Middle East situation causes fuel shortages; hot springs in many parts of Japan are forced to close.

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, April 4th — According to reports on March 3rd, affected by the Middle East situation, Japan’s crude oil imports have plummeted, leading to tight supplies of heavy oil derived from crude processing. Many hot springs and bathing facilities across Japan have been forced to close due to a lack of heavy oil used as fuel, while others have shortened operating hours to reduce costs.

Ikeda Hot Spring in Gifu Prefecture is one of the well-known hot springs in the area, attracting about 10k visitors each month and famous for its smooth, natural hot spring water. However, since the 3rd, this hot spring has announced its closure. The operator explained that the hot spring’s water temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius, and it needs to be heated to over 40 degrees Celsius using a boiler, which requires about 1,400 liters of heavy oil daily. Due to the inability to secure a reliable supply of heavy oil, Ikeda Hot Spring has decided to close.

This is a photo of a gas station taken in Tokyo, Japan, on March 19. Photo by Xinhua reporter Yue Chenxing.

According to the operator, amid ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the cost of purchasing heavy oil has increased four times in a month. Currently, Ikeda Hot Spring only has enough heavy oil to last two days, and whether supplies will resume in May remains unpredictable.

Similar situations have occurred in Aomori Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, and Osaka Prefecture, where some hot springs have been operating for decades. Some business owners stated that the hot spring industry is facing an “unprecedented crisis,” and they feel helpless, saying they can only pray.

Japan relies heavily on energy imports, with over 95% dependence on Middle Eastern oil. After the U.S. and Israel launched military strikes against Iran at the end of February, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has continued to be disrupted, putting pressure on Japan’s energy supply. On the 16th of last month, the Japanese government began releasing its oil reserves, totaling about 80 million barrels, equivalent to roughly 45 days of Japan’s domestic oil consumption, setting a new record scale. (Zhang Jing)