Onsen & Cuts | 4 Spring Types That List Cuts as an Indication

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.

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.

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.

Nestled in the Hakone Yumoto area, Yumoto Onsen (a blend of sources No. 12, 72, 84, 89, 99, and 112) is a luxurious fusion of six distinct springs. It symbolizes the abundant water volume of Yumoto, which historically thrived as one of the ancient Hakone Seven Hot Springs. The chloride spring water, enveloping the skin like a delicate veil, delivers restorative warmth deep into the body's core. The lingering, cozy sensation after bathing gently promotes deep relaxation, easing away daily fatigue. This spring is recommended for those seeking to deeply warm their body and mind and indulge in tranquil moments.

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.

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.

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 'Mixed Source No. 9 and 10' naturally gushes from the riverbed of the Toyohira River, which flows through Jozankei Onsen. By blending multiple private sources, this unique and rich hot spring water is created. A gentle salt veil envelops the skin, delivering warmth deep into the body's core, and a pleasant restorative warmth lingers long after bathing. This blessing from the earth is especially recommended for those seeking to release daily fatigue and experience deep relaxation.

Nestled in Kusatsu Onsen, one of Japan's three most renowned hot springs, Jizo-no-yu has been cherished since ancient times, deeply intertwined with Kusatsu's unique `yumomi` (hot water stirring) culture. This powerful spring, known for its invigorating touch, seems to cleanse away physical and mental stagnation. It provides a deep, restorative warmth that penetrates to the core, offering a refreshing sensation akin to rejuvenation after your bath. Jizo-no-yu offers solace to travelers seeking relief from persistent fatigue or skin discomfort, and those desiring an authentic hot spring experience.

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 Ryusenkaku Private Spring is pumped from a drilled well in Utsugidani, on the hillside of Arima Onsen, one of Japan's three oldest spa towns. It rises a pale yellowish brown, then its abundant iron oxidizes in the air and steeps the bath in Arima's signature rusty red. A brine about half as salty as seawater wraps the skin, and the warmth lingers long after bathing, suited to anyone wanting slow, deep warmth on chilly days.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Asahidake Onsen was discovered in 1914, in a valley the Ainu called Yukomanbetsu, "the river that flows toward the hot water." Hotel Bear Monte, three minutes on foot from the Asahidake Ropeway base station, opened in 2003 and was renewed in 2022. Its clear sulfate water, once classed as a gypsum spring, is known locally as the "healing waters" for its gentle feel, and the large baths offer tubs at different temperatures for resting after hiking or skiing.

Opened in 1898 and later famed for its radium content, Futamata's water has deposited calcium carbonate for ages, building a 400-meter limestone dome. Mixed wells turn amber and cloudy in the air, with waxy mineral flakes floating on top; the rich salts have long warmed hot-spring cure guests deep in the valley.

Local lore says this spring was found in 1972 after a divine revelation, a story preserved in its name. Pumped from deep beneath a hillside facing Mt. Fuji and the Kofu Basin, the sodium chloride water is mildly alkaline and smooth, with a faint brown tint and a hint of sulfur, combining lasting warmth with a gentle feel on the skin.

Since its discovery in 1866 by the ascetic monk Miizumi Jozan, Jozankei Onsen has been cherished as Sapporo's secluded hot spring retreat. Its springs, naturally gushing approximately 8,600 liters per minute from the riverbed near Tsukimibashi and Takayamabashi on the Toyohira River, are colorless, clear, and possess a subtly salty taste. This water envelops the skin like a delicate veil of salt, delivering restorative warmth deep into the body's core. It is highly recommended for those seeking deep relaxation and liberation of mind and body, away from urban clamor, while immersed in the valley's changing seasons.

This private spring in Nozawa Onsen first served a humble bathhouse for therapeutic stays in the Taisho era. Sulfate is its main component, joined by chloride, calcium and hydrosulfide, giving a mineral-rich water whose color shifts from lapis blue to milky white with the seasons and the hour. Because the freshly emerged water flows straight into the baths, it keeps its freshness. Long favored by guests seeking relief for cuts and bruises, it suits travelers who want to rest their bodies slowly and deeply.

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.

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.

Yugawara Onsen, sung of in the Man'yoshu as the water that "springs forth in the valley of Dohi in Ashigari," is one of Japan's oldest recorded hot springs. The Yugawara Onsen Mixed Source (Gongenyama Service Center) blends several of the town's wells into a single supply at 61.7°C and pipes it to inns across the resort. Its chloride and sulfate content gives a soft, enveloping feel, and warmth lingers on the skin long after bathing, suiting travelers who seek quiet recovery in the hills.

Hot springs in Shinshinotsu began with the No.1 well drilled in 1990, whose water had to be heated. In 2015 the No.3 well, reaching 1,600 m, was completed, delivering water above 50°C ready to use. Rising beneath the Ishikari Plain beside oxbow Lake Shinotsu, it is a yellowish-brown, intensely salty water with a faint medicinal note from iodine and bromine. Its dense salts wrap the skin and keep you warm long after bathing, a fine companion for harsh winters.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This spring rises deep in the Azuma mountains at about 1,100 m, reached by a mountain road climbing beyond Shirabu Onsen from Yonezawa. Counted among Yonezawa's eight hot springs, it sits in a valley near the headwaters of the Mogami River, where bathers gaze at waterfalls and ridgelines from open-air pools. Rich in calcium, the water leaves white mineral flakes on the tub floor and feels soft and smooth, ideal for those who want to savor mountain scenery in secluded quiet.

Natsuse Onsen has soothed visitors since the Edo period, when records say the Satake lords of Kakunodate granted timber to a local hamlet to maintain the spring. Its original source on the Tama River's right bank was submerged by the Jindai Dam, recovered by drilling on the left bank, and re-drilled in 2018 for warmer, fuller flow. The gypsum- and Glauber's-salt-rich water lingers gently on the skin, leaving it smooth and light—ideal for long, unhurried soaks in a quiet gorge.

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.