Natural Carbonated Water Point
Natural Carbonated Water Point
Overview
In this episode of Only in Japan Go, John Daub travels to a remote area in Nagano Prefecture to visit a unique natural spring that produces naturally carbonated water. Unlike manufactured sparkling water, this water comes straight from the ground salty, mineral-rich, and bubbly. John samples the water on-site, describing its distinct taste and texture, while interacting with energetic local residents who frequent the spot to fill their containers.
The video highlights the health and longevity of the locals, including an 88-year-old resident who displays remarkable energy. Through conversations with the community, John explores local secrets to a long life, which include drinking clean water, not overeating, and laughing often. The journey also features a drive through mountain tunnels and a glimpse of the cherry blossoms beginning to bloom at higher elevations.
This video offers a fascinating look at Japan's natural resources and the culture of health surrounding them. It showcases the warmth of rural Japanese communities and provides practical travel tips for those interested in seeking out unique natural springs in Nagano.
Highlights
- 00:00:00 John tastes the naturally carbonated water straight from the ground.
- 00:51:00 Locals fill tanks with the natural water; John notes it causes burping.
- 01:50:00 John meets the "boss" of the group, a healthy 73-year-old.
- 02:27:00 An 88-year-old local demonstrates incredible energy.
- 03:10:00 John reveals a beverage company was turned down when trying to buy rights to the water.
- 04:18:00 Discussion about a local temple destroyed in an earthquake.
- 05:13:00 Mention of "kabutachi," described as a national treasure.
- 06:59:00 Locals share their secret to health: speak loud, smile, and laugh.
- 08:59:00 John drives through a tunnel, noting the water taste changes with oxidation.
- 12:09:00 John summarizes the secrets of life learned from the locals.
- 13:17:00 Cherry blossoms are just starting to bloom at this elevation.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00:00 Introduction to the natural carbonated water spring.
- 00:51:00 Observing locals collecting water.
- 01:20:00 Conversation with locals about health and age.
- 03:10:00 History of the water source and commercial interest.
- 04:18:00 Discussion of local temple history.
- 05:08:00 Meeting visitors from Osaka.
- 06:59:00 Lessons on longevity and happiness.
- 08:59:00 Driving through tunnels and water taste changes.
- 12:09:00 Final takeaways on health.
- 13:17:00 Cherry blossom update and sign-off.
Japan Travel Tips
- Bring Containers: Locals come with tanks and bottles to fill up. If you visit, bring clean containers to take water home.
- Taste Profile: The water is salty and mineral-rich. Be prepared for a distinct taste compared to commercial sparkling water.
- Oxidation: The taste changes once exposed to air (oxidation), becoming more iron-heavy. Drink it fresh if possible.
- Seasonality: Visit in spring (April) to catch cherry blossoms at higher elevations where they bloom later than in cities.
- Accessibility: The spot may be locked away during most of the day; check local access times.
- Respect: This is a local resource. Be respectful of residents who use it daily and keep the area clean.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Tansan (炭酸水): Carbonated water. In Japan, natural tansan is highly valued for its mineral content.
- Longevity Culture: The locals emphasize laughter, speaking loudly, and moderation in food as keys to a long life. This reflects a broader cultural appreciation for ikigai (purpose in life) and community health.
- GEP: In the transcript, locals mention "GEP." This is likely a mishearing of "gas" (carbonation) or "pH" by the transcription software, referring to the mineral or gas content of the water.
- Kabutachi: Mentioned as a "national treasure." This may refer to a local product, brand, or specific name for the water source recognized for its quality.
- Temple History: The mention of a temple destroyed in an earthquake highlights the geological activity in the region and the resilience of the community.
Food & Drink Guide
- Natural Carbonated Water (Tansan)
- Description: Salty, bubbly water straight from the ground. Rich in minerals and iron.
- Where: Natural spring in Nagano Prefecture.
- Price: Free (public access).
- John's Reaction: "It's salty, it's got bubbles in it... This is delicious!" He notes it tastes like San Pellegrino or Perrier but naturally sourced.
- Timestamp: 00:00:00
People
- John Daub: Host. Curious and engaging, he immerses himself in the local culture, tasting the water and interviewing residents.
- Local Residents: Several unnamed locals, ranging in age from 50 to 88. They are energetic, friendly, and proud of their water and health.
- Passerby: A visitor from Osaka who stops by briefly.
- The Boss: A 73-year-old local identified as a leader or regular at the spring.
- 88-Year-Old Local: A particularly energetic resident who shares wisdom on longevity.
Key Takeaways
- Natural carbonated water exists in Nagano and is prized by locals for its health benefits.
- Longevity secrets shared include: don't overeat, drink clean water, laugh often, and speak loudly.
- The water taste changes upon exposure to air due to oxidation (iron taste becomes prominent).
- Community spaces like this spring foster social connection and health among residents.
- Cherry blossom seasons vary by elevation; higher areas bloom later.
Notable Quotes
- 00:00:00 "It's salty, it's got bubbles in it, and I never thought I'd be here drinking it."
- 00:51:00 "This is all natural from the ground, like nothing added."
- 02:27:00 "He's 88! He's very energetic!"
- 03:10:00 "I heard that one of the beverage companies here wanted to buy the rights to use this water and they turned them down."
- 06:59:00 "If you smile, you'll be healthy. That's right. You have to be loud."
- 12:09:00 "So the secret of life, don't overeat. Drink lots of clean water. And laugh a lot."
Related Topics
- Nagano Travel Guide
- Japanese Onsen and Springs
- Longevity in Japan
- Road Trips in Central Japan
- Seasonal Travel (Cherry Blossoms)
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #nagano #carbonated-water #spring-water #longevity #locals #road-trip #cherry-blossoms #travel-japan #natural-spring #tansan #japan-culture
Full Transcript
00:00:00 John Daub: Alright, oh! Oh my! I'll put it in this cup. So there's this area in Nagano where you get this naturally carbonated water from the ground. And I'm drinking it right now. It's salty, it's got bubbles in it, and I never thought I'd be here drinking it. It comes straight from the ground like this. Okay, oh wow, that was drama.
00:00:51 John Daub: So a lot of the locals have come here to fill their tanks full of carbonated natural water from the ground. And this place is locked away during most of the day. I'm like burping it up. This is all natural from the ground, like nothing added. Here, let me drink it for you. This is delicious!
00:01:20 Local: It's delicious, but it's got GEP, right? Well, it's got GEP, but it can't be helped. It's healthy GEP, right? Yeah.
00:01:34 John Daub: Do you drink this carbonated water every day?
00:01:37 Local: I don't drink it, but my brother does. Every day.
00:01:41 John Daub: That's why you're so energetic.
00:01:43 Local: That's because of the beauty. Yeah, it's not bad. It's not bad at all.
00:01:50 John Daub: Wow! So this is the boss right here. And the boss is... how old is he?
00:01:54 Local: He's 73.
00:01:57 John Daub: 73?
00:01:58 Local: Yeah, 73.
00:02:00 John Daub: Wow, 73. He's healthy.
00:02:03 Local: Same age.
00:02:04 John Daub: No, not the same age! I'm 43.
00:02:08 Local: 43?
00:02:09 John Daub: You're probably healthier than me.
00:02:12 Local: Oh yeah. 83.
00:02:13 John Daub: 83?
00:02:16 Local: Yes, 83.
00:02:17 John Daub: Wow, 83. You're healthy.
00:02:19 Local: I'm healthy. Yes, I'm healthy.
00:02:23 John Daub: 86? 88?
00:02:25 Local: Yes, 88.
00:02:27 John Daub: He's 88! He's very energetic! There's no one else here! Oh, there's no one else! That's amazing! I'm so happy to be here today!
00:02:47 John Daub: So he's 88, 73, everybody has more energy than I do. It's mainly because of the water here. So this is the water, I'm going to drink it for you. It's salty! It has bubbles in it. Oh, burp! It has bubbles in it, it's naturally carbonated, coming straight from the ground. Salty, loaded with minerals.
00:03:10 John Daub: In fact, I heard that one of the beverage companies here wanted to buy the rights to use this water and they turned them down. So I'm not drinking the water. Let's eat! Look at this area! Is this not the most beautiful place in the world?
00:03:26 Local: It's a nice place!
00:03:28 John Daub: Okay, so we have to go back now because the next... There's no more garbage, right?
00:03:34 Local: Yes!
00:03:45 Local: I'm 83 years old.
00:03:47 Local: I'm 50 years old.
00:03:58 John Daub: It's been raining all day.
00:04:00 Local: Is that you? Yes. It's my grandpa.
00:04:18 Local: This is the temple in front of the earthquake. So he was a monk at a temple nearby here, but it was destroyed in an earthquake two years ago. So let's take a look at the book. The history of the temple. There he is here.
00:04:54 Passerby: If you don't want to ride, you can ride this way. You can ride the other way. Are you okay? Okay, then. I'll be going now. See you!
00:05:08 Local: I came here from Osaka.
00:05:13 John Daub: Oh, they're from Osaka. Look, kabutachi. International. Famous in the whole world.
00:05:23 Local: Oh really? It's a national treasure.
00:05:26 John Daub: It's delicious, right? It's not really in the world anymore.
00:05:39 Local: [inaudible]
00:06:04 John Daub: 2007. Ten years ago. You haven't changed in 10 years!
00:06:15 Local: It hasn't changed. This is 10 years ago. It's not 10 years after. It hasn't changed in 10 years.
00:06:30 John Daub: You've become younger.
00:06:32 Local: I'm getting younger. I'm going to take pictures and reduce them. Minus? That's Benjamin Button pattern. Take pictures and reduce.
00:06:42 John Daub: I don't understand that saying.
00:06:59 Local: You have to be loud and speak up. It's the best medicine. The way you speak up has to be good. He's explaining it to me. If you smile, you'll be healthy. That's right. You have to be loud. I'm always smiling. Yes. It's a life that's been changed. A person's life is one. The person who was born dies. 100%.
00:08:59 John Daub: When it hits the air, the oxygen in the air changes the taste a little bit. Sorry that it's dark in here. We're going through a tunnel. It's got some iron in it. This is like San Pellegrino or Perrier. This is coming straight out of the ground, naturally carbonated spring water. And you can make cider out of it or other mixed drinks, I guess. It's salty, naturally salty from the salt in the minerals in the water, sorry, in the rocks where the water is coming through. And it's filtered. It's perfectly clean to drink. It's amazing.
00:09:53 John Daub: It says here, bad connection, so I hope the reception's okay.
00:11:08 John Daub: So this is naturally carbonated water. Since it's hit the air and it's been out for a little bit, the taste has changed. I can taste more of the iron in it. And I guess it's oxidized. But this stuff is straight from the ground. It's amazing. Went through a tunnel. I'm still drinking the water.
00:11:43 John Daub: As I was saying before, the taste has changed because oxygen hits it. You can start to taste the iron in it. I guess it oxidizes. I'm not really sure about the science behind it. But you can taste a little bit of the iron. The bubbles are still in there. Lots and lots and lots of minerals.
00:12:09 John Daub: So the secret of life, don't overeat. These are the lessons I'm learning right now, okay? Don't overeat. Drink lots of clean water. And laugh a lot. And you're going to live a really long life. And look great. So that was a naturally carbonated water adventure for ya. We're driving back for an adventure for ya. See you on the road everybody.
00:13:17 John Daub: This is the best time to see the cherry blossoms. It's already starting.
00:13:29 Local: It's starting now.
00:13:34 John Daub: The cherry blossoms are just starting to bloom right now. So the cherry blossoms haven't blossomed here yet. They're finished where it was before. And here they're just starting to blossom because we're on elevation. So I've caught up with the cherry blossoms again. Alright, well like I was saying, we're entering a tunnel, so see ya everybody.