Cool footbath a new attraction for visitors to Chikugo hot spring (Japan)
CHIKUGO, Fukuoka -- A cool footbath has opened here to help visitors soothe their fatigue and stay healthy, offering free service throughout the month of August.
The footbath is located in the Funagoya Hot Spring Village in the Fukuoka Prefecture city of Chikugo. The water is kept at 19 degrees Celsius, and uses carbonated spring water that flows naturally in the area. The water in the footbath is replaced on a regular basis to keep it from going flat.
The footbath is said to be effective in soothing one's fatigue and preventing arterial stiffening. Bathing in carbonated spring waters lets carbon dioxide penetrate into the skin, prompting the body to recognize a lack of oxygen and expand blood capillaries -- thereby promoting good blood circulation.
Local residents volunteered to custom-order the bathtub in a bid to promote carbonated springs in the area, and the facility was subsequently opened on Aug. 1.
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