【2026 Edition】What's the Difference Between Soft Water in Japan and Water in Thailand? How Japanese People Can Choose Drinkable Water
The "Difference in Water" You Feel When Living in Thailand
When you start living in Thailand, you notice many differences in food, climate, transportation, language, and more.
Among these, what surprisingly many Japanese people notice is the difference in water.
In Japan, many people may have drunk tap water or natural water without much thought.
However, once you start living in Thailand, you'll find yourself in situations where:
- You buy more water.
- You drink room temperature water more often.
- The taste of coffee and tea changes.
- You notice a difference in the flavor of rice and miso soup.
- You wonder which water is easy to drink.
Thailand often has hot days, making daily hydration essential.
Therefore, choosing water that is easy to drink in Thailand is an important point for a comfortable life there.
Why Do Japanese People Find Japanese Water Easy to Drink?
One reason why Japanese people find "Japanese water easy to drink" is the soft water culture.
Japanese water is said to be mostly soft water with relatively low mineral content.
Soft water has a mild mouthfeel and a refreshing aftertaste.
For this reason, in Japan, a food culture has developed that pairs well with soft water, including:
- Tea
- Dashi (soup stock)
- Rice
- Miso soup
- Japanese cuisine
- Coffee
The ease of drinking water, which was taken for granted while living in Japan, is sometimes only noticed for the first time when starting life abroad.
How is Thai Water Different from Japanese Water?
The mineral waters sold in Thailand have different characteristics depending on the product.
Not all water tastes the same; there are differences in mouthfeel, aftertaste, mineral sensation, and ease of drinking at room temperature.
Among those accustomed to Japanese soft water, some may feel the following when drinking water in Thailand:
"It feels a bit heavy."
"It's hard to drink at room temperature."
"The taste of tea is different from usual."
"The way the rice cooks is slightly different."
This can be related to the amount of minerals and hardness in the water.
Of course, water preference varies from person to person.
However, if you're looking for water that is easy for Japanese people to drink in Thailand, choosing water based on the criteria of soft water, ultra-soft water, and water that is easy to drink even at room temperature will make it easier to incorporate into your daily life.
4 Tips for Choosing Easy-to-Drink Water in Thailand
Thailand has many mineral water options.
It's important to consider whether you can continue drinking it daily, rather than just choosing by price or brand.
1. Choose Soft or Ultra-Soft Water
If you're looking for water that is easy for Japanese people to drink, the first thing to check is hardness.
Water with low hardness tends to have a mild mouthfeel and is generally easy to drink daily.
Especially for those who prefer a drinking experience similar to Japanese water, soft or ultra-soft water is recommended.
2. Choose Water That's Easy to Drink Even at Room Temperature
In Thailand, people often carry water when they go out.
Even if you buy cold water, it quickly warms up to room temperature in the hot climate.
Therefore, it's important whether it's easy to drink not only when cold but also at room temperature.
Water that can be drunk smoothly even at room temperature is compatible with life in Thailand.
3. Choose Water That's Easy to Use for Cooking and Beverages
Water is not just for drinking as is.
It's also used in daily meals for coffee, tea, rice, miso soup, and other soups.
Choosing water with little distinctive taste makes it less likely to interfere with the taste of ingredients and easier to use for cooking.
4. Choose Water That's Easy to Purchase and Sustainable
In Thailand, it's common to buy water by the case.
However, water is heavy, so it's a hassle to carry it every time.
If the water offers home delivery or subscription services, it becomes easier to continue daily, reducing the burden of forgetting to buy or carrying it.
"Daily Drinkable Water" is Important for Life in Thailand
Thailand has many hot days throughout the year, increasing the frequency of daily water consumption.
Hydration is necessary in various situations, such as commuting, shopping, work, school, exercise, travel, and dining out.
That's why when choosing water in Thailand, it's important to consider not just "because it's cheap" or "because it's sold nearby," but whether it can be consumed naturally every day.
Having easy-to-drink water on hand makes regular hydration easier to become a habit.
Moreover, by increasing the times you drink water throughout the day—when you wake up, during work, before going out, during meals, before bed—it becomes easier to maintain a rhythm in your Thai life.
What is ONSENSUI99?
For those looking for easy-to-drink water in Thailand, we recommend ONSENSUI99.
Onsensui 99 is a natural alkaline mineral water sourced from approximately 750m underground in Tarumizu City, Kagoshima Prefecture.
It is water that has been naturally filtered through geological layers over many years, characterized by a soft and mellow taste.
It is easy for those accustomed to Japanese soft water to incorporate into their daily lives and is recommended as daily drinking water for Japanese people living in Thailand.
Reasons Why Onsensui 99 is Recommended for Japanese People in Thailand
Ultra-Soft Water with a Hardness of 1.7 mg/L
A major characteristic of ONSENSUI99 is that it is ultra-soft water with a hardness of 1.7 mg/L.
It has an even softer mouthfeel than typical soft water and can be drunk smoothly even at room temperature.
It is water that Japanese people who are confused by the difference in water in Thailand can easily continue to drink every day.
Natural Alkaline Mineral Water with pH 9.5-9.9
Onsensui 99 is naturally alkaline water.
Its pH is 9.5-9.9.
Despite being alkaline, it has little distinctive taste and is refreshing and easy to drink.
Perfect for When You Miss Japanese Water
When living abroad for a long time, you might occasionally yearn for the taste of Japan.
This applies not only to food but also to water.
Onsensui 99 is an ultra-soft water with a gentle and mellow mouthfeel, making it easy for those accustomed to Japanese water to naturally adopt.
Easy to Use for Coffee, Tea, and Rice Cooking
Being ultra-soft and having little distinctive taste, it is easy to use for coffee, tea, cooking rice, miso soup, and other soups.
It is a natural water that can be incorporated into the entire diet, not just as daily drinking water.
Comparison Table
| Item | Water generally sold in Thailand | ONSENSUI99 |
|---|---|---|
| Type of water | Varies by product | Natural alkaline |
| Origin | Varies by product | Tarumizu City, Kagoshima Prefecture |
| Hardness | Varies by product | Ultra-soft water (1.7mg/L) |
| pH | Varies by product | pH 9.5-9.9 |
| Taste | Varies by product | Mellow and gentle |
| Ease of drinking at room temperature | Varies by product | Easy to drink even at room temperature |
| Compatibility with Japanese people | Varies by product | Tends to suit those accustomed to Japanese soft water |
| Ease of use for cooking | Varies by product | Easy to use for coffee, tea, and cooking rice |
| Ease of use in Thai life | Depends on purchase method | Easy to use for home and outdoor activities |
If You Notice a Difference in Water in Thailand, Choose Soft Water
When living in Thailand, you might notice a difference in the water.
This is by no means unusual.
It's precisely because we drink it every day that we're likely to notice small differences.
If you're accustomed to Japanese soft water and choosing easy-to-drink water in Thailand, it's easier to choose by focusing on these points:
- Soft or ultra-soft water
- Easy to drink at room temperature
- Little distinctive taste
- Easy to use for cooking
- Sustainable purchase method available
For those looking for easy-to-drink water in Thailand.
For those looking for water recommended for Japanese people in Thailand.
For those seeking a gentle, soft taste similar to Japanese water.
If this sounds like you, please try ONSENSUI99 once.
Changing your daily water might just make your life in Thailand a little more comfortable.
FAQ
Q. What kind of water is easy to drink in Thailand?
For Japanese people, soft or ultra-soft water with little distinctive taste and a mild mouthfeel tends to be easy to drink. Choosing water that's easy to drink at room temperature will make it more sustainable for life in Thailand.
Q. Is there any water in Thailand recommended for Japanese people?
For those accustomed to Japanese soft water, low-hardness water is recommended. ONSENSUI99 is ultra-soft water with a hardness of 1.7mg/L, making it an easy-to-incorporate natural water for Japanese people living in Thailand.
Q. What is the difference between soft water and hard water?
Soft water and hard water are categorized by the amount of minerals like calcium and magnesium contained in the water, which is its hardness. Water with lower hardness tends to have a softer mouthfeel.
Q. Why do Japanese people sometimes find foreign water difficult to drink?
Many Japanese people are accustomed to soft water, so when they drink mineral-rich water abroad, they may notice a difference in mouthfeel and aftertaste.
Q. Is ONSENSUI99 easy to drink at room temperature?
Yes. ONSENSUI99 is ultra-soft water with a hardness of 1.7mg/L, making it easy to drink smoothly even at room temperature. A key feature is that it's easy to drink even if the water gets warm while you're out in Thailand.
Q. Can ONSENSUI99 be used for cooking?
Yes. Because it is ultra-soft water with little distinctive taste, it is easy to use for daily cooking and beverages such as coffee, tea, rice, miso soup, and other soups.
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