Hotel de Marronnier Gero Onsen

I was excited for my first trip to Gero Onsen, so I left a little disappointed. The hotel is older but clean, and my twin room was roomy. The private and public baths were nice, though the women's area didn't have many hair dryers. I couldn't wait for one, and the dryer in my room had such weak airflow that it wouldn't dry my hair. Maybe it was just that room. The bathroom lighting was dim, and the sofa was so hard it hurt to sit on. Dinner wasn't as skimpy as some reviews made it sound, but the dishes took a long time to arrive. Staff cleared empty plates straight away, so the table would be left bare while we waited.

The hot springs and the views were great, but the futon had no mattress underneath and was painful to sleep on. Food felt too basic for me. Getting here is awkward too: it's a long way from the station, the roads are narrow, and large buses can't get through, so you have to switch to a minibus partway. The elevator signs mention freshly brewed coffee, so I wish they'd at least serve it for free.

From the room, Gero town looked fantastic, and the large public bath was a great way to unwind. The building isn't new, but my room was clean, roomy, and comfortable. I booked room only, so I didn't try the restaurant. I hadn't told the front desk when I planned to leave, which made the morning checkout take a little longer. If you're heading out early, letting them know the day before should make things smoother. It's a calm, lovely place for enjoying the hot springs and scenery.

I stayed on a bed-and-breakfast plan. The hotel is north of Gero Station, up a hill, and a walk into Gero Onsen town takes a while, so there's a shuttle at set times. From the open-air bath the view was really nice. The baths open at 5 a.m. in the morning, and the hot springs stay open until 1 a.m. The waterfall baths close at 9 p.m. and the sauna at 10 p.m. The spring is listed as Bandai No. 1 Spring, an alkaline simple hot spring, hypotonic and low temperature, with a pH of 9.8. It's clear and has no smell, so it doesn't look like much, but after bathing I felt warm all over and relieved. It reminded me again of the benefits of Gero hot springs. Payment is accepted in cash, by credit card, and through PayPay. Check the website or the information on site for the hot spring details.