Gero Onsen and Nagaragawa Cormorant Fishing

Gifu Prefecture offers two experiences of traditional Japanese life at their most unhurried and authentic: Gero Onsen, ranked among Japan's three finest hot spring resorts for the quality and skin-smoothing properties of its alkaline waters, and Nagaragawa ukai, cormorant fishing on the Nagara River in Gifu City, a tradition maintained under royal patronage for over 1,300 years.

Highlights: Gero Onsen

Gero Onsen, in Gero City, is a celebrated hot spring praised by the Edo-period Confucian scholar Hayashi Razan as one of the three finest springs under heaven, alongside Kusatsu and Arima. Its defining feature is the silky smoothness of the water. Classified as a simple alkaline spring, it is nicknamed the beauty bath for the way it leaves skin soft. Ryokan inns line the Hida River, and bathing to the sound of the flowing water is a rare pleasure. Free foot baths dot the town, and the open-air Funsenchi bath set on the riverbank is a well-known landmark for a bathing stroll.

Highlights: Nagaragawa Cormorant Fishing

On the Nagara River in Gifu City, the 1,300-year-old traditional fishing method of ukai is performed each year from early summer into autumn. From a torch-lit boat, an usho, or cormorant master, directs cormorants held on hand ropes to catch sweetfish, watched from a roofed pleasure boat. Nagaragawa ukai falls under the administration of the Imperial Household Agency, and its masters hold the formal title of Imperial Household cormorant master. The torch fire glowing in the darkness, the skill of the masters, and the whole scene unfolding on the water make for a mysterious, dreamlike experience.

Seasonal Enjoyment

Gero Onsen can be enjoyed year-round, but winter, with open-air baths overlooking snowy scenery, has a special charm. Nearby are the Gero Onsen Gassho Village, where gassho-zukuri buildings have been relocated, and local specialties such as Hida beef. Nagaragawa ukai runs from mid-May to mid-October; watched from a boat on a summer night, it is a seasonal signature of Gifu. In Gifu City you can also take in Gifu Castle and Kinkazan, both associated with Oda Nobunaga.

Access and Basic Information

• Gero Onsen: Within walking distance of the onsen town from JR Takayama Main Line Gero Station. About 1 hour 20 minutes from Nagoya by JR Hida limited express, about 45 minutes from Takayama
• Nagaragawa ukai: About 15 minutes by bus from JR Gifu Station or Meitetsu Gifu Station, getting off at Ukaiya, then to the viewing boat pier
• Ukai season: Typically mid-May to mid-October (excluding Obon and periods of high water)
• Viewing boat fare: Around several thousand yen for an adult; boarding times and departure hours vary by season
• Reservations: Viewing boats are popular, so advance booking is recommended

Practical Travel Notes

Gero Onsen is best appreciated with an overnight stay, but day-trippers can still sample its fine waters at public baths and free foot baths. A stroll through the onsen town takes 1 to 2 hours. Nagaragawa ukai is held after sunset, so viewing is at night; touring Gifu Castle or the old Kawaramachi district beforehand fills the wait. Viewing is done from a roofed boat and takes 1 to 2 hours. Budget-wise, a day bath in Gero starts from a few hundred yen and the ukai viewing boat runs in the low thousands. On summer weekends and holidays, book both inns and boats early.

A Word of Advice

At Gero Onsen, simply touring the free foot baths dotted along the Hida River is enjoyment enough; bring a small towel and set off on a bathing stroll. The climax of Nagaragawa ukai is the sogarami finale, when several cormorant boats line up abreast to drive the sweetfish together. Fishing may be cancelled during high water, so check the weather and operating status before you go.

📚 Sources

The content here is organized from public information by the Gero Onsen Tourism Association and the organizations that run the Nagara River cormorant fishing, along with official tourism information from Gifu Prefecture. The cormorant-fishing viewing season, the operation and fares of the viewing boats, and whether reservations are needed change by season and operating conditions. Events may be cancelled due to weather. Because fees, hours, and access can change, please confirm with official sources before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Time needed: A half day to a full day if you include a hot-spring circuit at Gero Onsen and watching the Nagara River cormorant fishing.
• What to bring: The cormorant fishing takes place riverside at night, so a layer to put on is reassuring even in summer. Viewing-boat reservations may be required, so confirm in advance.
• Suggested route: Enjoy a hot-spring circuit and a town stroll at Gero Onsen by day, and watch the Nagara River cormorant fishing at night.
• Souvenirs and food: The hot-spring town has eateries and souvenir shops, and cash is handy for small purchases.
• Combining nearby: The location pairs easily with sightseeing in Hida Takayama and central Gifu City.