Gero Onsen is considered one of the three most famous onsen in Japan and is the perfect place to relax and unwind for a day or two. Gero is located in a peaceful resort area between Nagoya and Takayama. Being an onsen town most accommodation options are in ryokan or hotels but there are very few options for the budget traveler until now.
Gerobal Hostel is a newer hostel that has a great location to easily explore Gero Onsen. At the moment the hostel only offers dorm rooms but if you have a group of 4-10 then they will give you a private room. The dorm rooms have 10 beds that all come with privacy curtains that make a stay in a dorm room that much more comfortable. Each bed also has it's own power plug and reading light which make it easy to charge all your electronics. There is a bathroom in each dorm room with just a toilet and sink and the shower is shared on the main floor. For security the rooms have individual pin code lockers that you select the code yourself so you don't have to worry about bringing your own lock to keep your valuables secure.
The hostel has a common area with a kitchen and a lounge area which is a good place to relax outside of your room. The kitchen is well equipped to do basic cooking with a stove and microwave. And the lounge area has cushions and low tables to sit around and chat with other guests and the staff. The main staff member is Hiro, and he is full of lots of helpful information on the local area including which onsen to visit and where to eat. When you are arriving to check in, if you don't see a staff member near the front door keep heading up the stairs as the main hostel is a couple of floors up.
The location of the hostel is perfect as it is almost opposite the train station so it is easy to access from other towns whereas most other accommodation options in town are much further away. Gero Onsen is also relatively compact so you can walk to the onsen and visit all the footpaths easily whilst staying at the hostel.
Gerobal Hostel is a great accommodation option in Gero Onsen for anyone who wants to save money to spend on soaking in the onsen instead.
