Hot Springs for Gout | Radon Springs (Bathing) & Bicarbonate Springs (Drinking)

Said to have flowed since the Nanboku-cho period, this Amami spring is remembered in the tale of a "paradise bath" that soothed pilgrims bound for Mount Koya. Light in dissolved minerals, it is a radioactive spring carrying radon and a touch of free carbon dioxide. It suits travelers who trace the old Koya Kaido road and want a quiet soak by a clear stream.

Deyu Onsen, said to have been opened by Kobo Daishi some 1,200 years ago, is regarded as Niigata's oldest spa and forms the Gozu hot spring area with Murasugi and Imaita. Seiko-kan has over 300 years of history, and its three-story wooden building from 1928 is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The low-temperature spring of about 30°C flows naturally in modest volume, so the inn heats it with a boiler and feeds it in from the tub floor, free-flowing without recirculation or chlorine, and covers the tubs with lids to keep the precious water warm.

This Radon-sen No. 1 source plays a key role as one of the "Ginsen" (Silver Springs) that color the history of Arima Onsen, one of Japan's three ancient hot springs. In contrast to the reddish-brown "Kinsen" containing iron, Ginsen is characterized by its clear, smooth feel. The water from this source is said to gently stimulate cells and vitalize the body as it's absorbed through breathing.

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.

Rising at Kinoe on Osakikamijima, an island reached only by ferry, this spring once served a public lodge loved by islanders and sea travelers. Saltier than seawater and rich in calcium with a trace of radon, it is a powerful water for those who want to warm themselves slowly while gazing over the scattered islands.

Murasugi Onsen is said to have been found in 1335, when Araki Masataka, a retainer of the Ashikaga clan fleeing war, dreamed of the Healing Buddha seven nights in a row, giving the spa some 700 years of history. Yakushinoyu No. 3 Well carries that name, gushing from a drilled well in Murasugi and supplying the inns of the spa town. Known since the Taisho era for its rich radon, the clear, mild water seems ordinary, yet soaking and breathing its steam lets a gentle warmth spread from within, suiting anyone seeking an unhurried toji stay among quiet cedar groves.

About 30 minutes by car inland from Kansai International Airport, Matsuba Onsen in Kotsumi, Kaizuka, lies along the Kogi River valley and draws radon-bearing water from the granite beneath the grounds. The source is a cool 26.8°C and is pumped at 83.3 liters per minute. Sodium, chloride and bicarbonate lead its chemistry, yet total dissolved solids are a modest 0.729 g/kg, and its 236.8 Bq/kg of radon classifies it as a simple weak radioactive spring, known locally for warming the body and keeping it warm.

This spring in a deep valley near the source of the Yoshino River is said to have flowed since ancient times. After the old spring was submerged by a dam reservoir, it was found again by boring into the valley, and it still rises by its own pressure. It combines 2,127 mg/kg of bicarbonate with 920 mg/kg of chloride, and 142 mg/kg of free carbon dioxide gives it a fizzy, slightly sweet and faintly metallic taste. Thick mineral deposits crust the tub edges. At just over 39°C, it suits those who like to lose track of time in a lukewarm bath overlooking the gorge.

Hirayu Onsen, nestled deep within Okuhida Onsenkyo and embraced by the Hida Mountains, is an ancient hot spring said to have been discovered by Takeda Shingen's defeated warriors. Its waters, rich in chloride and bicarbonate springs, gently refine the skin, promoting a silky skin sensation, while delivering restorative warmth deep into the body. This pleasant warmth lingers long after your bath, feeling like a blessing from the mountains. It is highly recommended for those seeking deep relaxation and a respite from daily life while admiring the Northern Alps, or for hikers wishing to soothe their weary bodies.

Kowakidani Onsen, once known as 'Kojigoku' (Small Hell) due to its fumaroles, was renamed in 1873 following Emperor Meiji's visit. This mixed spring, combining multiple sources developed since the late Meiji era, stands as one of Hakone's most iconic hot springs. Its waters envelop the skin in a comforting salt veil, delivering restorative warmth deep into the body's core. This mellow, historically rich spring is highly recommended for those seeking deep relaxation and a profound reset from daily life.

This private source gushes in the Kitahama district, part of Japan's premier onsen resort, Beppu, overlooking the bay. Located in an area that has long flourished as an entertainment district, this spring has soothed countless travelers. Combining the qualities of a bicarbonate and a chloride spring, its waters gently exfoliate the skin while a veil of salt locks in moisture. After bathing, you can enjoy a unique texture that is both silky and deeply hydrated. It is a renowned spring perfect for releasing mind and body while feeling the Beppu sea breeze.

A blessed spring gushing forth in Okuhida Onsen-go, nestled in the heart of the Northern Alps. With a long history of healing the minds and bodies of travelers and bathers, this source is renowned as a 'silky skin spring' due to its abundant bicarbonate ions that smooth the skin. As you immerse yourself, the faint scent of hydrogen sulfide will help release you from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It is recommended for those who wish to refresh both mind and body and seek deep tranquility in nature.

Lake Shikaribetsu, at about 800 m, is Hokkaido's highest natural lake. Hot-spring rights on its shore changed hands in the 1920s and an inn opened in 1931; natural outflows were used until around 1965, after which water was drawn from drilled wells. Clear at the source, it turns a cloudy yellow-green in the tub and stains the floor brown with mineral deposits. A faint sulfur scent, an iron-tinged carbonate taste and a smooth, slippery feel mark the water, and in winter an ice-top open-air bath appears on the frozen lake.

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.

Tokachigawa Onsen is famed for its "moor" water, which rises through layers of ancient plant deposits and was named a Hokkaido Heritage in 2004. This source blends three wells at the town's distribution station and is piped widely to inns along the river. Its faint amber water feels soft thanks to humic matter and bicarbonate, leaving skin moist, while the chloride content holds the warmth, a spring for those who want to warm up deeply under the clear skies of the Tokachi Plain.

Beppu Onsen, one of the eight hot spring districts of Beppu, is the historic heart of the city, with springs rising in the streets between the station and the sea. This water blends two wells drilled in seaside Kitahama in equal parts. Sea-born salt and bicarbonate dissolve in nearly equal measure, pairing lasting warmth with a smooth feel on the skin in a gentle, neutral, pale-yellow bath.

Nigoriyu bubbles up beside the Seri River in Nagayu Onsen, a village famed for carbonated springs, and was once known as the "high-temperature Ramune spring." Clear at the source, its iron content oxidizes into a tea-brown cloud in the bath, giving the spring its name. Around 40°C, the water lingers on the skin with fine bubbles and a silky, clinging feel, suiting bathers who want a long, gentle soak.

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.

Kamioka Onsen flows on its own, without pumps, from a 170 m well drilled in 1957 in Beppu's Kannawa district. A 2025 analysis recorded 89.5°C and pH 9.0: an unusual alkaline sulfur spring in a town known for acidic sulfur waters, its sulfur dissolved as hydrosulfide ions rather than gas. Sodium 228.0 mg/kg, bicarbonate 279.0 mg/kg, sulfate 184.0 mg/kg and metasilicic acid 339.0 mg/kg give a clear water with a faint sulfur scent and a quiet, deeply comforting character.

Togatta Onsen is said to date back to the early Edo period, growing along the Matsukawa River that flows from the Zao range. This high-temperature well holds 296.0 mg of sodium, with bicarbonate (320.3 mg), sulfate (224.5 mg) and chloride (196.9 mg) in nearly equal shares. With 117.2 mg of metasilicic acid it feels silky on the skin. Wrapped in brown mineral flakes, it is like a quiet, wise elder of the forest.

This spring rises on a plateau wrapped in old-growth beech forest at the foot of Mt. Akita-Komagatake, the gateway to Nyuto Onsen. Unlike the milky sulfur springs that dominate the area, it is a brownish bicarbonate water that leaves the skin slippery and smooth, with a faint tart taste and a hint of iron. It is warmed in the deep-snow winter months, and invites a side-by-side comparison with the area's white sulfur waters while you take in fresh green or autumn leaves.

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.

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.

Ryujin Onsen is an ancient spa said to have been discovered by the ascetic En no Gyoja and opened by Kobo Daishi after a dream of the dragon king Nanda; in the Edo period it was a favored retreat of the lords of Kishu. Shimo-no-yu flows naturally beside the Hidaka River, and its bicarbonate-rich water gently lifts away old skin, leaving a silky feel. Counted among Japan's three great beauty springs, it has long welcomed travelers seeking smoother skin.

Hot springs opened on the shore of caldera Lake Shikotsu in 1915, and until a road was built the area could be reached only by boat. It is known for a pool where water wells up through the gravel underfoot, and several sources of the same spring type flow nearby. At 50.3°C, the No. 1 Well is among the hottest. Chloride, bicarbonate and sulfate dissolve in balance, rich enough to build mineral deposits around the spout, suiting anyone who wants to warm up quietly while gazing at the lake.

Yakumo Onsen lies in forested hills along the Namarikawa River on the Oshima Peninsula. Water from Namarikawa Well No. 3 is rich in bicarbonate and chloride and carries over 410 mg/kg of free carbon dioxide. It carries a faint scent of iron and is concentrated enough for mineral crystals to float on the surface. Slightly salty, it warms the body to the core while leaving the skin moist and smooth, suiting those who want a long, unhurried soak in mineral-rich water to the sound of the river.

This private source, Kusunoyu, gushes forth in the Beppu Onsen area, one of the eight springs of Beppu. While its name is associated with the historic "Kusunoki Onsen" public bath dating back to the Kamakura period, that bathhouse is now closed. This source features a balanced blend of skin-smoothing bicarbonate ions and core-warming chloride ions at a gentle pH of 8.2. As you steep in its waters, the slightly viscous texture envelops your skin, leaving it feeling moisturized and restoratively warm long after you emerge. It is perfect for those seeking to unwind both body and soul in a historic spa town.

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.

Rising near Lake Kuccharo, a famed stopover for migrating swans close to the Sea of Okhotsk, Hamatombetsu Onsen has long warmed this northern lakeside town. Sodium-rich, with chloride and bicarbonate in near balance, it offers both smoothness and lasting warmth, and its unusually high metaboric acid adds a distinctive character to this quiet lakeside spring.

This port-town spring is drawn from 1,150 m beneath the First Pier of Shinko, reclaimed land surrounded by the sea on three sides in Kobe Port. Bicarbonate, the soda component, blends with sea-born salt, smoothing the skin while keeping you warm long after bathing. Close to body temperature at 37°C when it emerges, it is a gentle, neutral, pale-yellow water.

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.

Namegawa Onsen, one of the eight hot springs of Yonezawa, is a mountain healing retreat in the Azuma range said to have opened in the Edo period with permission from the Uesugi domain. The Uenoyu source gushes beside the Maekawa stream, its bluish milky-white water carrying a gentle scent of sulfur. The water feels weighty and smooth, leaving the skin soft and light after bathing. Deep in the mountains, it suits those who want a quiet soak to the sound of the gorge.

The Shari Onsen source gushed from a 1,000 m borehole in 1976 beside the Shari River near the town center of Shari, the gateway to Shiretoko. Drilling began after a slope was spotted where snow melted first each spring, and the water has since been piped to local inns, a community rest house and nearby homes. Clear and pale brown like oolong tea, this moor water carries plant-derived humus, and its slippery touch leaves skin soft and smooth, gently easing the fatigue of travel.

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.

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.

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.

Tsuta Onsen in southern Hakkoda has hosted bathers since the Heian period, when simple bathhouses already stood here. The Tsuta Onsen Shinyu source bubbles up directly beneath the baths, seeping through gaps in beechwood floorboards without ever touching the air. Its blend of sulfate and bicarbonate soothes the skin and lingers long after bathing, suiting travelers who pair a brief, hot soak with autumn walks around nearby Tsuta Pond.

Nestled quietly in the mountainous region of Toyama Prefecture, Ogawa Onsen gushes forth. This naturally gushing spring, cherished by locals for generations, delivers the pure blessings of the earth. Its mild, neutral waters gently embrace the body, while a subtle veil of salt ensures a restorative warmth that lingers. Guests will also experience the benefit of silky skin, feeling remarkably light and refreshed after their soak. It is highly recommended for those seeking deep relaxation from daily fatigue, and those desiring gentle comfort for cold sensitivity or gastrointestinal discomfort.

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.

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.