Gero Furusato History Museum
A comprehensive collection of regional history is exhibited at the Gero Furusato History Museum, from Jomon period (14,500–900 BCE) artifacts to narrative displays about major twentieth-century events. The museum is adjacent to the Mineichigo archaeological site, where excavations in the late 1960s uncovered many artifacts from the ancient past. The site is now known as Jomon Park and has several reconstructed pit dwellings that illustrate ancient lifestyles and architecture.
The Gero Furusato History Museum exhibits ancient relics like stone arrowheads and awls. These are made of Yugamine rhyolite, nicknamed “Gero stone,” a type of gray or black igneous rock that is the result of the eruption of Mt. Yugamine around 100,000 years ago. There are artifacts from Japan’s medieval history, such as bronze adornments and a celadon jar found in the ruins of Sakurado Castle, believed to have been built during the Muromachi period (1336–1573). More recent historical documents and exhibits attest to the development of Gero Onsen as a hot springs destination and the growth of the forestry industry in the region.
Admission to the Gero Furusato History Museum is free. Workshop experiences, where visitors can try making Jomon-style pottery and accessories, require a fee.