Chikushino –
The 158-year-old Gesthouse apologizes for only changing their spa tub water twice a year. Even though this should be done every week.
Reporting from CNN, Thursday (2/3/2023) a Japanese onsen health check found legionella bacteria 3,700 times the allowed level at the Daimaru Besso inn in Chikushino, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Surprisingly, the hotel admits that they only change the water in the onsen twice a year. Even though local regulations state that onsen water must be replaced every week.
Last Tuesday, Makoto Yamada, president of the company that owns the ryokan (traditional inn), bowed deeply and said he regretted the lack of action taken.
“I am very sorry.”
Yamada said he didn’t realize the importance of changing the water. He said he didn’t know the legionella bacteria were harmless.
“I’m not aware of the law myself and think legionella bacteria are a common bacteria that can be found anywhere, and it’s also safe because the big baths are free-flowing so the water is changed quite frequently.” he said.
Travelers should know that Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires’ disease, a serious type of pneumonia. People can get sick when they inhale small droplets of water that contain bacteria that cause infection in the lungs. This disease can be treated with antibiotics.
This bacteria usually settles in shower heads and faucets, hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, decorative fountains or the plumbing systems of large buildings.
Even though the ryokan’s website says about the bath having healing water. But who would have thought, there are harmful bacteria in the water.
“Our bath water comes from Futsukaichi Onsen, which has flowed for over 1,300 years, an unchanging symbol of the area’s history.
“Futsukaichi Onsen has been visited by government officials and priests for centuries. Its gentle, silky water leaves your skin feeling supple and your mind at ease,” they wrote.
They also claim that the water in their baths relieves chronic joint pain, nerve pain, digestive problems, burns, skin problems.
Yamada told a press conference that his team had neglected to add chlorine to the water for hygiene purposes, having disliked the smell of chlorine.
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(sum/dnn)
