerges from beneath 'Gensenkaku,' nestled beside Kusatsu Onsen's iconic Yubatake (Kusatsu's central hot-water field). Despite its strong acidity, its waters offer a remarkably soft bathing sensation, akin to being enveloped in silk floss. The milky-white waters, renowned for having Kusatsu's finest 'yunohana' (hot spring minerals), gently embrace the skin, contributing to silky skin and providing a restorative warmth that lingers deep within the body. Known as a 'phantom spring' for its history of disappearing once during the Taisho era, it now offers a profound escape from daily life, inviting deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

Kinosaki Onsen's centrally managed mixed spring gathers water from several wells into a large storage tank, where its temperature is steadied before it flows through a looped pipe beneath the streets to the town's public bathhouses and inns. Managed as a shared resource by the Yushima property ward of Kinosaki, this faintly salty water wraps the body in warmth that lingers long after bathing, suiting travellers who stroll from bath to bath in yukata.

Kuroyu is one of four springs of differing character that rise within about 50 meters of one another at Yunotai, said to be the oldest bathing ground of Nyuto Onsen. Long called the "warm-pool spring" and the "spring of fertility," it has the highest chloride content of the four, so a soak warms you to the core and the heat lingers long afterward. The cloudy, sulfur-scented water comes up hot and is tempered with fresh water in some seasons, a robust spring that shows its true worth during deep-snow winter stays.

The Kitamura Onsen source dates back to 1983, when drilling for winter heating at an agricultural facility site struck hot water at a depth of 893 m, surprising a Sorachi region long thought unable to yield springs above 25°C. Today the No.4 and No.5 wells, drilled in 1996 and 1997, are blended. This dense, intensely salty water wraps the skin and lets warmth linger long after bathing, ideal for chilly days.

The Ajiro Onsen Hiratsuru Jika Gensen traces back to the first springs tapped at Ajiro in 1938 and is now pumped from deep underground. True to its seaside setting, chloride makes up over 90 percent of the anions at 4421 mg per kilogram, while calcium slightly outweighs sodium among the cations. Nearly colorless, faintly salty and bitter, it is a robust coastal water.

The Oyu source of Shimofuro Onsen carries a sulfur scent so strong that the place name is said to come from the Ainu word "shumafura," meaning "smelly rock." Recorded as "Yumoto" on a Muromachi-period map and bathed in by a Nanbu domain lord in 1656, this pH 2.4 acidic water turns milky as its sulfur flakes swirl, leaving a brisk, tightening touch and a lingering saline warmth. It suits those who wish to steep quietly in a strong sulfur spring within a port town that once thrived as a herring fishermen's spa.

Nestled in the scenic town of Matsuyama, this spring has long been cherished for relieving traveler fatigue, boasting robust eagle-like properties. The hypertonic chloride waters envelop the skin, smoothly expelling excess fluids and metabolic waste. The lightness after bathing and deep-penetrating warmth soothe the mind and body, freeing you from daily stress. Ideal for those with chronic stiffness or cold extremities, and perfect for weekend rejuvenation.

Kannawa has long been known as a healing retreat for the wounded, and this hillside source rises on its own as near-boiling 98.1°C water. Rich in sodium and calcium with a balance of chloride and sulfate, the faintly milky water leaves white, scale-like deposits along the tub edges. With 220.0 mg/kg of metasilicic acid, it leaves skin moist and soft, suiting anyone who wants to warm up slowly while gazing over Beppu's rising steam.

Dake Onsen's association source feeds a spa village said to have opened in 1674. Its self-flowing water is piped several kilometers down from the slopes of Mt. Iwaki, and the local association flushes sulfur deposits from the pipes every month. Listed in Edo-period hot spring rankings, its sharply sour, sulfurous water suits travelers seeking an old-fashioned toji retreat.

Near the foot of Mount Yufu, this spring bursts unaided from almost 500 m down at close to boiling. Clear as it emerges, it shifts to pale and milky blue in air and light. Salty and alkaline, it clings slipperily to the skin, and its saline film holds warmth long after bathing.

The natural hot pools of Hiratanai were known as early as 1706. In the 1970s, a town revitalization plan brought full-scale drilling, and water from wells No. 5, 6, 10 and 11 was combined into this mixed spring. It is a neutral salt spring with 991.1 mg of sodium and 1,588 mg of chloride, plus 518.4 mg of bicarbonate. Like a quiet, dependable mountain guardian, it warms you steadily to the core.

Drilled beside the Otaru Canal, lined with Meiji-era stone warehouses, this source is pumped up at 330 liters per minute. Though it emerges as a 20.5°C cold mineral spring, its chloride-rich water, once warmed, wraps the skin softly and lets warmth linger long after the bath. It suits travelers who want to steep away the chill after strolling the canal-side streets.

Misasa Onsen is said to have been discovered some 850 years ago when a samurai who spared a white wolf was guided to the spring in a dream, and its name is linked to the belief that "by the third morning, ailments are healed." It is known for radium springs with some of the world's highest radon levels. Gankutsu-no-Yu uses the natural rocks along the Mitoku River, and water rises on its own from the floor of each of its three tubs, sending small bubbles up around your feet.

This renowned hot spring of Jozankei Onsen traces its origins to a legend from 1897, where a wild deer was said to have healed its wounds on the banks of the Toyohira River. Rich in salt, the waters gently envelop the skin like a protective veil, delivering a soothing warmth that penetrates deep into the body's core. The pleasant, lingering warmth after bathing feels akin to being embraced by nature's blessings. This source offers a serene retreat for those seeking to unwind from daily fatigue while listening to the tranquil murmuring of the valley.

The Uwanari Gensen is a primary source for Arima Onsen's famous "Kinsen" (Golden Spring). Its name, meaning "jealousy spring," comes from a legend that the water would gush violently with envy whenever a beautiful woman passed by. [3, 6, 7] Once an intermittent spring, it is now drilled and its waters are distributed to many establishments in Arima via other sources like the Gosho Sengen. [3, 6, 7] Rich in iron and salt, this spring is known for its characteristic reddish-brown color upon oxidation and its ability to warm the body to its core.

The Bandaiko source, which unexpectedly erupted from within the Bandai Sulfur Mine in 1970, now stands as Kusatsu's primary hot spring, boasting the largest output and supporting the town. Named with the wish for 'eternal prosperity' (万代), this powerful source was born in the mountains, far from the Yubatake (Kusatsu's central hot-water field). Its colorless, transparent waters deliver a stimulating tingle that awakens both mind and body, while its robust warmth permeates to the very core. This energetic spring is a perfect companion for those seeking liberation from daily routines and a crisp mental and physical rejuvenation.

The New Heartopia Onsen, located in Nagashima-cho, Kuwana City, Mie Prefecture, an area famous for Nagashima Resort, is sourced from deep underground through drilling and pump-lifting. Its soft, saline waters create a delicate veil on the skin, gently warming the body from its core. The restorative warmth lingers long after bathing, offering deep relaxation for both mind and body. This spring provides a soothing embrace for those seeking profound tranquility after a day of enjoyment in this vibrant leisure destination.

Gushing forth in Beppu, one of Japan's premier hot spring resorts, this water has long moisturized the skin of spa-goers. With a weakly alkaline pH of 8.2, the water gently envelops the skin like a beauty serum, softening it for a smooth feel. After bathing, you'll notice a supple texture and a warmth that radiates from your core. It's a healing spring, perfect for those seeking to reset mind and body away from daily life, or for anyone concerned about dry skin.

The Kongoi source blends the waters of several wells at Kenichi Onsen, where dozens of springs gush along a 700-meter stretch of the Kenichi River in Kumaishi. Legend traces the spa to the Keio era of the late Edo period, when a wounded bear was seen steeping in a riverside pool; a bath keeper settled here in 1875. Nearly clear at the outlet, the water turns rusty amber as its iron oxidizes, and its salty warmth lingers long after bathing, suiting quiet, unhurried soaking.

Motonoyu is the shared source of Hanashiki Onsen, welling up beside the confluence of the Shirasuna and Nagasasazawa rivers and managed by the local Iriyama Hanashiki property association. Legend says Minamoto no Yoritomo named the spa after mountain flowers reflected on the water, like a carpet of blossoms. The clear water carries a faint hint of sulfur, soothes the skin and lets warmth linger long after bathing, ideal for unhurried soaks to the sound of the mountain stream.

Nestled along the Tone River, Yujuku Onsen has been a beloved hot spring in a quiet post town, cherished by travelers and literati since the Edo period. Its waters, smooth as silk, envelop the skin in a veil of moisture, offering a truly silky skin experience. This restorative warmth penetrates deep into the body's core, gently releasing daily tensions and promoting deep relaxation. It is a renowned spring for those seeking rejuvenation and a peaceful recuperation amidst the tranquil mountain scenery, with its comforting warmth lingering long after bathing.

Yugawara Onsen is an ancient spa sung of in the Man'yoshu poetry anthology, and Oku-Yugawara, its innermost reach, is a quiet retreat wrapped in the Fujiki River gorge and deep greenery. Yugawara No.77 is a private source here, a calcium sulfate spring once called a gypsum spring. Its main components are 939.0 mg/kg of sulfate and 398.0 mg/kg of calcium; the water is clear and mild in taste and smell, yet carries a faint toasty note typical of sulfate springs. Soft and weakly alkaline, it clings gently to the skin and has long been valued for soothing cuts and skin troubles, suiting bathers who want a calm soak amid the greenery.

The Gaga Onsen source gushes naturally from the Nigorigawa gorge on the eastern flank of the Zao range, and its name is said to come from the craggy, towering cliffs that line the valley. Long treasured as a spring for the stomach and intestines, its clear, gentle water glides softly over the skin when you steep in it. It suits travelers who seek quiet time with the water deep in a mountain gorge to restore body and mind.