The historic hot spring “Gero Onsen” is said to have been discovered in the Engi era (901-923) and the Tenryaku era (947-957). During the Edo period, a Confucian scholar who served the Tokugawa family, Hayashi Razan, noted the hot spring as one of "the three famous springs in Japan," alongside Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture and Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture.
The hot spring, which has been springing up for over 1000 years, has a simple quality of colorless, transparent and smooth alkaline water. With a pH value of 9 or higher, it is a popular "Beauty Hot Spring" that is said to have great effects in removing dead skin cells and making the skin smooth after the bath. It is also good for rheumatism, motor dysfunction, neuralgia, post-illness recovery, and fatigue recovery.
One of the greatest attractions is the hot spring town that runs along the clear stream of the Hida River, where tourist spots and hotels are gathered at a reasonable distance and could be walked around from JR Gero Station.
In this hot spring town, in addition to the free "fountain pond" that springs from the riverbed of the Hida River, there are 3 communal baths where you can enjoy the outdoor bath as if you were in a local public bath, and 9 footbaths where you can stop by during your walk. The hot springs could be easily experienced and enjoyed while interacting with the locals.
Recently, there is an increase in the number of shops and facilities offering take-out sweets only found at Gero Onsen, such as new-style parfaits and puddings made from local ingredients. In a hot spring town with a nostalgic atmosphere, it is enjoyable to visit and walk around the hot springs with visually pleasing pop sweets.
Highlights
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A hot spring with a history of over 1000 years, one of the three famous hot springs of Japan.
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Famous for the "bijin no yu" that makes skin smooth and beautiful.
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Attractive for having a compact hot spring town that could be enjoyed within walking distance.
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The hot spring town has a fountain pond, three communal baths, and nine footbaths.
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The variety of sweets around town is a hot topic.
