Yunohana Powder: Natural Bath Salts with Onsen Components

Since we soak in a warm bath almost every day to relieve stress and fatigue, many bath additives are available here in Japan with various health benefits.

As I wrote before, Japanese bath salts come in 3 types.

But among them, have you ever heard of natural bath salts derived from the onsen (hot spring) called Yunohana?

Yunohana (湯の花)

Yunohana (湯の花), meaning Hot Spring Flower, is a white mud-like mineral residue left by hot spring water. 

As you can see in the photo, the whitish deposit accumulated on the bottom of the spring is Yunohana.

From the old days in Japan, the whitish stuff is likened to flowers in the onsen, as, in its name, Hana (花) means flower in Japanese.

Yubatake (湯畑)

In Japanese onsen resorts, the mineral deposit Yunohana is intentionally accumulated in the wooden tubs called Yubatake (湯畑), then scooped up and sold as natural bath salts.

Yunohana Bath Powder

The resulting Yunohana powder contains plenty of onsen components. Since there are approximately 3000 onsen resorts in Japan, various varieties of Yunohana exist. 

Yunohana bath powder
Amazon.com

But among others, this product is one of the best-recognized Yunohana bath salts, sold in onsen facilities around the country.

Usage

As for the usage of the Yunohana bath powder, add one tablespoon (15 to 20 grams) to a bathtub of warm water (approximately 180 to 200 liters) and dissolve well.

Once dissolving, the watercolor turns milky white. The cloudy water with onsen components is slightly slimy, but that feeling makes you think as if you were in an actual onsen bath.

Benefits

Anyone (from adults to children) can enjoy the onsen-like bath at home. A few minutes after starting soaking in the tub, you will get warm from the core. The water also has the effect of beautifying the skin.