Gero Onsen, one of the three most famous hot springs in Japan! Let's make your own Sarubobo! Gero Onsen Gassho Mura
- Gifu
- Sightseeing
What is Sarubobo?
Sarubobo means "baby monkey" in the dialect of the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture, and has long been displayed as a good luck charm for safe delivery. Today, there are many colorful sarubobos, and it is said that the color of the sarubobo brings different blessings, such as red for safe delivery, blue for luck in study and work, yellow for luck in money, and so on.
Some people may be a little scared of the Sarubobo because they do not have faces painted on them. The reason why there is no face on the saruboro is because it is believed that the saruboro is a mirror of its owner. When the owner of the Sarubobo is happy, the Sarubobo is happy with him, and when he is sad, the Sarubobo is sad with him.
Enjoy both history and nature! Gero Onsen Gassho Mura (Gero Onsen Gassho Village)
In Gassho-no-Sato, there is the former Oto Family Residence, designated as a National Important Cultural Property, and the Folk Museum (former Iwasaki Family), designated as a National Tangible Cultural Property, which allows visitors to experience a traditional townscape in Gero. At the former Oto Family Residence, events are held on an irregular basis to allow visitors to experience life in the old days around an irori (open-air stove).
In the Saijiki-no-Mori (Forest of Seasons), visitors can experience Gero's four seasons at the "Banko-an" tea house built in the Mashida-zukuri style, a Hida region style of architecture with gently sloping roofs and short buildings, and the impressive 175-meter-long "Forest Slide.
Let's make a sarubobo!
The technique of inserting cotton into the hands and feet of a saruboko is very difficult, and in recent years the number of saruboko makers has been decreasing, so there are few places that offer this experience. We encourage you to try your hand at making sarubo-jibos, a rare and unique experience!
In addition to sarubo- making, Hida Kobo also offers pottery painting and Japanese paper making.
First, choose a sarububo of your favorite color. At Hida Kobo, you can choose from two types of sarubobo: one made of cotton, which is used for sarubobo sold as folk crafts, and the other made of chirimen, which is characterized by its soft texture.
Next, choose a belly pad. Some have "Hida" or "Gero Onsen" written on them, while others have plain belly pads on which you can draw your favorite characters or pictures. After that, they will choose a chanchanko (a traditional Japanese headgear) and an amulet to put on the sarubbo, which will then be attached to the sarubbo. Finally, place the sarubo-Bo in a bag with a "Certificate of Completion of Sarubo-Bo Class" and you are done! You can take home the saruboro you made, so be sure to display it as a good-luck charm!
When you visit Gero, why not make your own original saruboro at the Hida Studio in Gero Onsen Gassho Mura?
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Location
2369 Mori, Gero City, Gifu Prefecture
Access
From JR Gero Station or Nobi Bus Center, take the Gassho-mura Line bound for "Gassho-mura/Gero Koryu Kaikan" (Gassho Village), approx. 6 min. ride, or approx. 20 min. walk from Gassho-mura bus stop.
Or about 20 minutes on foot.
*The contents and services in this article are subject to change.
*All images are for reference only.
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