Onsenji Temple is a temple dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, who appeared in the "Legend of the White Heron" related to the rediscovery of Gero Onsen. In the legend of the egret, the spring of Gero Onsen, which was initially located near the summit of Yugamine, stopped gushing, and the villagers who were in trouble met a white egret.
When the villagers approached the banks of the Hida River, which flows into the onsen town where the egrets swooped down, they discovered a newly gushing onsen. After the egret flies away from the riverbank, it perches on a pine tree on a certain mountain. Under the pine tree where the egret was perched, a single Yakushi Nyorai sits, which is said to be the origin of the onsen temple.
The mountain where the egret resided in legend is Mt. Nakane in Gero Onsen, and an onsen temple was built at the foot of it. The onsen temple was built in 1671, and valuable cultural properties that record the history of the onsens are also carefully preserved. In autumn, the area around the onsen temple is dyed red with autumn leaves, and it is crowded with many tourists to catch a glimpse of the spectacular scenery.
During the autumn foliage season, it is also lit up at night, so it can be said that it is a tourist spot that represents Gero Onsen that can be enjoyed day and night.
The fountain pond is a place that can be said to be a symbol of Gero Onsen, and is located on the banks of the Hida River, which flows through the center of the onsen town. At the fountain pond, you can enjoy a high-quality foot bath at Gero Onsen and relax while listening to the murmur of the Hida River.
The unenclosed fountain pond with a sense of openness has become a specialty of Gero Onsen, and is one of the places you should visit once when you visit the onsen town.
The foot bath at the fountain pond is free and easy to use, so it is also a place of relaxation for people. When you get tired from traveling or walking along the way, it is recommended to decide your next destination while warming your feet in the onsens.
Iwaritsu Park is an indispensable spot where you can enjoy the nature around Gero Onsen. Iwaritsu Park is located in the northeast of Gero Onsen, about 40 minutes by car from Gero Station, or if you take a bus, you can get off at a place called Iwaritsukyo Himeshaga-no-yu and walk for about 20 minutes.
There are many spots to see in Iwaritsu Park, such as the prefectural designated natural monuments "Iwadate" and "Mitsu Waterfall". First of all, it is known as a cross-section of a lava flow that formed about 54,000 years ago. It is the highest in Japan that has been confirmed in Japan, and the sight of the rock wall stretching for 17 kilometers along the river is a spectacular view.
The next waterfall, Mitsu Falls, is the most popular waterfall in Iwaritsu Park and is located about 600 meters walk from the park entrance. As the name suggests, Mitsu Falls is a three-tiered waterfall with water flowing down, and the beautiful yet powerful scenery attracts people.
The sidewalks along the way are also well maintained, so you can go to Mitsu Falls with peace of mind. There is also a course where you can visit other waterfalls, and you can choose your favorite place, including with or without a guide.
The recommended seasons for Iwaritsu Park are spring and autumn, and you can take a walk while enjoying the autumn leaves in autumn while feeling the pleasant sunlight shining through the trees in spring.
Gassho Village is located about a 25-minute walk from Gero Station, making it a tourist spot where you can easily drop by. Gassho Village, where you can see the "gassho-zukuri" architectural style of Japan, is very popular with tourists and is visited by many people.
Gassho-zukuri is an architectural style unique to snowy countries, and the roof is sloped to make it difficult for snow to accumulate. Gassho Village itself is a museum, and you can tour the inside of the house, as well as experience various things such as pottery painting and pottery. The gassho village of Gero Onsen has been relocated from Shirakawa-go, which is also famous as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in Gifu Prefecture. A total of 10 houses have been recreated in Gassho Village, centering on the relocated gassho building.
In addition, the gassho village of Gero Onsen holds many events throughout the year. There are plenty of attractive events, such as the "Dohina Festival" where 1,800 dolls are displayed at once, and the "Deyu Morning Market" where you can buy folk crafts.
The scenery of the four seasons shown by Gassho Village is also beautiful, and it can be said that it is a tourist spot that you will never get tired of visiting no matter what season you visit.
Gero Onsen is one of the most famous onsens in Japan. Gero Onsen, along with Kusatsu Onsen and Ariman onsen, is an onsen resort called "Japan's Three Most Famous Springs". Gero Onsen is located in Gero City, Gifu Prefecture, and is surrounded by abundant nature. There are many historical buildings and natural tourist spots around the onsen resort, and many tourists from Japan and abroad visit throughout the year. It is a famous onsen that is said to have been visited by famous warlords of the Sengoku period, "Oda Nobunaga" and "Takeda Shingen", who visited Gero Onsen in the distant past to heal their bodies. The charm of Gero Onsen lies in the quality of the spring, which has been loved by people for more than 1,000 years. Gero Onsen has the quality of an alkaline simple onsen, and is said to be good for beauty and health, and has various effects such as fatigue recovery and neuralgia. The colorless and transparent water has a smooth texture and is also called "beautiful hot water" because it cleans the skin after bathing.
The Hida River flows through the center of the onsen town, and accommodation facilities are lined up around it. There are more than 30 inns where you can stay, and you can enjoy the famous onsens of Gero Onsen to your heart's content. In addition, there are various ways to enjoy Gero Onsen, such as gourmet food using carefully selected local ingredients and a walk around the quaint onsen town. Each facility is also densely packed along the Hida River, so it is recommended to wear a yukata and take a leisurely stroll. Gero Onsen, where you can enjoy nature in all four seasons, can be said to be one of Japan's representative onsen resorts that you will never get bored of no matter what season you visit. In addition, Gero Onsen sells something called "onsen tour bill". If you use this onsen tour bill, you can bathe in three onsens of your choice from the member inns, and it can also be used as a souvenir or souvenir of your trip.
Get to know Gero Onsen
Area guide
Gero Onsen is an onsen town along the Hida River, which flows through the center, and is lined with various inns and shops. When you leave Gero Station, the gateway to the onsen town, you will be greeted by the monument of the egret, which remains in the legend of the origin of Gero Onsen.
On the side of the egret monument, onsens come out of the dragon's mouth, and the hot water rises. In the vicinity of the Gero Bridge, which spans the center of the onsen town, the "Fountain Pond", which can be said to be the symbol of Gero Onsen, appears. The fountain pond is popular as a place of relaxation for people and can be used as a foot bath. After crossing the Gero Bridge, there is Atano Street, which is lined with Gero Onsen Shrine and shops where you can buy souvenirs.
Atano Street has a wonderful scenery unique to the onsen town, and it can be said that it is one of the spots where you can enjoy Gero Onsen. In addition, you can enjoy a variety of gourmet dishes in the onsen town, such as Gero pudding, which features a frog mascot, and Hida beef dishes, which are known as brand beef. In addition, there are many accommodation options in Gero Onsen, with more than 30 of them.
There are various inns with a good view of the Hida River and quaint inns designated as cultural properties, so deciding where to stay is one of the pleasures. After check-in, it is recommended to change into a yukata and take a leisurely stroll around the onsen town.
Access
Gero Onsen is located in Gero City, Gifu Prefecture, and it can be said that access is very good. There are many ways to get to Gero Onsen, and it is convenient to travel by bus, train, or car. Access from major cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya is relatively good, and you can smoothly access Gero Onsen by connecting highway buses and trains.
If you use the airport, for international flights, Chubu Centrair International Airport is the closest and most convenient to Gero Onsen. In addition, there may be a shuttle bus from the accommodation in Gero Onsen, so it is a good idea to check it when using the inn.
From Tokyo
<Airplane> Narita International Airport→ Chubu International Airport→ Chubu Centrair International Airport Station→ Shin-Unuma Station→ Unuma Station→ Gero Station (about 3 hours 40 minutes)
<Airplane> Haneda Airport→ Chubu Centrair International Airport→ Chubu Centrair International Airport Station→ Shin-Unuma Station→ Unuma Station→ Gero Station (about 3 hours 30 minutes)
<Train> Tokyo Station→ Nagoya Station→ Gero Station (about 3 hours 30 minutes)
<Bus> Shinjuku BT→ Nagoya Station→ Gero Onsen (about 8 hours 50 minutes)
From Nagoya
<Train> Nagoya Station → Gero Station (about 1 hour and 30 minutes)
<Bus> Nagoya Station→ Gero Onsen (about 2 hours 30 minutes)
From Osaka
<Train> Shin-Osaka Station → Nagoya Station→ Gero Station (about 2 hours 50 minutes)
<Bus> In front of Osaka Station→ Nagoya Station→ Gero Onsen (about 5 hours)
Water quality
Gero Onsen has the quality of an alkaline simple onsen. The color of the water is colorless and transparent, and the alkaline simple onsen, which has a smooth feel, is characterized by the fact that the skin becomes smooth after bathing. Bathing in an onsen with this quality removes dead skin cells, so it is called "beautiful skin water".
The main indications are neuralgia, muscle pain, joint pain, frozen shoulder, motor paralysis, joint stiffness, bruises, sprains, hemorrhoids, chronic digestive diseases, sensitivity to cold, recovery from fatigue, and health promotion.
In addition, it is also called "health bath" because it is good for health promotion such as fatigue recovery and stress relief. The hot water of Gero Onsen has a Ph value of 9 or higher, has a moderate skin-beautifying effect, and is characterized by the fact that the water does not cool down easily even after bathing.
At Gero Onsen, a centralized management system has been introduced to ensure a stable supply of high-quality hot water. Due to the functioning of this system, all member inns of Gero Onsen can bathe in the same quality of the spring at all facilities. No matter which facility you use, it is very attractive to be able to enjoy the best onsens.
Also, if you want to bathe in an onsen other than the accommodation, we recommend the "Yumeguri Bill". As mentioned at the beginning of this article, if you purchase one, you can use up to three onsens at member inns. The fee is 1,300 yen including tax per piece, and you can enjoy an onsen tour while strolling around Gero Onsen, and you can take it home as a souvenir of your trip after using it. Bills can be purchased at member inns, stores, and convenience stores.
History
Gero Onsen, one of the three most famous onsens in Japan, is an onsen resort with a very long history of more than 1,000 years. The origin of Gero Onsen is said to be in the middle of the Heian period, and legend has it that it was discovered in 947-957 AD on the mountain "Yugamine", a little away from the current onsen town.
However, the onsens that had been gushing out near the top of Yugamine suddenly ceased to appear in the middle of the Kamakura period, in 1265 AD. The rediscovery of Gero Onsen was near the Hida River, where the current onsen town is located.
The rediscovery of Gero Onsen has been passed down as the "Legend of the White Egret", and it is said that an egret swooped down in front of the villagers who were having trouble finding an onsen and announced the new onsen.
Gero Onsen has grown in popularity since it moved from the top of Yugamine to its current location, and has continued to develop while overcoming difficulties such as disasters.
In addition, the person who introduced the existence of the famous Gero Onsen to the world was a monk of the Muromachi period named "Manri Shuku". At the "onsen Thanksgiving Festival" held every year, the achievements of Wanli Shuku, which has a deep connection with Gero Onsen, are honored.
In modern Gero Onsen, "frogs" have become established as characters in the onsen town, and you can enjoy frog-related things in various parts of the onsen town. The frog is perceived differently depending on the country and religion, but it is a creature with various symbols such as the god of rain, fortune, and prosperity of offspring.
In Japan, it is considered a lucky charm that brings good luck, and the frog's "Gerogero" cry and Gero Onsen are sprinkled on it. In the onsen town, you can enjoy frog shrines and Gero pudding, and there are frog objects in various places, so it is recommended to take a walk.
Gero Onsen is an onsen resort with a very fascinating history, from ancient times to the present day.
Attractions
Onsen Temple
Onsenji Temple is a temple dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai, who appeared in the "Legend of the White Heron" related to the rediscovery of Gero Onsen. In the legend of the egret, the spring of Gero Onsen, which was initially located near the summit of Yugamine, stopped gushing, and the villagers who were in trouble met a white egret.
When the villagers approached the banks of the Hida River, which flows into the onsen town where the egrets swooped down, they discovered a newly gushing onsen. After the egret flies away from the riverbank, it perches on a pine tree on a certain mountain. Under the pine tree where the egret was perched, a single Yakushi Nyorai sits, which is said to be the origin of the onsen temple.
The mountain where the egret resided in legend is Mt. Nakane in Gero Onsen, and an onsen temple was built at the foot of it. The onsen temple was built in 1671, and valuable cultural properties that record the history of the onsens are also carefully preserved. In autumn, the area around the onsen temple is dyed red with autumn leaves, and it is crowded with many tourists to catch a glimpse of the spectacular scenery.
During the autumn foliage season, it is also lit up at night, so it can be said that it is a tourist spot that represents Gero Onsen that can be enjoyed day and night.
Fountain Pond
The fountain pond is a place that can be said to be a symbol of Gero Onsen, and is located on the banks of the Hida River, which flows through the center of the onsen town. At the fountain pond, you can enjoy a high-quality foot bath at Gero Onsen and relax while listening to the murmur of the Hida River.
The unenclosed fountain pond with a sense of openness has become a specialty of Gero Onsen, and is one of the places you should visit once when you visit the onsen town.
The foot bath at the fountain pond is free and easy to use, so it is also a place of relaxation for people. When you get tired from traveling or walking along the way, it is recommended to decide your next destination while warming your feet in the onsens.
Iwaritsu Park
Iwaritsu Park is an indispensable spot where you can enjoy the nature around Gero Onsen. Iwaritsu Park is located in the northeast of Gero Onsen, about 40 minutes by car from Gero Station, or if you take a bus, you can get off at a place called Iwaritsukyo Himeshaga-no-yu and walk for about 20 minutes.
There are many spots to see in Iwaritsu Park, such as the prefectural designated natural monuments "Iwadate" and "Mitsu Waterfall". First of all, it is known as a cross-section of a lava flow that formed about 54,000 years ago. It is the highest in Japan that has been confirmed in Japan, and the sight of the rock wall stretching for 17 kilometers along the river is a spectacular view.
The next waterfall, Mitsu Falls, is the most popular waterfall in Iwaritsu Park and is located about 600 meters walk from the park entrance. As the name suggests, Mitsu Falls is a three-tiered waterfall with water flowing down, and the beautiful yet powerful scenery attracts people.
The sidewalks along the way are also well maintained, so you can go to Mitsu Falls with peace of mind. There is also a course where you can visit other waterfalls, and you can choose your favorite place, including with or without a guide.
The recommended seasons for Iwaritsu Park are spring and autumn, and you can take a walk while enjoying the autumn leaves in autumn while feeling the pleasant sunlight shining through the trees in spring.
Gero Onsen Gassho Village
Gassho Village is located about a 25-minute walk from Gero Station, making it a tourist spot where you can easily drop by. Gassho Village, where you can see the "gassho-zukuri" architectural style of Japan, is very popular with tourists and is visited by many people.
Gassho-zukuri is an architectural style unique to snowy countries, and the roof is sloped to make it difficult for snow to accumulate. Gassho Village itself is a museum, and you can tour the inside of the house, as well as experience various things such as pottery painting and pottery. The gassho village of Gero Onsen has been relocated from Shirakawa-go, which is also famous as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in Gifu Prefecture. A total of 10 houses have been recreated in Gassho Village, centering on the relocated gassho building.
In addition, the gassho village of Gero Onsen holds many events throughout the year. There are plenty of attractive events, such as the "Dohina Festival" where 1,800 dolls are displayed at once, and the "Deyu Morning Market" where you can buy folk crafts.
The scenery of the four seasons shown by Gassho Village is also beautiful, and it can be said that it is a tourist spot that you will never get tired of visiting no matter what season you visit.
