Beppu’s mud onsen (doroyu) is a rare and prized type of hot spring where you bathe not in clear water but in warm, naturally occurring mineral mud. Found in the Myoban and Kannawa areas, these springs produce a soft, silky, greyish clay mud, rich in minerals, that you can smooth over your skin and soak in. Bathing in the warm mud is deeply relaxing and, thanks to its mineral content, is traditionally believed to soften, cleanse and beautify the skin, leaving it smooth afterwards. Some facilities offer mixed or separate mud baths, indoor and open-air, letting you wallow in the milky mud before rinsing off in a normal bath. A quirky and memorable variation on the onsen experience, the mud bath is one of the many unusual ways Beppu lets you enjoy its extraordinary geothermal bounty.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Kannawa/Myoban, Beppu, Oita |
| Hours | Bath hours (varies) |
| Admission | Paid (low) |
| Time needed | 1 hour |
| Best time | Year-round |
What to Experience
- Bathing in warm, mineral-rich grey mud.
- Silky mud smoothed over the skin.
- Skin-softening, beautifying mineral properties.
- Indoor and open-air mud baths in Kannawa/Myoban.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with the Beppu sand bath .
- Pair with Kannawa Onsen town .
- Read our Oita overview .
Getting There
- By bus: to the Kannawa or Myoban onsen areas.
- On foot: at mud-bath facilities in Kannawa.
Tips
Follow the facility’s rules on how to bathe in the mud, and check whether baths are mixed or gender-separate before you go. Smooth the mineral mud over your skin for the beautifying effect, rinse off in a normal bath afterwards, and combine it with the sand bath to try two of Beppu’s most unusual onsen experiences.
