It would be a shame to just visit Takayama and go home! Here's a itinerary that takes you from Nagoya to Takayama and Gero Onsen by train. After enjoying Takayama's old town and Gero market, head to Gero Onsen, one of Japan's three most famous hot springs. This route is recommended for those who want to enjoy sightseeing and hot springs in a balanced way.
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We introduce the lesser-known charms and unique local experiences of various regions throughout Japan, including Gero Onsen. Hot springs, sake, local cuisine, beautiful nature, and encounters with local people. We introduce trips that go beyond simply "seeing" tourist destinations, allowing you to experience the local lifestyle and culture.
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Table of Contents
- It would be a shame to go home after only visiting Takayama .
- Basic 2-night, 3-day route
- [Day 1] From Nagoya to Takayama. Enjoy the old townscape and Hida cuisine.
- [Day 2] From Takayama Morning Market to Gero Onsen
- [Day 3] Enjoy a morning bath and the hot spring town before heading to Nagoya
- For a 2-night, 3-day trip, also check out the "Hida Area Free Pass".
- Three reasons why we recommend Takayama+ Gero Onsen
- After Takayama, we headed to Gero Onsen.
It would be a shame to go home after only visiting Takayama .
Takayama is one of Gifu Prefecture 's leading tourist destinations. From strolling through the old townscape that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period, to savoring Hida beef and local sake, and enjoying the morning market, Takayama has so much to offer that make it worthwhile to stay overnight.
If you have a 2-night, 3-day trip, why not spend another night at Gero Onsen?
From Takayama to Gero, it takes about 45 minutes on the JR Takayama's Limited Express "Hida". Nagoya, Takayama, and Gero are connected by the same railway line.
Nagoya → Takayama → Gero Onsen → Nagoya
If you travel in this order, you can complete the tour without having to retrace your steps too far.
In Takayama, we enjoyed the historic townscape and Hida's food culture, and in the latter half of our trip, we relaxed in the hot springs of Gero Onsen.
Here's a itinerary that allows you to enjoy both "town walking" and "hot springs" in one trip.
Basic 2-night, 3-day route
| schedule | move | Main enjoyment | stay |
| Day 1 | Nagoya → Takayama | Old townscape, Hida beef, local sake, strolling around town | Takayama |
| Day 2 | Takayama → Gero Onsen | Morning market, Gero-Onsen Gassho-mura, sweets in the hot spring town, footbath, and relaxing at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). | Gero Onsen |
| Day 3 | Gero Onsen → Nagoya | Morning bath, hot spring town, leisurely lunch | ― |
The key to this trip is not to cram too much into your schedule.
Both Takayama and Gero have plenty to see, but for a 2-night, 3-day trip, it's probably best to just enjoy the atmosphere of each town rather than trying to see everything.
[Day 1] From Nagoya to Takayama. Enjoy the old townscape and Hida cuisine.
Morning | Take the Limited Express "Hida" from Nagoya to Takayama
The journey begins at Nagoya Station.
You can reach Takayama without changing trains by taking the JR Takayama 's Limited Express "Hida" train. The journey from Nagoya to Takayama takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. One of the pleasures of this trip is watching the scenery outside the window gradually change from urban landscapes to mountains and rivers.
If you're traveling from Taiwan to Chubu Centrair International Airport, the easiest way to get there is to first take the Meitetsu train to Nagoya. The fastest way to get from Chubu Centrair International Airport Station to Meitetsu Nagoya Station is approximately 28 minutes using the μ-SKY train.
Leaving Nagoya in the morning and arriving in Takayama around noon will give you more time to enjoy sightseeing that afternoon.
Lunch | Enjoy Hida beef and local cuisine
Once we arrive in Takayama, the first thing we do is have lunch.
Hida beef is definitely something you should try at least once. Besides steaks and yakiniku (grilled meat), there are also restaurants where you can enjoy small portions of sushi, skewers, and other dishes while strolling around town.
If you're traveling to Hida, be sure to check out the local cuisine, such as Hoba Miso, pickles, and wild mountain vegetables.
Instead of just "eating famous foods," learning about the traditional foods that have been eaten in that region for a long time can change your impression of your trip.
Afternoon | To the "old townscape" that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period.
After lunch, we headed to the old town, the heart of Takayama's sightseeing.
In the Sanmachi district of Takayama City, traditional townhouses and merchant houses with lattice doors line the streets, and are still used today as shops, cafes, sake breweries, and more.
Major tourist attractions such as Takayama Jinya, Nakabashi Bridge, the old townscape, and the area around Miya River are all within easy walking distance. Takayama Jinya is a building that was used as a government office during the Edo period and is designated as a national historical site.
Rather than focusing on walking efficiently, it's recommended to leave some time to wander down interesting alleys, admire old buildings, and browse shops.
The appeal of Takayama isn't just the number of tourist spots it offers.
Wooden buildings, flowing rivers, cedar balls at sake breweries, shop curtains hanging outside stores—these seemingly ordinary townscapes themselves become memories of the trip.
Evening | Stop by a sake brewery or cafe
The Hida region is also a thriving area for sake brewing.
The Hida region is also known for its thriving sake brewing industry. For sake lovers, visiting sake breweries and shops where you can enjoy local sake is highly recommended.
If you have a sweet tooth, taking a break at a cafe housed in a renovated old Japanese house would be a good idea.
From evening to night, when the number of day-trippers decreases, you can see a slightly different side of Takayama than during the daytime.
We'll be staying in Takayama tonight. Let's go to bed a little early so we can enjoy the morning market the next day.
[Day 2] From Takayama Morning Market to Gero Onsen
Morning | To Miya River Morning Market and Jinya-mae Morning Market
On the second day, I woke up a little early and went to the morning market.
Takayama has two representative morning markets: "Miya River Morning Market" and "Jinya-mae Morning Market."
Miya River Morning Market offers locally grown vegetables and fruits, pickles, folk crafts, sweets, and more. It's about a 10-minute walk from Takayama Station and is adjacent to the old town area.
The morning market's operating hours vary depending on the season, so be sure to check the latest information on the official website before your trip.
Unlike visiting tourist attractions, the charm of a morning market lies in the fact that you can catch a glimpse of local life.
Buying seasonal fruits, browsing miso and pickles, taking morning strolls along the Miya River.
This is a time you can only truly enjoy by staying overnight in Takayama.
Morning to noon | From Takayama to Gero Onsen
After enjoying the morning market, we checked out of the hotel and headed to Takayama Station.
From here, we'll head south on the JR Takayama towards Gero Station.
You can also use the "Hida" limited express train for this section, and the journey from Takayama to Gero takes just under an hour. Since the travel itself is not a major burden, Takayama and Gero Onsen are easy to combine as travel destinations.
Train times change with the seasons and schedule revisions, so please check the latest JR Tokai timetable before departure.
Once you arrive at Gero Station, first leave your luggage at your accommodation to travel light.
The atmosphere of the trip changes from here.
From Takayama, a town steeped in history, we headed to a hot spring resort surrounded by mountains and rivers.
Afternoon | Experience life in Hida at Gero-Onsen Gassho-mura
A place you'll want to visit in the afternoon is "Gero-Onsen Gassho-mura" .
Gero Onsen Gassho Village
This open-air museum features 10 traditional thatched-roof houses relocated from places like Shirakawa, where you can see the "Former Oto Family Residence," a nationally designated Important Tangible Folk Cultural Property.
This facility offers hands-on experiences in pottery and Japanese paper making, as well as a footbath and restaurants, making it a place where you can experience the lifestyle and culture of the Hida region.
For travelers visiting Shirakawa go, it's recommended to enjoy it not simply as a "smaller version of Shirakawa," but as a place to carefully examine the interiors of the buildings and experience life in the past.
The fact that the scenery changes dramatically with the seasons is also a major attraction.
Cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery, autumn leaves, and snowscapes.
The same place can show completely different faces depending on the season.
Basic Information about Gero-Onsen Gassho-mura
Opening hours: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry 4:30 PM)
Admission fee: Adults 800 yen, elementary and junior high school students 400 yen
Estimated viewing time: Approximately 60 minutes
Closed days: Open all year round *Some facilities may be temporarily closed
*Opening hours and prices are subject to change. Please check the official website for the latest information before visiting.
Evening | Footbath and stroll in Gero Onsen town
After returning from Gassho Village, we finally headed to the Gero Gero hot spring resort area.
Gero Onsen is a hot spring resort known as one of Japan's "Three Great Hot Springs," alongside Arima Onsen and Kusatsu Onsen. Inns and hotels line the Hida River, and the hot spring town is dotted with footbaths, restaurants, and souvenir shops.
One of the best things about Gero is that, in addition to soaking in the hot springs, you can also enjoy strolling through the hot spring town. There are several free footbaths available , so you can warm your feet and take a break when you get tired from walking.
Let's spend the time before check-in relaxing by soaking our feet in a footbath, enjoying some sweets, or looking for souvenirs.
Night | Staying at Gero Onsen
One thing I highly recommend experiencing on this itinerary is staying overnight at Gero Onsen.
After checking in, we changed into yukata and headed straight for the hot springs .
For dinner, you may be able to enjoy dishes unique to each inn, such as Hida beef, local vegetables, river fish, and miso.
After dinner, we went to the hot springs again or took a stroll through the hot spring town at night.
By enjoying a stroll around Takayama town and then booking a stay at a hot spring inn the following day, you can create a more dynamic and varied 2-night, 3-day trip.
If you're traveling in winter, be sure to check out information on seasonal events held in Gassho Village and the hot spring town. If the dates align, you can even incorporate evening events into your usual itinerary.
[Day 3] Enjoy a morning bath and the hot spring town before heading to Nagoya
Morning | One more visit to the hot springs before checking out.
On the third day, it's best not to overschedule yourself.
I wake up and head to the morning bath .
Taking a bath in the hot springs in the morning offers a different kind of pleasure compared to the night before.
After breakfast, let's relax in our room until check-out.
Besides visiting one tourist spot after another, one of the unique aspects of a hot spring trip is being able to enjoy "time to do nothing" at a hot spring inn.
Morning | Stroll through the hot spring town
After checking out, you can spend your time by returning to shops that caught your eye the day before, buying souvenirs, or stopping by a footbath.
If you have some extra time, you could also visit the Gero Gero Spring Museum, which introduces hot springs from both a scientific and cultural perspective. This facility, which showcases hot springs from both scientific and cultural angles, is conveniently located to combine with a stroll through the hot spring town.
Alternatively, simply going into a cafe and relaxing while gazing at the river or mountains is enough.
Having this "time to walk around again" makes Gero Onsen more memorable as a travel destination than just a place to stay.
Afternoon | To Nagoya on the Limited Express "Hida"
After enjoying lunch, we headed to Gero Station.
The journey from Gero to Nagoya takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes on the JR Takayama. You can return to Nagoya without changing trains.
Nagoya → Takayama → Gero Onsen → Nagoya
This way, you won't need to return to Nagoya from Takayama .
The biggest advantage of this route is that you can enjoy different attractions such as "historic towns," "food," and "hot springs" in a 2-night, 3-day trip while minimizing travel time.
For a 2-night, 3-day trip, also check out the "Hida Area Free Pass".
If you're planning a train trip from Nagoya to Takayama and Gero, you should also consider JR Tokai's " Hida Area Free Pass . "
This ticket is a package deal that includes round-trip travel from Nagoya City and other locations to the Hida area, as well as unlimited JR travel between Hida- Kaneyama and Hida-Furukawa.
The validity period is exactly 3 days . As of August 2026, departures from Nagoya city cost 12,370 yen , and there are bus or meal options. However, there are periods when it cannot be used, such as Golden Week, Obon, and New Year's holidays. Purchase conditions and prices are subject to change, so please check the JR Tokai official website before traveling.
Three reasons why we recommend Takayama+ Gero Onsen
1. Easy to travel around by train from Nagoya.
Nagoya, Takayama, and Gero are connected by the JR Takayama.
Therefore, if you travel in the order of "Nagoya → Takayama → Gero → Nagoya," you won't have to carry heavy luggage and go through complicated transfers repeatedly.
2. Enjoy both a stroll through town and a hot spring at the same time.
Although Takayama and Gero are relatively close to each other, the ways in which you can enjoy traveling to them are quite different.
Takayama is a town where you can walk, see, and eat .
Gero is a town where you can relax and enjoy the hot springs.
By combining different types of travel destinations, you can have a satisfying trip even in just two nights and three days.
3. Gero overnight at Gero Onsen offers a wider range of ways to enjoy your trip.
You can enjoy hot springs even on a day trip.
However, strolling through the hot spring town in a yukata in the evening, enjoying dinner at the inn, and soaking in the hot springs at night and in the morning are things you can only truly appreciate by staying overnight.
If you're planning a trip to Takayama and have an extra night to spare, why not extend your trip to Gero Onsen?
Gero Onsen
After Takayama, we headed to Gero Onsen.
After strolling through the old streets of Takayama and experiencing local life at the morning market, take the limited express "Hida" train for about 45 minutes to Gero Onsen.
In Takayama, you walk, see, and eat.
In Gero, I'll relax and soak in the hot springs.
By combining the two towns, you can enjoy a trip that allows you to experience not only Hida's history and cuisine, but also its hot spring culture.
A 2-night, 3-day trip from Nagoya .
How about spending another night at Gero Onsen during your next trip to Takayama ?
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