Integrity
Certification cannot be bought, and we do not sell it.
Yuchelin certifies from a position with no commercial ties to onsen facilities. Trust in evaluation rests on that independence alone. We make three promises.
We accept no payment from facilities.
We never ask onsen facilities to bear any cost for evaluation or certification. There are no registration, screening or certification fees of any kind.
Support and recommendations do not affect evaluation.
Whether you are a supporting member, how much you give, how many recommendations a facility receives: none of it touches the stars. Recommendations from members and supporters may start an inquiry, but never influence the result.
Experts examine the water itself, on site.
Beyond reading the analysis report, we visit to check the distance and time from source to bath, and the state of heating, dilution, circulation, disinfection and cleaning.
How Evaluation Works
- 01
Research & analysis
Candidates are narrowed down from analysis reports, public information and expert knowledge.
- 02
On-site inspection
Experts visit the facility to examine the water and how it is delivered.
- 03
Expert evaluation
Under the Council's oversight, several experts finalize the evaluation.
Conflicts of Interest
When a director, Council member or inspector has an interest in a facility under review, that interest is disclosed and the person takes no part in evaluating that facility.
Detailed criteria are published on the Award site (yuchelin.org).
yuchelin.org →