Gero Onsen Town

Gero Onsen, counted among Japan's three famous hot springs alongside Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture and Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. The hot springs that bubble up in the Hida River basin are simple alkaline hot springs that are known for their therapeutic effects on rheumatism and motor function disorders, as well as for being "beauty hot springs". If you want to tour the unique baths, we recommend the "Yumeguri Tegata" hot spring pass. This day-use bath pass allows you to enter up to three hot springs affiliated with Gero Onsen's member inns and is sold at inns and convenience stores. Junior high school students and above can enjoy touring the hot springs at a great value of 1,300 yen.

Located at the corner of Shirasagi Bridge in the center of the hot spring town is Gero Onsen Shrine. It was built in 1989 to commemorate the history of Gero Onsen and to express gratitude for the blessings of the hot springs, as well as to pray for further development. The shrine features a dragon's mouth from which hot springs gush forth, indicating the abundant amount of hot water available. Every year on October 8th, there is a festival where people in traditional attire parade through the hot spring town. Why not offer a prayer before taking a bath?

Gero Onsen is known for its trendy and photogenic shops and street food, but what really stands out is the "Gero Pudding," with a frog motif as its trademark. Made using local Gero milk, the soft and smooth pudding has a refined yet nostalgic taste. The ingredients, such as natural vanilla beans and domestic eggs, are carefully selected and each pudding is handmade with care. The retro atmosphere of the shop is also a popular feature, in addition to the taste. There is also a wide variety of flavors to choose from.

"Gero Fireworks" has become a winter tradition in Gero Onsen. It is launched for about 10 minutes every Saturday from January to March on the banks of the Hida River downstream of Gero Bridge (cancelled in case of bad weather or river flooding). Each week, a different theme is expressed through the fireworks, offering seasonal programs created by world-class fireworks artists, such as adult fireworks, Setsubun fireworks, Valentine's Day fireworks, and Hina Doll fireworks.

When it comes to Gero City's local cuisine, "Kei-chan" is a must-try. This soul food consists of chicken and vegetables such as cabbage, coated in a special sauce and grilled on a hot plate or in a Genghis Khan pot. With many specialty shops offering simple and affordable menus, you can also enjoy comparing different variations of this dish. In early summer, try "Hoba-maki sushi" wrapped in magnolia leaves, "Anegashi" traditional Japanese sweets made with plenty of mugwort, or "Nezushi," a New Year's traditional dish. Enjoy the unique flavors of Gero.

Gero Onsen Gassho-mura is a museum located about a 5-minute drive from Gero Onsen Station in the same Gifu Prefecture as the world heritage site Shirakawa-go. It features thatched-roof houses that were relocated from Shirakawa-go and other places. The museum is divided into two areas: "Gassho no Sato," where you can catch a glimpse of the village's scenery and lifestyle from that time through the collection of 10 thatched-roof houses, and "Saijiki no Mori," where you can feel the changing seasons in the beautiful Satoyama forest with cherry blossoms, fresh greenery, and autumn leaves. The facilities, including volunteer guides, pottery painting, and dining options, are well-equipped. From March to December, the "Ideyu Asaichi" is also held near the entrance, offering local specialty products at reasonable prices.

Located on the Hida River that runs through the center of Gero Onsen town is the Gero Ohashi Bridge. The "Fountain Pond" springs up on the riverbank right next to the bridge. It's a popular spot as it's a luxurious location where you can feel the murmuring of the Hida River and hot springs are gushing out. Currently, it's only available as a foot bath, but you can feel the atmosphere of the hot spring resort even more during the beautiful green season of the mountain slopes and especially during the winter snowfall season.