TokyoTomo Travel Guide

There are many onsens (hot spring) renowned for its effect on the skin. Likewise, several onsens such as Dogo or Motoyu in Hakone, claim to be the oldest onsen in Japan. Among those, Tamatsukuri Onsen is one of Japan’s oldest onsen with the longest history of being an effective onsen to produce beautiful skin.

The first Onsen to be Famous for Improving Skin Condition

Compiled in 733 AD, Izumo-no-kuni Fudoki (local information magazine at that time) described ;Tamatsukuri onsen, flowing out by the river, is crowded with men and women, young and old, as if they are having a party. It has long been called God’s Hot spring as it makes the skin younger if you bathe once, and heals any wounds or illness if you bathe twice. From this, we can imagine that the onsen place has been popular from 1300 years before, and that the spring water was used as a skin toner. Nothing like this is written on Japan’s oldest document “Kojiki” and “Nihon-shoki,” nor does other regional documents describe hot springs being effective to skin; Tamatsukuri Onsen seems to be the oldest onsen to be claimed a hot spring to make the skin beautiful.

Beauty Effect Explained by Modern Science

In 2010, Tamatsukuri onsen, assumed to be used as skin lotion since 1300 years ago, was tested and evaluated of its component to see its effects on human skin. This research was conducted by Saticine Medical in Saitama Prefecture, a largest pharmaceutical company in Japan that extracts natural constituents and conduct evaluation tests.

As a result, the spring water of Tamatsukuri Onsen turned out to be highly effective by making the skin moisturize by 165% after application, and kept moisturizing the skin by 180%. It is rare to surpass 150% even by using major cosmetic companies’ toners, and the researcher, Saticine Medical themselves were surprised of the result. It is as if skin lotion is pumping out from the ground, letting you soak the whole body into the abundant lotion poured into the bath tub.

Requested by a national institution, Saticine Medical also conducted research to 180 hot springs in Japan; it turned out that Tamatsukuri Onsen showed the best result to beautify the skin. As such, with a distinguished history and evidence from modern science, Tamatsukuri Onsen, has been and will always be effective to the skin. In 2010, cosmetics made from this onsen was made with favorable reviews.

Town of Power Stone Believed through the Ages

Three minutes walk from the onsen town will take you Tamatsukuriyu Shrine. Here, two guardians are enshrined; a guardian of the onsen and that of magatama (comma-shaped gem) production. In ancient times, Tamatsukuri used to be the major producer of magatama and an onsen town with strong belief towards stones. Even nowadays, magatama is placed here and there around town, but recently, a natural stone called Negai-ishi (wishing stone) has been attracting attention as a power-spot. This negai-ishi has been enshrined as a sacred stone for a long time. It is said that this stone was discovered in a round shape as if it is born from the mountain and holds special power to make wishes come true. To share this power, a lucky charm, Kanai-ishi is starting to gain popularity. Fifty thousand of them were given out in 2010. Thus, the shrine is mainly visited by young ladies.

Amusing Spots Around Town

“Koi-kanai Bashi”
A red bridge in front of Tamatsukuriyu Shrine. Urban myth says that one can win love by taking a picture with a shrine gate from this bridge, so a camera platform was installed last year.

“Koi-no-kuru Ido (Love-calling Well)”
Put 100 yen into a box to buy the love-winning essence (bait), and throw it in to the river… Koi (carp, synonym for love) will appear and approach towards you.

“Yuyakushi Hiroba”
This is the place where skin-beautifying onsen can be taken to go. If you do not have any empty container, an empty spray bottle can be purchased at 200 yen at an unattended stall.

Photo courtesy of Matsue Tourism Office

Source: Travel Vision

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