Onsen District
Gero is best known for its plentiful hot springs (onsen). Most of the baths are situated around the hot spring district, which centers on Gero Ohashi bridge and straddles the Hida River. The district is filled with traditional ryokan inns as well as foot baths, souvenir shops, and restaurants. Visitors who are not staying at one of the inns can use the ryokan baths for a fee, while frequent bathers can purchase a pass (yu-meguri tegata) that allows entrance to as many as three hot springs in one day. The baths are made of different materials, such as stone or wood, and may be located either indoors or outdoors. The alkaline waters, which are 84°C at the source and delivered to the town’s baths cooled to 55°C, are suitable for bathers with sensitive skin and said to relieve aches and pains as well as stress.
Free foot and hand baths also line the hot spring district. The foot baths are aesthetically varied: some are traditional, while others, such as Venus no Ashiyu, are European-styled. There are nine foot baths in total, seven of which may be used free of charge. During the daytime, visitors can stroll around the town, sometimes dressed in traditional robes (yukata), enjoying local snacks from vendors such as the popular Gero Gero Milk Stand. There are also souvenir shops selling bath products inspired by the town’s hot spring water, as well as novelties featuring the frog, the town’s unofficial mascot. In between snacking and shopping, visitors can stop by the foot baths to rest.