Kaeru Shrine

Kaeru Shrine in Gero is dedicated entirely to frogs. The connection makes sense: 'gero' is the Japanese word for the sound a frog makes, so the town adopted the frog as its mascot. Built in 2010, the shrine has frog figures throughout, including one beside the purification basin and small ceramic frogs placed along the interior walls. The votive tablets for writing wishes are illustrated with frogs, and visitors leave offerings at a stone frog deity. In Japanese, 'kaeru' also means 'to return,' making the frog a symbol of safe return home. The shrine is a short walk from Gero's main hot spring district.