Gero onsen by JR Takayama Line

  I decided to go to Gero Onsen in Gifu Prefecture that is a famous hot spring because I had come to want to visit an onsen after a long time. It is one of Japan famous 3 onsens chosen in Edo period; the other 2 onsens are Arima onsen and Kusatsu onsen. I love JR Takayaka Line, so I went to Gero by the local train. Then I enjoyed the scenery seen from a car train. The railway track in the JR Takayama Line runs almost along the Hida River. The frequency to which the train would traverse the river by the arrival at Gero Station was eight times. There are a lot of scenic spots from the car window like Nihon Rhein, Hisuikyo, and Nakayama-Hichiri and so on. And you will be able to enjoy red and yellow leaves of autumn also.        I arrived at Gero Station. It took about 2 hours to Gero Station from Gifu Station by the local train. The train would have arrived at Takayama Station in about one hour, after leaving from Gero Station.   I visited the Onsen museum that has been built recently before I took an onsen. The hot spring water bottles of Japanese various places were exhibited though it was a small museum. And I was able to see differences of those colors and elements. The souvenirs of each place of hot spring also were exhibited (To our regret, no explanation by English).   As another sightseeing point, there is the Gassho Village of Gero Onsen in the place of ten minutes by bus from the Station. You can see the houses of gassho-zukuri which were dismantled and reconstructed from Shirakawago that is World Heritage there.   After having visited the Onsen museum, I took the outdoor hot spring. The facility's name is "Kur Garden Roten-buro". It became cheap a bit because I bought a ticket with the Onsen museum though a usual bathing fee was 600 yen.     I didn't take the outdoor hot spring in river side because I was shameful for a moment though I wanted to challenge it in reality. It can be used free of charge. But it is a mixed bathing style and there is no changing room. Because one of artesian spring ponds is here, the hot spring water is abundant and hot. I want you to challenge.   I think it is a good idea that you enjoy only the hot spring on the way in going to the Takayama, because the charge of the hotel with onsen is expensive.   Photographs of thing I ate this time Tochi-no-mi senbei (Famous horse chestnut cookie in Gifu Prefecture Hida area)  Sasa Sushi (Sushi of trout is wrapped by bamboo grass)  Hida-gyu Onigiri (Rice ball with Hida beef) Hida Gero cha (Green tea harvested in Gifu Prefecture Hida area) 

http://www.japan-hopper.com/2008/02/03_211383.php

2008-02-03 21:30:05