Gero Onsen

What to know

During the Edo Period (1603–1868), the Confucian scholar Hayashi Razan named Gero Onsen one of Japan's three finest hot springs. Though the town has modernized since then, the waters still possess the remarkable qualities that earned them such fame.

Gero lies between Nagoya and Takayama, about an hour south of Takayama. This makes it a convenient stopover or a great alternative base during the Takayama Festival, when accommodation in Takayama is scarce.

Onsen are Gero's main draw. The town offers three public bathhouses plus numerous baths in ryokan, many of which open to non-guests for a fee at certain times.

A great way to sample multiple baths is to buy a Yumeguri Tegata (spa pass). This wooden tablet costs 1,300 yen, is valid for six months, and grants three visits to any of over a dozen participating ryokan. It also makes a nice souvenir. You can buy it at the tourist office, ryokan, souvenir shops, and convenience stores around Gero.

Scattered around town are many free footbaths where you can sit and relax after sightseeing. One notable footbath is the riverside Funsenike, originally a bathing pool but converted to a footbath due to its exposed location causing complaints.

Onsenji Temple is dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, the Buddha of healing. Its image is said to have restored the hot spring flow after a large earthquake blocked it. Climb the stone staircase to the temple gate for a view over the city and river.