Gero
Gero is a riverside onsen town in Gifu, traditionally counted among Japan's three most famous hot springs.
Photo: Alpsdake, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
PR This page contains affiliate links, including Rakuten Travel. How we earn money
Private onsen in Gifu: Gero and Takayama-Okuhida
Gifu combines Gero, traditionally counted among Japan's three great springs, with the mountain hot-spring villages of Okuhida below the Northern Alps. Both suit a private soak.
Where can I find a private onsen in Gifu?
We cover 2 onsen towns in Gifu (Gero and Takayama & Okuhida), with 21 verified properties where you can bathe privately. Of these, 13 sell rooms with their own open-air bath and 19 have private kashikiri baths, 2 free for guests. 1 says tattooed guests can use the baths. Facts come from official websites, last checked 17 October 2026.
Last verified · How we verify · Open data
Takayama & Okuhida
Takayama is the historic merchant town of the Hida mountains, and Okuhida is the cluster of onsen villages below the Northern Alps an hour beyond it.
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Private onsen in Gifu by the numbers
We have checked the official websites of 21 properties in Gifu. 13 of them (about 62%) sell rooms with a private open-air bath. 19 have private kashikiri baths; 2 say they are free for guests and 5 charge a fee. Where a fee is stated, it ranges from ¥1,500 to ¥3,300. For booking, 3 take advance reservations, 1 books private baths at check-in and 1 is first-come, first-served; the rest don't say. 7 mention free-flowing (kakenagashi) spring water. 1 states that tattooed guests can bathe, while 7 say tattoos are not allowed in the shared baths.
| Feature | Properties | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms with a private open-air bath | 13 | Gero Onsen Yamagataya, Yu Yuki Shimakan and Ogawaya Onsen Hotel |
| Private kashikiri baths | 19 | Gero Onsen Yamagataya, Yukino Yu Ryokan and Yu Yuki Shimakan |
| Free private baths | 2 | Takayama Ouan and Hidatakayama Futarishizuka Hakuun |
| Paid private baths | 5 | Ogawaya Onsen Hotel, Okuhida Garden Hotel Yakedake and Onsen Business Hotel Fukiya |
| Free-flowing spring water | 7 | Yu Yuki Shimakan, Ogawaya Onsen Hotel and Okuhida Garden Hotel Yakedake |
| Tattoos OK (stated) | 1 | Sa Sara |
| Cover rule for tattoos mentioned | 5 | Gero Onsen Yamagataya, Koyokan Wan Hakutei and Suimeikan |
| Children welcome | 5 | Bosenkan, Gero Onsen Tomitake and Hotel Associa Kozan Resort |
| In-room dining offered | 6 | Koyokan Wan Hakutei, Ogawaya Onsen Hotel and Suimeikan |
Properties that stand out
- Most private baths: Gero Onsen Yamagataya (7), followed by Yukino Yu Ryokan (7).
- Private baths free for guests: Takayama Ouan and Hidatakayama Futarishizuka Hakuun.
- Tattooed guests welcome to bathe (stated): Sa Sara.
Counts come from each property's official website; anything not stated is left out. Policies change, so confirm before booking.
All 21 properties
Showing 21 of 21 properties. Click a column heading to sort. "Not stated" means the official website doesn't say, so we haven't assumed anything.
| Property | In-room open-air bath | Private baths | Fee | Booking | Water | Tattoo (private) | Compare prices | Rakuten Travel (lowest rate) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosenkan下呂温泉 望川館 · Gero | Some rooms | 1 bath | Paid | On arrival | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥9,350PR |
| Gero Kanko Hotel下呂観光ホテル · Gero | Some rooms | 1 bath | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | |
| Gero Onsen Tomitake下呂温泉 冨岳 · Gero | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Book a slot | Free-flowing | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥23,100PR |
| Gero Onsen Yamagataya下呂温泉山形屋 · Gero | Some rooms | 7 baths | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥13,200PR |
| Hidatakayama Futarishizuka HakuunTakayama & Okuhida | Some rooms | 1 bath | Free | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | |
| Hotel Associa Kozan Resortホテルアソシア高山リゾート · Takayama & Okuhida | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥13,791PR |
| Kaiseki Yado Mizu Otori Sono懐石宿 水鳳園 · Gero | Some rooms | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | |
| Kawakamiya Kasuitei川上屋花水亭 · Gero | Some rooms | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥19,250PR |
| Kokorowonaderu Seijaku Miyakoこころをなでる静寂 みやこ · Gero | Some rooms | Yes | Not stated | Book a slot | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥25,300PR |
| Koyokan Wan Hakutei紅葉館わん泊亭 · Gero | Not stated | 3 baths | Not stated | Book a slot | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥9,600PR |
| Kutsuroginoya Yuu游 · Takayama & Okuhida | Some rooms | Yes | Not stated | First come | Free-flowing | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | |
| Ogawaya Onsen Hotel下呂温泉 小川屋 · Gero | Some rooms | 2 baths | Paid | Not stated | Free-flowing | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥9,680PR |
| Okuhida Garden Hotel Yakedake奥飛騨ガーデンホテル焼岳 · Takayama & Okuhida | Not stated | 2 baths | Paid | Not stated | Free-flowing | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥7,700PR |
| Onsen Business Hotel Fukiya温泉ビジネスホテル富喜屋 · Gero | Not stated | 2 baths | 1500 | Not stated | Free-flowing | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥10,000PR |
| Sa Sara紗々羅 · Gero | Some rooms | Yes | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Allowed | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥10,670PR |
| Suimeikan水明館 · Gero | Not stated | 2 baths | 3,300 | Not stated | Free-flowing | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥9,350PR |
| Takayama Ouan高山桜庵 · Takayama & Okuhida | Not stated | 3 baths | Free | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥14,600PR |
| Yu Yuki Shimakan湯之島館 · Gero | Some rooms | 4 baths | Not stated | Not stated | Free-flowing | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥25,300PR |
| Yukino Yu Ryokan幸乃湯旅館 · Gero | Not stated | 7 baths | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | |
| Gero Onsen Hotel Kusakabe Armeria下呂温泉 ホテルくさかべアルメリア · Gero | Some rooms | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com | from ¥9,900PR |
| Takayama GreenTakayama & Okuhida | Some rooms | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Agoda · Trip.com · Booking.com |
PR Rakuten Travel prices are Rakuten's lowest-rate estimates per room per night for the cheapest plan (which may be for one guest without meals), including tax and service charge, as of . Rooms with their own bath usually cost more. Supported by Rakuten Developers
Compare-price links go to Agoda, Trip.com, Booking.com and Rakuten Travel. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you; it never affects which facts we show. Details.
Gero vs Okuhida
Gero is a riverside town with smooth, alkaline water and many mid-sized inns with private family baths. Takayama-Okuhida covers the old merchant town of Takayama and five onsen villages an hour further into the mountains, known for open-air baths with mountain views.
Getting there and around
The JR Hida limited express links Nagoya with Gero (about 1 hour 30 minutes) and Takayama (about 2 hours 20 minutes). Nohi buses run from Takayama to the Okuhida villages. Winter roads can be icy, so buses are usually the safer choice.
Tips
Combine Gero and Takayama on the same line. In winter, a private open-air bath in falling snow is a highlight in Okuhida. Compare the properties below.
Related private onsen guides
Frequently asked questions
Gero or Okuhida for a private onsen?
Gero for easy access and smooth water; Okuhida for mountain scenery and snow.
How do I get to Gero from Nagoya?
About 1 hour 30 minutes on the JR Hida limited express.
Is it safe to drive to Okuhida in winter?
Roads can be icy; take the bus unless you are experienced.
Which onsen towns in Gifu have ryokan with private baths?
We currently cover Gero, Takayama & Okuhida in Gifu, with 21 verified properties.
Which ryokan in Gero have a private open-air bath in the room?
Of the properties we checked, 10 sell rooms with their own open-air bath, including Bosenkan, Ogawaya Onsen Hotel, Gero Onsen Yamagataya, Yu Yuki Shimakan and Sa Sara.
Which ryokan in Takayama & Okuhida have a private open-air bath in the room?
Of the properties we checked, 3 sell rooms with their own open-air bath, including Kutsuroginoya Yuu, Hidatakayama Futarishizuka Hakuun and Takayama Green.