Peripheral Circulation Disorders & Onsen | All 10 Spring Types Indicated

Tobira Onsen lies deep in the Utsukushigahara highlands up the Susukigawa valley from Matsumoto, within Yatsugatake-Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park. Its name comes from the legend that the god Ame-no-Tajikarao, who pulled open the heavenly rock door, rested in these waters and left the door behind, and the spring has long been called a bathing place of the gods. Hinoki-no-Yu is a drilled, naturally flowing alkaline source of around 40°C, rich in sulfate with calcium and sodium in near-equal balance, suited to quiet soaks beside a mountain stream.

Meto Onsen was discovered in the Meiji era and opened in 1904 as a secluded inn deep in the Tokachi mountains. The 58°C source flows naturally beside the Nukanan River and is cooled by a heat exchanger, never with added water, before reaching the tubs. Its pH 9.5 alkalinity and carbonate give a distinctly slick, silky feel. Clear with a faint hydrogen-sulfide scent, it suits those who want to soak at leisure surrounded by primeval forest and the sound of the stream.

Uzura Onsen is drawn by pump at 160 liters per minute from a well in the farmland of Uzura-cho, Atsusawabe. A 1994 analysis by the Hokkaido Institute of Public Health classified the source as an alkaline simple spring at 30.0°C and pH 8.5. Clear, odorless and tasteless, it carries sodium, chloride, bicarbonate and 122.7 mg/kg of metasilicic acid, soothing the skin with a quiet, unassuming character that suits this modest farming town in southern Hokkaido.

Gushing in the Kannawa Onsen area, one of the eight springs of Beppu, Japan's top onsen destination, the Akari no Yado Tougetsu Gensen is a relatively new source, drilled and pump-lifted for a facility that opened in 2019. It offers modern relaxation while inheriting the traditions of Kannawa, long-famed as a therapeutic spa area. With a neutral pH of 6.8, close to human skin, the water is gentle and suitable for everyone. Immersing yourself in these waters helps you forget the hustle and bustle of daily life, deeply relaxing both mind and body.

The No. 2 Distribution Station spring is one of the sources Yuzawa town manages and pipes to inns in Echigo-Yuzawa, the snow country made famous by Kawabata's novel. The No. 2 spring emerges at a hot 55.2°C; though a gentle simple spring with 755.1 mg/kg of total components, it carries 322.1 mg/kg of chloride. Weakly alkaline at pH 7.9 and nearly odorless, it feels soft and clinging on the skin, and suits anyone wanting an unfussy, warming soak after skiing or watching the snow.

Miharayama Onsen Well No. 5 draws groundwater heated by the still-active Mt. Mihara from roughly 300 m underground. Although it surfaces at over 84°C, its chemistry is gentle: clear, faintly bitter water that wraps the skin softly. Steeping here while gazing across the volcanic island's lava fields suits travelers who want to let the fatigue of a day of island hiking linger away.

Asama Onsen is an ancient spa long loved as the back parlor of Matsumoto's castle town, said to be the "Tsukama no Yu" mentioned in the Nihon Shoki or a spring found by the Inukai clan in the Heian era. In the Edo period the Matsumoto domain kept a lord's bathhouse here, and samurai bathed in separate pools by rank. The No. 2 Source is the main spring supplying the town's inns, pumped up at around 49°C. Its alkaline water, carrying sodium, calcium and sulfate, suits travelers who want a quiet, warming soak steeped in castle-town history.

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.

Gently bubbling forth in the Yufuin basin at the foot of the famed Mount Yufu, Tanokura Onsen is one of the area's many distinctive springs. This region has long been cherished as a therapeutic hot spring destination. This specific source is characterized by its silky-smooth texture, a gift of its weak alkalinity with a pH of 8.4. The water gently envelops the skin, leaving it feeling deeply moisturized after bathing. It is a tranquil spring that offers solace to those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle and unwind in a serene, natural setting.

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.

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.

Naturally gushing from the riverbed and banks of the Toyohira River, which flows through the heart of Jozankei Onsen, this source's waters are collected without mechanical pumps. Its pristine freshness, embodying the earth's blessings, is truly captivating. A gentle, saline veil envelops the skin, delivering restorative warmth deep into the body's core, ensuring a blissful, lasting afterglow. It's an invitation for those who yearn to be embraced by nature's vigor and experience deep relaxation from the depths of their mind and body.

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.

The spring began in 1975, when a local farmer bored for hot water to warm his greenhouses and his own bath. Redrilled in 1999 to about 1,520 m, Well No. 2 now yields 73.6°C water: nearly colorless and clear, yet unmistakably salty, a dense sodium- and calcium-bearing chloride spring with a plain, sturdy character.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Shiroyu source 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, where records of a spa date back to the Edo period. Long called the "beauty spring" and the "spring for chills," it bubbles up beneath an open-air bath and is also piped to nearby lodgings. Its bluish, cloudy water carries a gentle sulfur scent and a soft, smooth touch, leaving skin supple and warmth that lingers long after a soak, a spring for anyone who wants to unwind slowly in the beech forest.

Discovered in 1992, Kumihama Onsen, drilled from 1500m underground, emerges in the scenic Kumihama Bay area of northern Kyoto Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan. Its colorless, transparent, and mild waters are renowned for a gentle, skin-enveloping veil of salt. This unique quality delivers restorative warmth deep into the body's core, ensuring a lasting sense of comfort long after you leave the bath. It's an ideal retreat for those seeking deep relaxation and a profound escape from daily life amidst stunning rias coastlines.

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.

The Shika no Yu source of Shikabe Onsen is said to have been discovered in the Kanbun era, when Ito Gengoro, who came from Tsugaru to harvest kelp, spotted a deer healing its wounds in the water. Once welling up naturally on the beach, this source still gushes at 77.5°C from beneath the fishing port. Its soft water, carrying a faint saltiness and a hint of the sea, wraps the skin and warms the body to the core, suiting travelers who wish to unwind slowly by Uchiura Bay.

Drawn from Ogama, the boiling pools where villagers still cook vegetables and eggs, this clear water carries a strong sulfur scent and flakes of white mineral bloom. Sulfate-rich and alkaline, it warms deeply and feels smooth on the skin: a hard-working spring that has served village life for centuries.

The Yuhanazawa No.3, No.5 and No.6 Combined Source gathers three springs welling up in the Yuhanazawa district of Takayu Onsen, a spa said to have opened in the Keicho era and once counted among the "Three Takayu of Oshu" alongside Zao and Shirabu. Tart at pH 2.6 and scented with powdery sulfur, its water gushes from the spouts in a blizzard of white mineral flakes, steeping the tubs in a milky blue. It suits travelers seeking a genuine mountain sulfur soak.

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.

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.

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.

Gifu-shi Nagaragawa Onsen is a city-owned source rising beside the Nagara River, famed for its cormorant fishing, at the foot of Mt. Kinka. Pumped up clear from underground, the water slowly turns yellow-brown as its iron oxidizes in the air, becoming the reddish, cloudy riverside bath the area is known for. A faint iron taste and metallic aroma reveal its rich iron content. It suits travelers who watch the cormorant boats' bonfires on a summer night, stroll the old Kawaramachi streets, then sink into a rustic, robust soak.

Local lore says this spring was found after a dream of the dragon god of a nearby shrine declaring that hot water lay beneath Higashiasahikawa. Clear at the wellhead, its abundant iron oxidizes in air, turning the bath an ochre hue with a distinctly squeaky, metallic feel on the skin.

This source rises in Konya Jigoku, a steaming "hell" of Myoban Onsen, one of the Beppu Hatto hot spring areas, where sulfur-rich fumaroles drift over the ground. With pH 2.9 and abundant sulfate, the bluish milky water turns grey in shadow and leaves a crisp, tightening touch on the skin. The scent of sulfur lingers long after bathing, making it a favorite for travelers who love cloudy, characterful waters and a refreshing soak.

The Hinazakura source is one of several springs pumped from the national forest at the far end of Nyuto Onsen, an area named for the crabs that live in its mountain streams. Here each bathhouse draws on its own source, so the waters share a type yet differ subtly in their minerals. Rare among Nyuto's milky springs, this one runs clear, with a slight silkiness, drifting white mineral flakes and a gentle sulfur scent that soothe the skin, a spring for anyone who wants to linger quietly above the beech forest.