[2024 Edition] Enjoy the original scenery of Japan! A comprehensive guide to Gero Onsen Gassho Village
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This is an introduction to Gassho Village, a tourist facility in Gero. You can see a village of Gassho-style houses relocated from Shirakawa-go, a famous World Heritage site in Gifu Prefecture. Gero's seasonal expressions of nature, a historical museum with a statue of Enku, and various experience f...
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[Suimeikan] was established in 1933 as a hot spring inn in [Gero Onsen], one of Japan's top three hot springs. We offer heartfelt hospitality to soothe your daily fatigue. You can enjoy Gero Onsen, which is famous for its skin-beautifying effects, in three large public baths with different tastes. Please enjoy the large observation bath overlooking the hot spring town of Gero and the mountains of Hida, the large bath with a sauna with the scent of cypress, and the open-air bath with an indoor bath as if you were touring the hot springs. As a museum that values Japanese culture, we also have a Japanese garden, an authentic Noh stage, a tea room, and other works of art by famous artists on display. We also have a pool, athletic gym, beauty salon, and bar. For dinner, you can choose from three types: Japanese Kaiseki, French, and Chinese. There is also a plan where you can enjoy Hida's specialty "Hida beef". In addition to staying in Japanese-style rooms where you can feel the Japanese tradition, we also have rooms with beds. Guests visiting from other countries can also feel safe and relaxed. Please spend a blissful time with the heartfelt hospitality of the long-established Japanese inn [Suimeikan].
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Table of Contents
- Experience the original scenery of Gero at Gero Onsen Gassho Village
- What is Gassho-style architecture, a famous World Heritage Site?
- Enjoy the four seasons at Saijiki no Mori
- "Hida Kobo" - a facility offering a variety of experiences
- Refresh your tired feet in the Gassho foot bath
- The "Enkukan" museum by Enku, who traveled around Japan and left behind 120,000 Buddhist statues
- The traditional Hida region "Clay Doll" Festival (mid-February to early April)
- Safe even for babies
- [1.5 hours from Nagoya] Access to Gassho Village from various locations
- Discounted admission tickets for Gassho Village are now on sale! Leave your rest and overnight stay to Suimeikan!
Experience the original scenery of Gero at Gero Onsen Gassho Village
Gero Onsen Gassho Village is a place where you can see a scene that seems as if it was taken straight out of Japan's original landscape. The village has been recreated with Gassho-style houses relocated from places such as Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site, and is a valuable open-air museum that gives you an insight into life in Japan in the past. You can tour the interiors of the former Oto family residence, a nationally designated important cultural property, and the former Iwasaki family and former Toyama family storehouses, both of which are registered tangible cultural properties of the country.
What is Gassho-style architecture, a famous World Heritage Site?
Gassho-style houses are thatched houses with steeply sloping roofs that resemble two hands clasped together. In the Hida region, the roofs have triangular ends, resembling an open book. This is a feature suited to the Hida region, which receives a lot of snow.
The village of Shirakawa-go, made up of Gassho-style houses, was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 and has since attracted many tourists from both within Japan and overseas. At Gassho Village in Gero City, you can see one of the largest Gassho-style houses that was relocated from Shirakawa-go.
Enjoy the four seasons at Saijiki no Mori
"Saijiki no Mori" is a rural mountain area where seasonal flowers bloom, including cherry blossoms in spring and maples in autumn. One of the attractions is being able to enjoy the different seasonal expressions that are unique to the nature-rich Hida region. It is a place that is somehow nostalgic and warm.
It is a forest where you can experience the four seasons with all your senses while exploring.
Savor local sweets at the teahouse "Bankoan"
Bankoan, a traditional Masuda-style house unique to the Hida region, has been turned into a teahouse and can also be used as a place to rest.
You can enjoy sweets made with locally produced ingredients. Popular sweets include shiratama (rice flour dumplings) made with tomatoes, tofu, and mugwort, and anmitsu (a sweet made with konjac and tomatoes).
A thrilling forest slide
There is a 175m long roller slide where you can enjoy the view of Gero and experience the thrills. It is very popular with children.
*Not available during rain or snow
"Hida Kobo" - a facility offering a variety of experiences
There is a permanent workshop where you can enjoy traditional Japanese culture and the making of Hida folk crafts. By painting unglazed plates and teacups, or by experiencing pottery, you can create your own original memories of Gero.
There is also a workshop where you can experience making a traditional amulet from the Hida region called "Sarubobo" (meaning baby monkey).
Some experiences require advance reservations, so be sure to contact us.
Refresh your tired feet in the Gassho foot bath
Within Gassho Village, there is a foot bath where you can easily enjoy Gero Onsen, which is famous as one of the three most famous hot springs in Japan.
Please take your time to soothe your tired feet after a stroll around the village.
The "Enku Museum" by Enku, who traveled around Japan and left behind 120,000 Buddhist statues
Enku was a monk born in 1632 in what is now Hashima City, Gifu Prefecture. He traveled mainly in the Hida, Mino and Chubu regions, as well as from Hokkaido to the Kinki region, leaving behind hand-carved Buddhist statues in various places. His Buddhist statues are in a unique style known as "Enku Buddhas," and it is estimated that he carved approximately 120,000 Buddhist statues during his lifetime. He loved Gero and left many Enku Buddhas here. 37 of these statues are on display at the Enku Museum in Gassho Village.
The traditional Hida region "Clay Doll" Festival (mid-February to early April)
The clay dolls are hollow, unglazed dolls that are painted only on the front. At the time, people who could not afford to buy luxurious dolls would buy one or two for each child born, increasing the number of clay dolls.
As the season for Doll's Festival approaches, 1,800 clay dolls are displayed in various places in Gassho Village. This is the only time you can see the clay dolls, so if you are visiting Gero in the spring, be sure to experience the customs of the Hida region.
Safe even for babies
We also have baby beds and nursing rooms available, so you can visit with small children without worry.
We also have stroller rentals.
[1.5 hours from Nagoya] Access to Gassho Village from various locations
20 minutes walk from Gero Station
The nearest station to Gassho Village is Gero Station. It is a 20-minute walk from Gero Station to Gassho Village.
It is also convenient to take the bus from Gero Station. It takes about 6 minutes and stops in front of Gassho Village. It costs 100 yen one way.
If you are coming from Nagoya
By train: Take the JR Tokaido Line or Takayama Line and get off at Gero Station.
By direct bus: There is a direct bus that connects Gero Station and Nagoya Station. Be sure to make a reservation in advance.
If you are coming from Tokyo
By train: Take the Shinkansen to Nagoya Station, then take the JR Tokaido Line or Takayama Line to Gero Station.
If you are coming from Osaka
By train: Take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station to Nagoya Station. Then take the JR Tokaido Line or Takayama Line to Gero Station.
If coming from Kanazawa or Niigata
By train: Take the Shinkansen to Toyama Station, then take the JR Takayama Line to Gero Station
Discounted admission tickets for Gassho Village are now on sale! Leave your rest and overnight stay to Suimeikan!
Guests staying at Suimeikan can purchase a special admission ticket to Gassho Village for 100 yen off the regular price.
If you're tired after exploring Gassho Village and the hot spring town, come and relax at Suimeikan, a long-established inn in Gero. The thick spring water is known as "beauty water" and welcomes many guests from both Japan and abroad.
Another attraction is that you can choose your meal according to your preference, whether it be Japanese, Western, or Chinese. You can also enjoy Hida beef and natto-eating pork, which are specialties of the Hida region.
This accommodation is conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from Gero Station.
For more details, please see the article below.
[Suimeikan] was established in 1933 as a hot spring inn in [Gero Onsen], one of Japan's top three hot springs. We offer heartfelt hospitality to soothe your daily fatigue. You can enjoy Gero Onsen, which is famous for its skin-beautifying effects, in three large public baths with different tastes. Please enjoy the large observation bath overlooking the hot spring town of Gero and the mountains of Hida, the large bath with a sauna with the scent of cypress, and the open-air bath with an indoor bath as if you were touring the hot springs. As a museum that values Japanese culture, we also have a Japanese garden, an authentic Noh stage, a tea room, and other works of art by famous artists on display. We also have a pool, athletic gym, beauty salon, and bar. For dinner, you can choose from three types: Japanese Kaiseki, French, and Chinese. There is also a plan where you can enjoy Hida's specialty "Hida beef". In addition to staying in Japanese-style rooms where you can feel the Japanese tradition, we also have rooms with beds. Guests visiting from other countries can also feel safe and relaxed. Please spend a blissful time with the heartfelt hospitality of the long-established Japanese inn [Suimeikan].
The contents on this page may partially contain automatic translation.
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