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Name in Japanese and English

• 冬の下呂温泉『花火物語』～花火の歳時記～
• Hanabi Monogatari,“Fireworks Story”, and its seasonal “Hanabi Almanac”(winter at Gero Onsen)

History

In Gero Onsen（下呂温泉, Gero onsen）, winter became a flagship season thanks to a simple idea: a regular fireworks rendezvous that’s easy to fit into an evening in a hot-spring town. This is the spirit behind Hanabi Monogatari（花火物語）, a long-running format where the Hida River（飛騨川, Hida-gawa） and the downtown bridges provide a natural stage. Rather than a single huge hanabi taikai（花火大会, hanabi taikai） fireworks festival, people come here for a repeatable, intimate experience that pairs perfectly with an onsen stay.

The project’s signature is Hanabi no Saijiki（花火の歳時記）: a seasonal “almanac” where each night adopts a theme connected to the time of year(for example: Coming-of-Age Day, Valentine’s, prayers for success, Hina Matsuri（雛祭り, hina matsuri）, or end-of-school-year send-offs). This thematic approach also helped the event evolve: some years brought adjustments(postponements, occasional cancellations, special editions), followed by a return to a clear winter cycle that’s easy for travellers to understand.

Location and date of the event

• Location: the riverbanks of the Hida-gawa（飛騨川河畔）, downstream from Gero Ōhashi Bridge（下呂大橋, Gero ōhashi）.
• Address: 岐阜県下呂市幸田（Kōden, Gero, Gifu）, around 下呂大橋（〒509-2206）.
• Access: Gero Station（下呂駅, Gero-eki, Takayama Line（高山本線, Takayama-honsen）) is about a 3-minute walk. By car: access via regional roads, then use the downtown municipal car parks(commonly used by visitors).
• Dates: January to March, every Saturday(around 12 nights).
• Date type: variable; the rule is fixed(Saturdays from January to late March), but exact dates change each year depending on the calendar, with possible cancellation in case of high water or bad weather.

Event schedule

The format is deliberately simple: a short fireworks session, ideal after dinner or before a bath. Launch time is fixed at 20:30(about 10 minutes), from the riverbanks downstream of Gero Ōhashi（下呂大橋）.

Each Saturday follows a saijiki（歳時記）theme: in January, “celebration” fireworks(New Year, Coming of Age); in February, themes linked to Valentine’s and wishes for success; in March, more “spring” motifs (Hina Matsuri（雛祭り）, White Day（ホワイトデー）) and encouragement fireworks for farewells and new starts. Viewers naturally spread out across downtown vantage points: bridges, quays, riverbanks, and sometimes even from certain accommodations.

What makes it special is the balance of “onsen town + fireworks”: no need for giant festival logistics, just a very “Gero” atmosphere—winter light, onsen steam（温泉）, and bursts of colour over the Hida-gawa（飛騨川）.

Practical tips

Photos

To capture the fireworks without battling the crowd, arrive early and pick a spot along the quay with an angle that includes the bridge or the river(it instantly conveys the “onsen town” vibe). Night mode can work, but stabilising your phone/camera (mini tripod, resting on a railing) is best. Protect your lens: in winter, condensation can surprise you when you step outside after a hot bath.

Weather

In winter at Gero, the cold feels stronger by the water. Bring a warm layer, thin gloves(handy for your phone), and shoes suitable for walking. If it’s rainy or the river is high, fireworks may be cancelled(flood/wind safety).

Transport

The easiest option is the train to Gero-eki（下呂駅）and then walking. For the return trip, check timetables if you’re not staying overnight. By car, aim for a downtown municipal car park and arrive before 20:00 on busy Saturdays.

Visitor tips

A great combo: early dinner, scout your spot around 20:00, fireworks at 20:30, then an onsen（温泉）right after. Useful phrase if you ask where to watch: “Hanabi wa doko de miremasu ka?”（花火はどこで見れますか, hanabi wa doko de miremasu ka）.

What to bring

A power bank, hand warmers(kairo（カイロ）), a small towel, and a waterproof bag if you do fireworks + bath back-to-back. An umbrella/poncho is useful: even if rain doesn’t always stop the show, the riverbank can be damp.

Sources & References

• Gero City: Winter Gero Onsen “Hanabi Monogatari”(FY2025)

  Municipal page: overview of the “Hanabi no Saijiki” concept, monthly themes, and general framework.

• Gifu Travel Guide: Winter Gero Onsen “Hanabi Monogatari”

  Official prefectural tourism listing: 2026 season period, frequency, and basic information.

• Gerotabi(Gero Onsen Tourism Association): Gero Onsen Hanabi Monogatari

  Local tourism office listing: location, season, start time, parking, and contacts.