Traditional · Geographical waters
Japanese Natural Spring Water
日本名水 (Nihon meisui)
Also known as: Meisui, Selected Famous Waters of Japan
At a glance
| Category | Traditional |
|---|---|
| Common Japanese notations | 名水, 日本名水, 名水百選 |
| Origin | Mineral (natural spring water from designated Japanese sources) |
| Typical functions | Beverage base water, Mineral supply for culinary and beverage manufacturing, Cosmetic formulation water (specialty positioning) |
| Regulatory status in Japan | Bottled water and mineral water are regulated under the Food Sanitation Act and the JAS standards for mineral water; designations as 名水百選 / 平成の名水百選 are administered by the Ministry of the Environment. |
Japanese natural spring water (日本名水, Nihon meisui) refers to water drawn from springs and groundwater sources across Japan, including the 200 sites jointly designated by the Ministry of the Environment under the Selected Hundred Famous Waters (名水百選, 1985) and the Heisei Period Selected Hundred Famous Waters (平成の名水百選, 2008). These waters are valued in beverage, brewing, and culinary supply chains for their mineral profile and regional provenance.
Classification
Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.
Product applications
Functions
Regulatory tags
Origin
Used in (typical product categories)
Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.
- Bottled mineral water
- Tea, coffee, and RTD beverages
- Sake, shōchū, and other brewed products
- Specialty cosmetic toners and mists
What it is
Japanese natural spring water is groundwater that emerges from designated springs or is drawn through wells from protected aquifers. Major source regions include the Mt. Fuji watershed (Yamanashi and Shizuoka), the Kurobe River system (Toyama), Mt. Hakusan (Ishikawa), and numerous other catchment areas across the archipelago.
The Ministry of the Environment's two famous-water lists — 名水百選 (1985) and 平成の名水百選 (2008) — together designate 200 sites recognized for water quality, environmental conservation, and cultural significance. These designations are not certifications of bottling fitness; they recognize the water source itself. The first commercially bottled domestic Japanese mineral water was Fuji Mineral Water Company's "Nihon Evian," launched in 1929.
Bottled and bulk-supplied product is processed under the Food Sanitation Act and the JAS standard for mineral water. Categories defined under the JAS framework include natural water, natural mineral water, mineral water (with mineral adjustment), and bottled water.
Typical uses in Japanese products
Beverage manufacturing — bottled water, tea, coffee, and RTD beverages frequently use specific Japanese spring water sources as both functional base water and as an origin-story marketing element.
Brewing — many sake, shōchū, beer, and whisky producers select water from specific Japanese aquifers to match their target mineral profile (soft versus hard water).
Culinary supply — high-end restaurants, dashi production, and bottled tea brands reference specific spring sources.
Cosmetic specialty applications — selected formulators reference specific Japanese spring or mineral water sources in product positioning, though the cosmetic ingredient label itself uses the generic term 水 (water) on the JSCI list.
Regulatory classification in Japan
Bottled mineral water and natural water are regulated under the Food Sanitation Act, with compositional and labeling specifications set by the JAS standard for mineral water.
Designation as 名水百選 (Selected Hundred Famous Waters, 1985) or 平成の名水百選 (Heisei Period Selected Hundred Famous Waters, 2008) is administered by the Ministry of the Environment as a recognition of the water source and surrounding environment; it is not a product certification or a bottling permit.
The Japan Mineral Water Association maintains industry guidance for bottled mineral water producers.
Regulatory classification in other markets
| EU | Sale as "natural mineral water" in the EU requires recognition under Directive 2009/54/EC. Imported Japanese spring water is typically marketed under the "spring water" or generic "bottled water" categories unless EU recognition has been obtained. |
|---|---|
| USA | Bottled water is regulated by the FDA under 21 CFR Part 165. Japanese natural spring water is typically classified and labeled as "spring water" or "mineral water" depending on source characteristics and mineral content. |
| China | Imported bottled water is regulated by GACC and SAMR under the national bottled water standards (GB 8537 for natural mineral water; GB 19298 for general bottled water). Source documentation is required. |
| Korea | Bottled water imports are regulated by the Ministry of Environment under the Drinking Water Management Act, with separate provisions for natural mineral water. |
Example products
Example finished products will be added after each product's source documentation has been verified. Specific spring sources (Mt. Fuji, Kurobe, Hakusan, etc.) are handled as descriptive provenance rather than as ingredient names.
All brand names and product names referenced anywhere on this site are the property of their respective owners. Example entries are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply endorsement.
Related ingredients
References
- Ministry of the Environment — 名水百選 (Selected Hundred Famous Waters, 1985)
- Ministry of the Environment — 平成の名水百選 (Heisei Period Selected Hundred Famous Waters, 2008)
- Japan Mineral Water Association
- JAS standard for mineral water
Last updated: 2026-04-25. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.