City in Chūbu, Japan
Photo: Soica2001 (talk), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Gero (下呂市 Gero-shi), most famously known for Gero Onsen (下呂温泉), a hot spring town, is a city in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
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合掌村 Gasshō-mura
A traditional village with thatched-roof gasshō-zukuri (shaped like hands in prayer) houses. At least one house is authentic, having been constructed in Shirakawa-go in the mid-1800s, and later relocated here to escape being submerged behind a dam. Paint pottery and make paper yourself, and they will mail your handiwork back to you for a fee. There are displays of traditional festivals, and a museum of guardian-dog statues (狛犬 koma-inu) used at shrines. Nourish your body with local specialties from the restaurant, your feet by soaking in the footbath, and your inner child by riding the roller slide.
チャップリン像 Chappurin-zō
The American silent film star visited Gifu Prefecture twice in the 1930s, where he saw cormorant fishing (鵜飼 ukai, quite literally using birds to catch fish), which he described as "Japan's highest art form", but his time was all spent in Gifu where the fishing occurs. He never visited Gero, so this is not a commemorative statue as some may assume. Instead, it was made in 2001 as the first statue among many to feature famous Hollywood stars to "make a 'movie street' where tourists can walk around the hot springs while talking about movies". The project was abandoned however, leaving Chaplin here as the only statue to actually be produced.
温泉博物館 Onsen Hakubutsukan
Small museum with hot spring paraphanalia dating back to the Edo period, samples of water from hot springs around Japan, and some simple experiments you can perform using Gero hot spring water.
森八幡神社
温泉寺
This temple is strongly connected to the town's history. In 1265, an earthquake destroyed the town and caused the hot springs to dry up. According to legend, a white heron led villagers to a new source of hot water. The villagers built the temple in thanks, and the heron can be seen on the town's manhole covers.
下呂ふるさと歴史記念館
A museum showcasing the archaeological findings from throughout Gero City from the Jomon and Yayoi Periods all the way to the 20th century. Outside the building are recreated Jomon Period houses.
巌立峡
Centered around Mount Gandate, a sheer rock formed by the eruption of Mount Ontake over 50,000 years ago, the park is designated as one of Gifu's Natural Monuments. It's particularly popular in the fall when the leaves around the mountain change colors. The Osaka Falls (小坂の滝) are located along the river next to Gandate. There is a short walking path to visit the waterfalls.
禅昌寺
A zen temple built in the Chinese Song Dynasty-style of architecture. Along with its beautiful outer facade, it also has an attractive inner garden.
加藤素毛記念館
A samurai who represented Japan on the nation's first envoy to the United States, presenting a treaty to President Buchanon. He spent 2 months in the US and an additional 7 months traveling around the world on his way back to Japan. His poems, writings, and drawings from his travels became very popular. The museum contains his actual writings on the grounds of his former home.
中山七里
A scenic gorge with various rock formations named after things they resemble. It is a popular place for spring cherry blossoms, azaleas, and autumn leaves. The Takayama Line also runs over the gorge, making it a popular place for train photographers.
横谷峡
A scenic gorge known for, and often named for its four waterfalls (横谷峡四つの滝) ranging in size from 9m to 33m tall. There is a walking path to each of the falls, so it is a popular place for nature hiking and "minus ion" (マイナスイオン) or natural negative ion therapy.
噴泉池野天風呂 Fusenchi notenburo
This open-air hot bath can be found to the west side of the bridge, with access via the south side. Note that there are no facilities to speak of and the bathing area is mixed and clearly visible to passersby on the bridge above, but admission is also free so you get what you pay for. Swimwear required for all users.
湯のまち雨情公園 Yu-no-machi Ujō Kōen
Much prettier than the so-called park surrounding the Hida River, this park has a lovely 500-meter walk along a tributary landscaped into a ladder waterfall, with sculptures and memorials.
Hanagasa
宴蔵
Known for its "tomato-don" using Hida beef. They also offer ramen and other dishes with Hida beef.
With a French name, meaning "What's wrong with your head?", it features Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
冨岳
Fugaku is Japanese traditional natural hot spring hotel, along Hida River. They have 6 onsen baths (2 indoor, 2 outdoor, and 2 private for families), free Wi-Fi service in the lobby, tatami-mat rooms with air-conditioning, LCD TVs and refrigerators in rooms. In-room dining features 10-course meals of Hida beef. Walking distance to riverside and downtown, 15 minutes to onsen temple, 25 minutes to Gasho Village and Morning Market.
悠久の華
In this ryokan built in 2012, the decor is traditional, but everything else is modern: all rooms have a small private onsen bath on an open-air patio, as well as LCD TVs and wired Internet access (with free Wi-Fi available in the lobby). Rooms are not as spacious as at some of the other ryokan in Gero, but you get a lot more features in your room, so it's a very fair trade. Meals are taken in their private restaurant. There is also a karaoke room available for ¥2,100/hour.
湯之島館
This multi-building onsen ryokan sits on the side of a mountain overlooking the valley and the city. Features 7 baths including 2 outdoor baths and a foot bath, and a large gated garden. Dinner and breakfast are included and are 12-18 courses. Enjoy wandering through the odd-angled hallways and extensions to the original building; they even made a stamp-hunting game of it (pick up a blank sheet from the front desk). Since the rest of the rykoan is the same no matter which room you get, you can save yourself some money by going for the cheaper rooms.
睦館
Mutsumikan is an affordable hot spring ryokan located very close to Gero Station and within walking distance of Gero Onsen city center.The family-run ryokan features friendly staff and personalized services, indoor/outdoor natural Onsen bath.English spoken, the staff is welcoming to foreign visitors. Free Wi-Fi and Included dining plans available.
いでゆ朝市 Ideyu Asaichi
Small market where vendors peddle local produce (only Friday-Monday), food products, and souvenirs.
いでゆ夜市 Ideyu Yoichi
By bus
There are daily buses to Gero from Nagoya, Takayama, Toyama, and Osaka.
By car
Gero is accessible from national highways 41 and 257, about 2 hours' drive from Nagoya; take the Chuo Expressway E19 to Ena or Nakatsugawa, then 257, or take 41 the whole way.
Gero Onsen can be covered on foot, although if you have much luggage you'll want to get a taxi or arrange a pickup with your lodgings — the train station lies on the south side of the river, while most hotels are across…
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