3 Types of Japanese Bath Additives You Should Know
Most Japanese people soak in a bath almost every day at home to get rid of fatigue and stress.
Accordingly, a large variety of bath additives are available at supermarkets and drugstores in Japan.
When it comes to the type, Japanese bath additives can roughly be divided into 3 types,
- Inorganic bath salts,
- Bath additives consisting of Onsen (hot spring) components
- Organic bath additives with herbal medicines or plant-derived natural components.
3 Types of Japanese Bath Additives
If you are interested in Japanese bath salts and want to buy the product, it is better to know about the properties of each type beforehand.
Therefore, today I will talk about that.
Inorganic Bath Salts
First off, inorganic bath salts are the most commonly used bath additives in Japan. Most of the bath salts products available in Japan are of this type.
This type has a long history, and it is said that the original product was first introduced in the early Showa period (Showa: 1926 to 1989).
The component of this type mainly consists of sodium sulfate and sodium hydrogen carbonate that give no damage to the bath boiler.
And those components are lowly irritative against the skin.
Since some products of this type contain components such as calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, titanium (IV), or oxide, when you add the bath salts to a tub of warm water, its watercolor turns milky white.
The water containing the bath salts gives the skin a pleasant, smooth feel.
Health Benefits
As for the health benefit of this type, first of all, your body will become warm from the inside.
Besides, the bathwater is effective in symptoms such as neuralgic pain, muscle pain, joint pain, bruise, cold sensitivity, and fatigue.
Recommended Products
| Skin Care Bath Salts Bath Roman with Natural Collagen | Bath Salts “温素” |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| This product contains natural collagen, which penetrates dry skin and gives plenty of moisture. | This product contains alkaline components, so the bathwater softens and smoothens your skin, giving you a pleasant feel. |
| Amazon.com | Amazon.co.jp |
Bath Additives with Onsen Components
The components of this type are extracted from actual Onsen water. Hence, some products of this type have the possibility of damaging the bath boiler.
Health Benefits
The health benefit of this type varies depending on the property of Onsen water.
Recommended Products
| Shirahama Onsen Yunohana Powder | Natural Hot Spring Yunohama Powder |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| “Yunohana (湯の花)” is mineral deposit left by Onsen. The water quality of this bath additive is sodium-sulfate hydrogen carbonate. This product contains 7 bags of Yunohana powder. Add one to a tub of warm water. This product gives no damage to the bath boiler. | This product consists of 100 percent natural Onsen Yunohana from the northern alps mountains in Japan. Add 1 tablespoon (15 to 20g) into a tub of warm water (approximately 180 to 200L). It is a standard Yunohana powder in Japan. |
| Amazon.co.jp | Amazon.com |
Organic Bath Additives with Herbal Medicines or Plant-derived Natural Components
This type consists of herbal medicines or plant-derived natural components.
And the former type features pronounced smells of herbal medicines, so you will either like it or hate it.
If you don’t mind the smell, you will love the bath additives because of the health benefits of herbal medicines.
In contrast, the organic bath additive with plant-derived natural components is gentle on the skin with a good fragrance.
The water with the bath additive relaxes you and warms your body from the inside.
Recommended Products
| Medicinal Bath Salts “御嶽山” | 100% Chamomile Extract Liquid Bath Additive |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| This product contains 14 bags of bath additives made only with herbal medicines. Add two to a tub of warm water at a time. The bathwater is effective in symptoms such as stiff shoulders, neuralgic pain, backache, chilblain, hemorrhoid, cold sensitivity, heat rash, rheumatism, fatigue, rash, and pimple. | This liquid bath additive consists of 100 percent chamomile extract. Add 50 ml to a bathtub of warm water (180 to 200L). The bathwater is effective in symptoms such as stiff shoulders, neuralgic pain, backache, chilblain, hemorrhoid, cold sensitivity, heat rash, rheumatism, fatigue, rash, and pimple. |
| Amazon.co.jp | Amazon.co.jp |
