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Gero Onsen is one of Japan’s top three hot springs, famous for its “Waters of Beauty” that leave your skin feeling incredibly smooth. But there’s another charming secret to this town: it’s filled with frogs! Everywhere you look, from statues to manhole covers, you’ll find adorable frog motifs.
Why frogs? The name “Gero” sounds like “gero-gero,” the Japanese onomatopoeia for a frog’s croak. This playful pun has made the frog the unofficial mascot of the town.
While you’re strolling through this charming hot spring town, why not try looking for all the hidden frogs? You’ll be surprised where they pop up, especially if you look carefully at your feet.
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The Legend of the White Egret and a Comedy King
The history of Gero Onsen is ancient, dating back to the Heian period (794-1192). According to legend, the original hot spring source stopped flowing, but was rediscovered when villagers noticed a white egret (shirasagi) landing in the same spot on a dry riverbed every day. This story is now known as the “Legend of the White Egret.”
The main bridge in town is named “Shirasagibashi Bridge” in honor of this legend. On the bridge railing, you’ll find illustrations of “Gerogle-kun,” the frog mascot for the Gero Onsen Fan Club.
Next to it stands a statue of Ranzan Hayashi, a Confucian scholar from the Edo Period, who praised Gero as one of “the best three hot springs in Japan.”
And surprisingly, on the other side of the bridge, you’ll find a statue of the king of comedy, Charlie Chaplin!
As you walk up Shirasagizaka Slope from the bridge, keep an eye out for small stone monuments featuring Gerogle-kun in different costumes. There are also fun photo cutout boards of the mascot around town!
The Famous “Kaeru Jinja” (Frog Shrine)
*In Japanese, “kaeru” means frog.
Along Yunomachi Street, you’ll find the Kaeru Shrine, which enshrines the spirit of a frog (Kaeru Daimyojin). Look for the green banners and lanterns with frog-shaped windows.
When you walk up the path, you’ll find the main frog deity. If you put a coin in the offering box, you’ll hear a cute and precious message. There are several different messages, so some people visit multiple times to hear them all.
The shrine is considered a lucky spot due to a clever play on words. The Japanese word for frog, “kaeru,” sounds the same as the word for “to return” (帰る). Therefore, people pray here for a safe “return” (kaeru) from their trips, or the “return” (kaeru) of youthfulness.
Even the spout of the *chozusha* (water basin for purification) is a frog. There are benches along the path, making it a nice spot for a short break during your stroll.
Address: Yunoshima, Gero-City, Gifu Prefecture
Telephone number: 0576-24-2222 (Gero City Tourism Association)
Access: About an eleven-minute walk from JR Gero station
Sweet Treats: Gero Pudding
About a minute’s walk from the Frog Shrine is “Gero Purin,” the first pudding specialty store in Gero Onsen, which opened in March 2019. Look for the brightly smiling frog holding a spoon and a pudding cup.
They offer five basic varieties plus limited seasonal flavors. The highly recommended product is the fresh-looking melon soda flavor. Please give it a try—it has a wonderfully nostalgic taste!
There is a dining space inside the store, so you can enjoy the pudding you bought right there.
Address:Yunoshima 545-1, Gero-City, Gifu-Prefecture
Telephone number: 0576-74-1771
Access: About an eleven-minute walk from JR Gero station
Opening hours: 10 AM to 5 PM
Holiday: Every Wednesday (with occasional irregular closures)
Hidden Frogs Under Your Feet!
While the main manhole covers in Gero feature the “white egret” design, the covers for fire hydrants and gate valves are designed with frogs! The design, with waves hiding its feet and steam rising from its head, suggests the frog is enjoying a nice soak in the hot spring.
If you look closely at this gate valve cover, you’ll see that the frog has a ribbon and eyelashes, suggesting it’s a girl frog.
Along Yunomachi Street, you can find a fire hydrant and a gate valve cover installed side-by-side. On this fire hydrant, a white egret and a frog are placed diagonally across from each other.
There are also frogs designed on air valves and even painted on the paved road, so try to find them while strolling through town. But please be sure to pay attention to cars and pedestrians!
Enjoy Gero Onsen to the Fullest
Besides the ones we’ve introduced, you can see frogs everywhere in Gero Onsen—on souvenirs, store shutters, and dessert containers. Once you start noticing them, your eyes will unconsciously begin searching for more.
In recent years, shops serving “beauty-enhancing desserts” have also become popular. It’s said you can become beautiful from the inside by eating local Gero ingredients, and from the outside by bathing in the hot springs. The nine free footbaths are also a great way to relax.
Please come and enjoy everything Gero Onsen has to offer!
Please check the official websites for the latest information before your visit.
