Gero

Gero Onsen is one of Japan's “three famous hot springs,” a title it has held since the Edo-period scholar Hayashi Razan ranked it alongside Arima and Kusatsu over 400 years ago. The town hugs the banks of the Hida River in the mountains of southern Gifu Prefecture, exuding the quiet, unhurried character of a classic Japanese onsen resort.

Gero's alkaline waters are prized for their silky texture, leaving skin remarkably smooth — earning the nickname “bijin no yu” (beauty bath). The compact town centre is easily explored on foot, with free public foot baths scattered along the riverside streets. A stay at one of Gero's traditional ryokan, complete with kaiseki dinner and private onsen, is the quintessential Japanese hot-spring experience.