Impaired Glucose Tolerance (Diabetes) & Onsen | Bathing and Drinking Indications

Gushing in the renowned Yufuin Onsen region, the Nurukawa Onsen source is beloved for its tranquil setting despite being conveniently located near Lake Kinrin. This spring is characterized by its soft, clear, and gentle water, a classic simple onsen cherished by many facilities in Yufuin. Its weakly alkaline nature is mild on the skin, leaving you feeling refreshed yet deeply warmed after bathing. It's the perfect spring for days when you want to gently unwind both mind and body amidst the idyllic scenery of Mount Yufu.

Gero Onsen counts among Japan's three famous springs, and legend holds that when its waters once vanished, a white heron alighted on the Masuda riverbank to reveal a new gush sent by the healing Buddha Yakushi. The Gero Onsen Koda pump station source gathers several centrally managed wells and sends them to inns across the Koda district. Its pH 9.4 alkaline water glides softly over the skin and lingers as a light, refreshed feeling afterward, soothing travelers who seek gentle rest.

Aone Onsen is said to have opened in 1528 and served as the palace bath of the Date clan of the Sendai domain. This 49.8°C blend of six sources flows into the tubs without added water or heating: a clear, light simple spring. With moderate sulfate and bicarbonate, it leaves the skin feeling fresh and light. Gentle and slowly warming, it suits those who wish to sink quietly into historic stone and wooden tubs in the snowy mountains of Zao.

This hot spring embodies the enduring passion of pioneers, delivered from Kuronagi Onsen in the upper reaches of the Kurobe River to Unazuki Onsen, approximately 7km downstream, after arduous wooden pipe laying construction in Taisho 12 (1923). Gushing at an abundant rate of approximately 2,000 liters per minute, its colorless and transparent waters seem to embody the pristine clarity of the gorge itself. With a soft touch that gently envelops the skin, it slowly warms the body to its core. Ideal for those seeking to unwind their mind and body, embraced by nature, at the various inns and public bathhouses throughout the town.

Hirugami's waters famously burst forth in 1973 during railway tunnel construction. Wells No. 2 to 5 followed, and today their blended "new mixed spring" is centrally managed and piped to the inns of the valley. At pH 9.8 it is strongly alkaline, giving the skin a slippery, silky feel, with a faint sulfur scent and gentle sweetness.

This private source gushes forth in Yufuin Onsen, one of Japan's leading hot spring resorts. Nurtured in the tranquil environment of the Yufuin Basin, this source boasts a generous flow. The mildly alkaline water, with a pH of 8.5, is soft to the touch, clear, and gentle, making it appealing to everyone. Containing an exceptionally high 302.0 mg/kg of metasilicic acid, it is expected to leave the skin feeling moist and silky smooth after bathing. It is an ideal spring for those seeking a peaceful bath to release mind and body while feeling the grand nature of Mt. Yufu.

Hakone Yumoto Onsen, said to have been discovered in the Nara period, is home to Yumoto Onsen No. 3. This source quietly gushes from its location in the deepest part of the area, along the Sugumo River valley. Excavated as a horizontal tunnel during the Meiji period, this naturally gushing spring yields soft, alkaline waters that gently envelop the skin. After a bath, one can expect a feeling of lightness, both in body and mind. It continues to be cherished and utilized by surrounding onsen facilities, beloved by those seeking to quietly restore their body and mind amidst abundant nature.

This hot spring embodies the enduring passion of pioneers, delivered from Kuronagi Onsen in the upper reaches of the Kurobe River to Unazuki Onsen, approximately 7km downstream, after arduous wooden pipe laying construction in Taisho 12 (1923). Gushing at an abundant rate of approximately 2,000 liters per minute, its colorless and transparent waters seem to embody the pristine clarity of the gorge itself. With a soft touch that gently envelops the skin, it slowly warms the body to its core. Ideal for those seeking to unwind their mind and body, embraced by nature, at the various inns and public bathhouses throughout the town.

Tapped deep beneath the Yufuin basin, this 55°C spring is mild in total minerals yet alkaline and rich in metasilicic acid, wrapping the skin in a soft, silky touch. Clear, odorless and understated, it suits the quiet woods and mountain views of Yufuin.

This blessed spring gushes from 250 meters beneath the natural splendor of Oku-Hida. The water, a blend of abundant bicarbonate ions and metasilicic acid, feels silky smooth on the skin and has long been cherished as a 'beauty spring.' After bathing, you'll notice your skin feeling moist and smooth, with a warmth that lingers from your core. This spring is a gentle companion for those seeking a moment of peace to unwind both mind and body from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Ginzan Onsen is said to trace its origins to waters found by miners of the Nobesawa silver mine, which flourished in the Edo period, and the town still carries the mine's name. This blend of cooperative sources No. 2, 3 and 6 rises at 63.8°C, layering sodium and chloride with sulfate, and white mineral flakes drift softly through it. Rich in metaboric and metasilicic acid, it leaves the skin moist and the body warm long after bathing, suiting those who want to warm to the core in a riverside town lit by gas lamps on snowy nights.

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.

Shima Onsen, whose name is said to promise relief from "forty thousand ailments," has long been known as a curative spa for the stomach. This source blends six springs in the Yamaguchi district along the Shima River, all rising to the surface without pumps. The 51.7°C water is clear and colorless, building white, coral-like deposits on spouts and bath rims. It feels squeaky on the skin yet leaves it soft and moist, ideal for those who want water exactly as it emerges, to the sound of the river.

Shidotaira Onsen, one of the Hanamaki hot spring villages, has long served as a bathing retreat along the clear Toyosawa River. Kiku-no-yu is pumped from a drilled well, delivering 72.7°C water at a vigorous 368 liters per minute. Combining the gentleness of sulfate with the lasting warmth of chloride, it carries a faint hint of hydrogen sulfide and fine bubbles. Its warmth lingers long after bathing—a companion for those who want to soak slowly to the sound of the river.

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.

The Niseko-cho source is pump-lifted from the base of Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort. Developed by the Hokkaido Chuo Bus Group, its colorless, clear waters are widely supplied to nearby hot spring facilities. Drawn from abundant natural forests, this spring offers a soft touch and provides restorative warmth, gently heating the body to its core. A subtle salt veil envelops the skin, leaving a lasting warmth that offers deep relaxation for bodies fatigued from outdoor activities. It is highly recommended for those seeking rejuvenation amidst grand nature.

Hotel New Tsuruta Gensen 1-go is a private source located in the Kitahama area, the central district of the Beppu Onsen region, which boasts the largest volume of hot spring water in Japan. This source feeds the hotel's panoramic bath, known as "Nijo-no-yu," and is descended from a historic spring said to have been flowing since the Tenpo era (1830-1844). The mildly alkaline chloride spring is gentle on the skin and warms the body to its core. It is recommended for those who wish to unwind and experience a moment of luxury while soaking in historic waters with a view of Beppu Bay.

Nestled in Noboribetsu Onsen, famously called the "Department Store of Hot Springs" and rooted in the Ainu "Nupur-pet" (deeply colored river), the historic "Uma no Yu" source has flowed since Taisho 6 (1917). Its faint sulfur aroma gently unwinds the mind and body. The waters, softly enveloping the skin, warm the body to its core, providing restorative warmth that lingers. Overlooking a beautiful Japanese garden, this tranquil spring offers deep relaxation, a serene escape from daily commotion.

The Mandaiko source, originating from traces of past mining development, is deeply intertwined with Kusatsu Onsen's unique yumomi culture and its long history of toji (therapeutic bathing). Its highly acidic waters, among Japan's most potent, deliver a distinctive tingling sensation, awakening both mind and body and offering a sense of rejuvenation. The high-temperature blessings penetrate deep into the core, leaving you with a surprisingly light and refreshed feeling after your bath. We invite those seeking a genuine toji experience, a true escape from daily life to restore their mind and body, to discover the profound power of this spring.

Said to date back to the Heian period and linked to the monk Gyoki, this sacred spring once welcomed pilgrims bound for Kumano. Its natural flow ceased for centuries until a 1965 boring struck water at 501 m, and today its calcium- and magnesium-rich water builds thick mineral crusts around every bath.

Originating from the dramatic Jigokudani (Hell Valley), the potent waters of Noboribetsu Onsen, a renowned hot spring resort in Hokkaido, have long welcomed those seeking therapeutic benefits. This powerful spring gently envelops the skin, delivering restorative warmth that penetrates deep into the body's core. The comforting heat lingers long after bathing, promoting deep relaxation and offering respite from the stresses of daily life. It is highly recommended for individuals desiring an authentic balneotherapy experience in Japan's northern frontier.

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.

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.

Toyotomi Onsen began in 1926, when hot water burst out with natural gas during oil exploration. A 2020 analysis of the mixed water from five wells recorded 34.2°C and pH 7.5, with sodium 4432 mg/kg, chloride 5952 mg/kg, bicarbonate 2136 mg/kg, iodide 16.1 mg/kg and metaboric acid 494.6 mg/kg, for 13.32 g/kg of dissolved solids. Pale yellow, cloudy and faintly oily in scent, it is a lukewarm yet deeply enveloping water with the steady, unpretentious character of a craftsman.

Horoka Onsen lies in the mountains east of the Daisetsuzan range, north of Lake Nukabira, and is said to have been found in 1928 during pulpwood logging. Springs A to F dot the valley and hillside, and Source E has long been nicknamed the '硫黄泉' bath. In fact it is a neutral sodium chloride-bicarbonate water holding 247.5 mg/kg of free carbon dioxide, smooth on the skin with a gentle salty taste. It suits travellers who want a quiet, unhurried soak deep in the forest.

Shima Onsen is said to take its name from healing "forty thousand ailments," and this water blends two naturally flowing sources from its Yamaguchi district in a mixing tank. Sodium (about 59 percent) and calcium (about 38 percent) lead the cations, while chloride (64 percent) and sulfate (30 percent) dominate the anions. It pairs the warmth of salt with the moist softness of sulfate, clear and easy-going at a gentle 1.42 g/kg, a quietly embracing water beside the Shima River gorge.

Gokuraku Gensen is a source for the iconic "Kinsen" (gold spring) of Arima Onsen, one of Japan's three ancient hot springs. It was once called "Negai no Yu" (Spring of Wishes) and its history is tied to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who had its waters channeled to his private bathhouse. The rich water, which turns a reddish-brown when exposed to air, has been cherished by therapeutic bathers for centuries. Its high salt concentration envelops the skin, providing long-lasting warmth after bathing. Steeping in this historic spring, you can feel the deep warmth that once soothed samurai warlords, offering a true escape from daily fatigue.

This is a newly drilled source in the Yufuin Onsen area, which boasts one of the largest outputs in Japan. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Yufu, this hot spring resort has long been cherished for therapeutic bathing. The AMBER Yufuin source features a high alkalinity of pH 8.9, combining the qualities of a bicarbonate spring that smooths the skin by removing old keratin, and a chloride spring that helps retain body heat. It is particularly characterized by its abundance of metasilicic acid, a natural moisturizing component.

The Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen source gushed up in 1970 when a well was bored 200 meters beneath the shore of Koganezaki, and its name expresses the wish that those who rest here will neither age nor weaken. Clear at the moment it emerges, the water oxidizes into a rust-red hue as its iron meets the air, while its dense salts wrap the body and let warmth linger deep inside. It soothes travelers who want to unwind slowly while the sun sinks into the Sea of Japan.

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.

The Atagoyama Sengen, gushing forth in Arima Onsen—one of Japan's three ancient hot springs—is a prime example of the "Kinsen" (gold spring), which turns a vivid reddish-brown upon contact with air. Its history is deep, having long supported the therapeutic bathing culture of Arima. The water from this source, rich in salt and iron, offers a powerful warmth that heats the body to its core. Steeping in this bath envelops you in a warmth that feels infused with the earth's blessings, a sensation that lingers long after you emerge.

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.

Shin Awanoyu Gensen rises in Shirahone Onsen, a mountain spa village in the Northern Alps known for its milky waters. Clear at the moment it emerges, the water turns pale blue-white as it meets the air, with white mineral flakes drifting through it. At about 36°C, close to body temperature, carbon dioxide gathers on the skin as fine bubbles amid a faint sulfur scent, suiting bathers who prefer to linger for hours rather than hurry through a hot soak.

Found near the Saga Yamato Interchange, "Yamato no Yu" stands as one of Kyushu's premier high-concentration carbonated springs. This source boasts an impressive 1600mg/kg of carbon dioxide gas, significantly surpassing the legal definition for a carbon dioxide spring of 1000mg/kg. Fresh, pump-lifted water is directly supplied, ensuring its purity. As you immerse yourself in the lukewarm bath, countless silver bubbles envelop your skin, their gentle effervescence stimulating circulation throughout your body. It's an ideal hot spring for those seeking deep relaxation and rejuvenation for both mind and body.

Nagayu Onsen gushes along the Seri River at the eastern foot of the Kuju mountains in Naoiri, Taketa, and is celebrated as one of Japan's leading carbonated-spring towns, long praised as water that works both when drunk and when soaked in at length. The Daimaru Ryokan source rises at 46.8°C and carries a rich 4,480 mg/kg of minerals, led by 2,160 mg of bicarbonate and 263 mg of magnesium, plus 735 mg of free carbon dioxide. Its greenish, cloudy water leaves rust-brown scale-like deposits on tub edges and spouts.

The name Sakazuki is said to come from an Ainu word meaning ore. Hot water that welled up inside a wartime mine was piped around 1948 to an inn converted from a herring fishermen's lodge, the origin of Sakazuki Onsen. In 1962 wells were bored into the hot-water vein beneath the ore body: Well No. 1 at 221 m and Well No. 2 at 233 m. Well No. 2 is a gypsum-type spring led by sulfate with calcium and sodium, suited to anyone who wants a quiet, warming soak while gazing over the Sea of Japan and the fishing port.

Esan Onsen Ryokan sits in Kashiwano, Hakodate, at the foot of the active volcano Mt. Esan, and keeps the air of a traditional healing inn. It is said to have begun when an earlier generation gathered the springs they found into a hand-dug basin, and today the naturally flowing source still pours from a single inlet into wooden tubs and over their edges. The water is nearly clear with a faint yellow-green tinge, a scent of iron and a sharp acidity, and white deposits form around the inlet. It is a strongly acidic sulfate spring rare in Hokkaido, and because the water is lukewarm the inn closes in winter.

Ishida Onsen's source flows naturally on the flanks of Mt. Esan, an active volcano, and is piped about 2.5 km down, inheriting the spring once used by a highland hotel. The 1984 analysis shows pH 2.1 and 5.518 g/kg of dissolved solids, with 2,972 mg/kg of sulfate plus abundant aluminum and iron, in the lineage of classic alum and green-vitriol springs. Clear at the source, the water oxidizes to a cloudy yellow-brown in the bath, with a squeaky feel, sour taste and metallic scent that speak of the volcano.

Tochiomata Onsen, in the mountains of Uonuma, is the oldest healing retreat of the Yunotani hot spring area; said to have been found some 1,200 years ago, it is known for the saying "bathe for a week and you won't catch a cold for a year." Tochiomata No. 1 rises naturally from granite ground at around 35°C and flows, unheated and undiluted, into the three shared "sacred spring" baths, Shita-no-Yu, Ue-no-Yu and Oku-no-Yu. Shita-no-Yu sits directly above the source, and the old custom of soaking quietly for one to two hours lives on.