Over 95% dependence on Middle Eastern oil! Japan faces an oil crisis, can't afford to heat hot springs anymore.

Tech News April 4: Due to the knock-on effects of the severe volatility in the Middle East situation, Japan’s crude oil import volume has recently fallen sharply. This situation has directly resulted in an unprecedentedly tight supply of heavy oil, which is refined from crude oil.

Hot springs and bathing facilities—an iconic symbol of Japanese culture—have become the direct victims of this energy crisis. Due to the lack of necessary heavy oil as a heating fuel, many well-known hot springs in various places across Japan have been forced to announce closures. Even some venues that are still operating can only shorten their operating hours to barely bring down operating costs.

Ikeda Onsen in Gifu Prefecture is a typical example. This natural hot spring, known for the smoothness of its water quality, normally receives about 10,000 visitors per month, but under the pressure of the heavy-oil shortage, it officially announced its closure on April 3.

Similar operating crises are spreading throughout Japan. Bathing-industry businesses in places including Aomori Prefecture, Hyogo Prefecture, and Osaka Prefecture have also reported closures or limited-time operations, significantly affecting local residents’ day-to-day life.

Japan is extremely dependent on external markets for its energy supply, with its reliance on Middle Eastern oil exceeding 95%. This means that once the Middle East situation becomes unstable, Japan’s energy supply chain will quickly feel severe pain.

Since related military actions began in late February this year, the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints—has continued to be obstructed. This has kept Japan’s energy supply under ongoing pressure, and in the short term, the heavy-oil shortage is unlikely to be fundamentally resolved.