In the latest twist in a recent series of scandals involving "onsen" hot springs, Miyagi Prefectural Police raided an inn in suburban Sendai and its operator Thursday for using real hot spring water -- illegally.
Police searched Sansui-tei inn in the Sakunami Onsen resort and the house of Hisao Narisawa, whose company runs the inn, on suspicion that the inn used onsen water for its customers' bathing facilities without permission from local authorities, officials said.
Under the Hot Spring Law, people can be punished for drilling a hot spring without prefectural government permission. Innkeepers are also required to get a local license before using hot spring water for customer baths.