According to reports from Japanese media on the 3rd, cited by Xinhua News Agency on the 4th, Japan's crude oil imports have sharply declined due to the situation in the Middle East, leading to a tight supply of heavy oil derived from crude oil processing. Many hot springs and bathing facilities across Japan have been forced to suspend operations due to a lack of heavy oil used as fuel, while others have reduced their operating hours to cut costs.
Ikeda Onsen, a well-known hot spring in Gifu Prefecture, attracts approximately 10,000 visitors monthly and is renowned for its smooth, natural hot spring water. However, from the 3rd, this hot spring announced its closure. Management explained that while the spring's natural temperature is over 30 degrees Celsius, it requires heating via boiler to over 40 degrees Celsius, consuming about 1,400 liters of heavy oil daily. With heavy oil supplies unable to be guaranteed, Ikeda Onsen decided to cease operations.
According to management, against the backdrop of ongoing instability in the Middle East, the cost of purchasing heavy oil has increased four times in one month. Currently, Ikeda Onsen's remaining heavy oil can only last two more days, and it remains uncertain whether supplies will resume in May.
Similar situations have occurred in Aomori Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, and Osaka, among other areas, with some hot springs having operated for decades. Some business owners stated that the hot spring industry is facing an "unprecedented crisis," leaving them helpless and "able only to pray."
Japan is highly dependent on energy imports, with over 95% of its oil reliance tied to the Middle East. Following military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran at the end of February, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been continuously disrupted, putting pressure on Japan's energy supply. On the 16th of last month, the Japanese government initiated a release of its petroleum reserves, totaling approximately 80 million barrels—equivalent to about 45 days of domestic oil consumption—marking the largest such release in history.
