亀塚温泉

It's as if this vintage hot spring was tailor-made, as if it were concocted by the Earth just for this place, bathed in memories of the formation of the Japanese archipelago! I was amazed when I saw the hot spring analysis report here. Even among the more than 3,000 hot springs said to exist across Japan, it's rare to find waters that stand out so much. It contains an unprecedented amount of strontium (29.1mg), a calcium content (1906mg) that almost surpasses the sodium (1788mg) despite being a chloride spring, and a slightly alkaline pH (pH 8.2) that is gentle on the skin, despite being hypertonic (rich), which is usually the opposite. This hot spring is an "elite of multiple qualifications," meeting five criteria, even though just one would normally be enough to be considered a "hot spring." Passed by temperature (50.4°C) Passed by total component amount (10,110mg) Passed by strontium (29.1mg) Passed by metaboric acid (17.9mg) Passed by bromide ions (14.3mg) As a geology enthusiast, I researched why this unique component ratio was created, and I discovered that it was probably (This is just my personal speculation.) It may be because, unlike typical hot springs created by volcanic forces, a "custom-made recipe" from the Earth was miraculously created only at this point in Iwanuma. 1. [Material] "Vintage Bedrock" that Carves the Memory of the Continent The base is the Abukuma Bedrock (granite), an ancient skeleton from when the Japanese archipelago was part of the Asian continent. By choosing continental bedrock from tens of millions of years ago rather than new volcanic rock as our raw material, we have concentrated the "memory of the earth"—strontium, metaboric acid, and calcium—with some of the highest concentrations in Japan. 2. [Processing] Giant Mixer: Wariyama Uplift Zone These components wouldn't dissolve simply from the rock. The Wariyama Uplift Zone, a massive tectonic movement that runs north-south through Iwanuma, crushed the bedrock deep underground, processing it into "crushed granite (mylonite)," which reacts easily with water. This natural crushing process became the "ultimate brewing" process, resulting in an astounding mineral concentration. 3. [Aging] Bottled "Fossil Seawater" Over Millions of Years The water we poured into our bottlings was "ancient seawater" from millions of years ago. Its salt content, purer than modern seawater, slowly extracts minerals from the crushed rock over time. After aging for millions of years, it has evolved into an "ultra-rich soup" in which the unique characteristics of the earth surpass those of the sea. 4. [Finishing] Skin-friendly "Non-Green Tuff" Adjustment Normally, such rich ingredients tend to be neutral to acidic, but this is a "non-green tuff" region, less affected by volcanoes. Thanks to its lack of exposure to volcanic acidity, the water is hypertonic (rich) with a total dissolved substance content of over 10g/kg, yet packaged with a mild alkaline pH of 8.2, making it gentle on the skin. "Iwanuma no Yu": The Ultimate Private Blend If famous hot springs like Arima, Atami, and Noto are considered "premium brands," then Iwanuma's hot springs are perhaps a "private blend of the earth" that can only be enjoyed because it's located directly above this fault line. ●A harmony of opposing elements: Rich mineral content (hypertonicity) and gentleness on the skin (weak alkalinity), properties that would normally be incompatible, have miraculously come together at these precise coordinates. ●If it weren't for the "crack in the earth" that is the Wariyama Uplift, these components would have remained sealed underground forever. In other words, I thought the hot springs here could be called a geospot, where you can experience bathing in "the living liquid fossil of the Japanese archipelago."

I went there around 2:30pm on a Sunday. The parking lot is on the side of the train tracks, but it's quite narrow on the other side and there aren't many parking spaces. When I went there, there was only one space available. There was a man managing the parking lot, but he just sat in a chair and didn't guide me. There was no point in him being there. There is a shoe locker at the entrance. From here, you walk barefoot. I went through the corridor and found the reception, which seems to be on the second floor, but the only guide was a sign, so it was a bit confusing. The front desk is at the top of the stairs, and you pay for the number of people. If you are a JAF member, you can get a 100 yen discount per person for up to four people, so be sure to show it if you have it. There is a restaurant next to the front desk. There is also a gym in the back, and it would be great to take a hot spring bath after exercising. The changing room is quite spacious and there is a water server, so you can replenish your fluids before taking a bath. The bathroom has a place for 5-6 people to wash, an indoor bath (about 2.5m square), and a place where you can pour hot spring water over yourself. Although you can only see the sky outside, there is also an open-air bath, and it's great to take a slightly warm bath while enjoying the fresh air. The spring water is a little slippery and a little salty, which warms the body. We had a pleasant time chatting with some local men. (Apparently it's about 4,000 yen a month and you can go in as many times as you like... I'm jealous.) There is only a hair dryer in the changing room, so it's best to bring your own skin care products. It's good value for money, but it would have been better if there was a sauna. Be aware that it gets very crowded after 5pm. After getting out of the bath,

The facility is relatively new and clean. It's a natural hot spring. You can warm up with the chloride spring water. It was a rainy day and I visited at night, and the entrance was hard to find. I wondered if this was the right place, but after putting my shoes in the locker and walking down the hallway, I saw a sign next to the stairs that read, "Kamezuka Onsen, open today." The reception is on the second floor, not the first. You pay the bathing fee directly in front of the stairs. It's cheap! There's also a JAF discount, so if you plan to use it, be sure to pay in advance. However, there are few washing areas, so we had to wait for one to become available. The indoor bath isn't very large. There is a semi-open-air bath, but it's even smaller and would be too small for 6-7 adults. The dining room also has a nice atmosphere, and I'd like to use it again next time. There's also a foot bath at the back of the rest room after your bath. Of course, it's a hot spring. By car, it's just a few minutes from Iwanuma Interchange. It's in a residential area, so parking is limited and cramped.

I went because I'd read reviews saying the hot spring water was good and the food looked delicious. The facility was simple, with one large rock bath, one indoors and one outdoors, six washing areas, and only shower facilities. There were only two seats in front of the mirror in the changing room and two hair dryers, so regulars brought their own. It was a new facility with a comfortable atmosphere. The hot spring water quality was certainly good, and even though I didn't bathe for long, I was still warm enough to keep sweating. The soba noodles at the soba restaurant were also very firm, and the prices weren't too high overall. They apparently offer a banquet course, and the group there was having a great time. Since there were no sliding doors or other partitions separating the rooms, it wasn't exactly a quiet place to eat. There was also a gym on site, and it felt like an inexpensive place to drop in and socialize with the local community. It was a very lively place, and I was envious.

My family and I stopped by on our way back from sightseeing in Iwanuma (👦🏻🐑🐍). 🚗³₃ Registration is at the ticket counter on the second floor. The first floor has nursery play equipment, and the building itself looks impressive. It appears to also double as a welfare facility. The day-use hot spring is on the second floor, and there's a gym at the back of the dining room. There's one indoor bath and one outdoor bath, and it was a bit lively with locals chatting. The baths are quite hot, so be careful when pouring your own water over yourself (it would be nice if you could add water 🙏). The facility has a calming wood-toned ambiance, but it would have been nice if there were more greenery 🌱 and more bath options. Please note that the parking lot is a dead end at the back. The welfare facility on the first floor was open on Sunday, but it would be even more convenient if it were opened as a rest room. It's far away, so a return visit is difficult, but the atmosphere was unique.