If you’re staying with MACHIYA INNS & HOTELS in Takayama city, don’t forget to stop by Gero Onsen (hot spring town) on the way over!
Located between Nagoya City and Takayama City, Gero Onsen is about an hour south of Takayama. It is known as one of Japan’s Big Three hot springs, alongside Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture and Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. Soaking in an onsen’s hot, silky-smooth water feels incredibly gentle on your skin, and the surrounding mountain village scenery makes it a perfect escape from city life.
While Takayama city has the cute Sarubobo, small red dolls, as its unofficial city mascot, in Gero, you’ll find adorable frog statues and decorations everywhere you go! These cute frogs became Gero’s unofficial mascots because of a fun play on words: ‘Gero’ (the town’s name) sounds just like ‘gero gero,’ the sound frogs make in Japanese onomatopoeia.
However, the frogs aren’t just decorations. Locals consider them good luck charms that bring happiness and prosperity. You’ll spot them on street corners, in front of shops, and throughout the town. They’ve become such popular photo spots that frog-hunting has become part of the Gero experience!
So keep an eye out for your favorite frog designs while exploring as each one has its own personality and style. It’s like a fun treasure hunt while you’re walking between hot spring baths!
Also, don’t miss the free hand baths (te-yu) located right at JR Gero Station and along the streets leaDon’t miss the complimentary hand baths (te-yu) right at JR Gero Station and scattered along the streets toward the hot spring district. They’re perfect for a quick warm-up and give you a taste of Gero’s legendary hot spring waters, even if you’re short on time.
