Gero Onsen in central Gifu Prefecture is one of Japan’s top three hot spring resorts, together with Arima Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture and Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. Its spring water acts as a natural soap, gently cleansing and refreshing the skin, and is renowned for its skin-beautifying effects. From Nagoya Station in Aichi Prefecture, it takes one hour and 40 minutes by Limited Express train on the JR Takayama Line to reach Gero Station.
Gero Onsen Yunoshimakan can be found about one kilometer from the station. This peaceful ryokan nestles among trees on a mountainside, just a short distance from Gero’s center. Built in 1931 by a Nagoya businessman, it takes advantage of the land’s varying elevations and features traditional Japanese architectural techniques and craftsmanship. Unusually for a building from the 1930s in Gero, part of the ryokan is constructed in Western style, making it a luxurious blend of East and West.
Yunoshimakan consists of four buildings connected by passageways to form a single complex. These are the Honkan, Bekkan, Gorakukan, and Keizanso. The Honkan main building has three floors and is made of wood. Together with its entrance and connecting passageways, it is an official Registered Tangible Cultural Property. It has 40 guest rooms, four of which (theTokubetsushitsu special guest rooms) are especially spacious and luxurious.
The five-story Keizanso was built in 1987 on an elevated section of the grounds. Rooms in this building all have a hot spring bath and views of Gero below. The Bekkan also includes rooms with open-air baths. Both these and the ensuite bathrooms in these rooms take water from the Gero hot spring, allowing guests to enjoy the spring water in complete privacy. Please note that rooms in the Honkan and some rooms in other buildings do not have baths, but guests may use the large shared hot spring baths.
The ryokan provides two shared hot spring baths for the use of guests, each with an attached open-air bath. These spacious baths allow guests to relax and unwind after their journey. The ryokan also has four elegantly designed baths that can be rented for private use. These are known as the “Kazokuburo” (family baths) and have been part of the ryokan since it was first built.
Dinner features a main course of Hida beef served with local specialties such as freshwater fish, wild vegetables, and mushrooms. For breakfast, guests can enjoy homemade tofu and soy-braised pork, a Yunoshimakan specialty. All these dishes are served with freshly cooked rice. Guests who are vegan or have allergies are requested to inform ryokan staff when booking.
Yunoshimakan offers an opportunity to luxuriate in the natural spring water of Gero Onsen while surrounded by traditional culture and elegant Japanese architecture.
Address
645 Yunoshima, Gero City, GIFU Pref.
Telephone Number
+81-576-25-4126
Official site
https://yunoshimakan.co.jp/en
Reservation
https://reserve.489ban.net/client/yunoshimakan/4/plan
Instagram
https://instagram.com/yunoshimakan.1931/
YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@Yunoshimakan-645
Room rate: From ¥29,700 per person per night