Kaeru Shrine
加恵瑠神社
A small shrine on the hot spring street dedicated to frogs. Its name plays on 'Gero,' the Japanese sound of a frog's croak, and it is filled with frog statues that every visitor wants to photograph.
Kaeru Shrine is a small shrine at the heart of Gero Onsen's main street. The town's name, Gero, sounds like the croak of a frog (gero gero), so the frog became the mascot of Gero Onsen, and the shrine is built around that theme. Frog statues of all sizes fill the shrine grounds and buildings. The name 'Kaeru' is a homophone of 'return home,' symbolizing a safe homecoming and the return of good fortune. Visitors often buy frog amulets and wishing plaques here and pose for photos beside the stone frog statues. Entry is free and the shrine is open all day. It is very small, so a ten-minute visit is enough, making it an easy stop while strolling the street or soaking your feet in a hot spring foot bath. It is about a 5 to 10 minute walk from JR Gero Station.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Gero Museum of Hot Springs
- Onsen-ji Temple
- Gero Onsen Town & Yumeguri
- Gero Funsen-ike & Hida River
- Gero Onsen Gassho Village
- Nakayama Shichiri Gorge
- Zenshoji Temple
- Iwaya Iwakage Site