There are nice mountain views on the way in to Gero, a few distinctly ordinary temples, and one attraction:
Gassho Village
åææ GasshÅ-mura. A traditional-style village with thatched-roof gasshÅ-zukuri hands in prayer houses. At least one house is authentic, having been constructed in the mid-1800s, and later relocated here to escape being submerged behind a dam. You can paint pottery and make paper yourself, and they will mail your handiwork back to you for an additional fee. There are displays of traditional festivals, and a museum of guardian-dog statues çç¬ used at shrines. Admission is ¥800. To get there from the station, take a 5 minute/¥150 bus ride buses run about once per hour, taxi for the base fare, about ¥650, or walk, about 20 minutes.