Gero Onsen is considered to be one of the three most famous Onsen towns in Japan (Kusatsu Onsen and Arima Onsen being the others.) While that alone might not convince foreign travellers to visit Gero, Shogetsu Ryokan just might. Gero isn't the most accessible place (rental car is best), and for a first time traveller to Japan, it's probably not worth the hassle of getting there when options like Hakone, Izu or Kinosaki are available. However, for the Japan conoisseur (and repeat visitor) that's looking to go slightly off the beaten path, and get an authentic luxury Onsen ryokan experience at the same time, Shogetsu will certainly fit the bill. In fact, we were shocked at just how much it exceeded our expectations; we were looking for the best that Gero had to offer, which we thought wasn't saying much. Instead, we were treated to a property that was traditional yet stylish, and amenity-laden, especially for a small boutique ryokan. Shogetsu is perched atop a hill overlooking the main Gero town, which is good or bad, depending on your point of view. It's a bit of a walk to get to the main town (which you should definitely check out) and some of the prominent tourist attractions nearby. On the other hand, you're treated to spectacular views, including from the rooms. Inside, it's a mixture of traditional and modern Japanese design done in a very artistic way. For instance, in the reception area there's a tiny indoor mini rock garden with a stone lantern that's lit up in a way that gives the entire area an aura of mystery. Then, about 30 meters away, towards the window overlooking Gero town is another (outdoor) stone garden on the balcony, which serves as a waiting area. It's all very glorious, and gives a hint at what's time come when staying at Shogetsu. Our room was more traditional, but very comforting and functional. We chose a Japanese-style room on the fourth floor which featured an open-air Onsen bath on the balcony. It was 68m² in size - not massive, but more than enough space for two guests to spread out and enjoy their time. The large balcony (again, with the commanding views of Gero) with the floor-to-ceiling veranda helps to add to the sense of spaciousness. Meals are served in private rooms in a particular section of Shogetsu, which isn't our preference (we prefer to have meals served in the room we're actually staying in.) However, it was far less of an issue at Shogetsu. For starters, the dining area were all separate and in enclosed private rooms. Furthermore, the entire area was super stylish - a mini stream with Koi fish swimming around, stone lanterns all over the place, bonsai trees adorning the walkway, and really nice mood lighting which was really comforting... it gives a positive pretense to the amazing dining experience that lies ahead. And the meals were absolutely divine - shocking, really. We've had amazing meals at some of the top ryokans in the country, and Shogetsu ranks with the very best of them. Everything was f
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