Outline

Takasaki is located about 100 kilometers from Tokyo on the northwestern edge of the Kanto Plain. The city consists of 7 different regions stretching from the Shinmachi area, which borders the northern part of Saitama Prefecture, to the Kurabuchi area, which borders the southeastern part of Nagano Prefecture. The geographical features gradually change from the flat plains of and Shinmachi area to the mountains of Gunma, Misato, Haruna, Kurabuchi and the Yoshii area. Serviced by the Joetsu and Hokuriku Shinkansen lines, as well as Kan-Etsu Expressway, Takasaki City is growing as an exchange base between Tokyo and the Sea of .

Attractions ◆ Misato Moss Phlox Park

This park was designed in the image of "the pink Robe of Feathers left by Princess Orihime". It is 2.9 hectares, full of red, pink and white Shibazakura (moss phlox) in patterns of waves and swirls.

◆ Byakui Dai-Kannon TEL: +81-27-322-2269

Inside the hollow statue of the Goddess of Mercy with 41.8 meters (9 stories) height and 6,000 tons weight, many statues of Buddha are enshrined. You can also tour the inside to the shoulders of the statue.

◆ Takasaki Castle

Inui Yagura (northwest tower) and its moat serve as constant reminders of the area's past and Takasaki's beginning. In the Keichou period, Ii Naomasa of Minowa Castle built Takasaki Castle after destroying the existing Wada Castle.

◆ Haruna Shrine TEL: +81-27-374-9050

Haruna Shrine was said to have been built 1,400 years ago and was introduced in an old book written in 927 as one of the twelve holy shrines of Gunma, proving that this shrine has a long history as a magnificent shrine. It is dedicated to the god of agriculture and the god of improvement of one's fortune. Many visitors come to the shrine from all over Japan. The cedar tree called "Yatatesugi" on the path is a National Treasure Monument. At the time of the civil wars, it was said that the great warrior shot an arrow at the cedar to pray for victory. Its main hall, which seems melded with rocks, is a spectacular. Visitors can feel a solemn atmosphere here.

◆ Klein Garten TEL: +81-27-378-3834

In Klein Garten, which means "Small Garden" in German, people who live in cities or who want to live close together with nature can enjoy growing vegetables and flowers on their own. Basic know-how and training programs are available.

◆ Lake Haruna

Lake Haruna is located on the top of Mt. Haruna. Scenery of four seasons is beautiful and one million tourists visit the lake all year. The surface of the lake is frozen every February and everything is covered with snow.

◆ Misato Ume Grove

This beautiful ume (Japanese apricot) grove is located on a hill of about 300 hectares in area, and commands the whole view of the Kanto Plain. A white carpet of 100,000 ume trees blossom proudly, inviting visitors to appreciate the view during Ume Festival.

◆ Takasaki Museum of Art TEL: +81-27-324-6125

At the Takasaki Museum of Art, you can see numerous works created by world famous artists alongside notable local artists. Exhibitions are often planned in conjunction with performances by artists. The museum is conveniently located near Takasaki Station.

◆ Fusaichiro Inoue’s old Residence (in Takasaki Museum of Art)

This once was the residence of Fusaichiro Inoue, one of important persons who established the foundation of culture in Takasaki. Its design is based on the residence of Antonin Raymond, a world renowned architect who designed Gunma Music Center in Takasaki. This residence is considered valuable for its structure which has a resemblance of the living space of Raymond.

◆ Takasaki City Dye Plant Botanical Garden TEL: +81-27-328-6808

Takasaki City Dye Plant Botanical Garden is a rare facility where Japan’s dyeing and weaving culture and its fascination are shown with dye plants. “The Road of Japanese Dye Plants”, the core of this garden, introduces the transition of dyeing from the ancient times through dye plants mainly used in that time. At the greenhouse, you can see rare dye plants naturally grown in Okinawa and that used for dyeing in the tropics like South Asia. Dye-craft Exhibition Hall has an exhibition room which introduces the sensitivity of Japanese for the beauty of colors, and also a laboratory where you can experience “kusaki-zome (Plants dyeing)” and “ai-zome (indigo dyeing)”.

◆ Kamitsukeno-sato Museum of Archaeology TEL: +81-27-373-8880

This museum has nine areas exhibiting the first discovered 1/100 scale miniature of the mansion of a powerful Japanese family in Japan, various ancient clay figures, earthenware, Japan’s oldest decorative shoes, and so on. Also, this museum provides visitors with fascinating exhibitions all year round.

◆ Statue of Oguri-Kouzukenosuke (Tohzen-ji Temple) TEL: +81-27-373-2230

Oguri contributed a lot of the modernization of Japan in the nineteenth century. He was a high official of the Tokugawa Shogunate, but secluded himself at Kurabuchi after the collapse of the government. Then he was arrested with his followers on suspicion of rebellion on 5 April, 1868 and decapitated on the next day at Mizunuma Kawara. At place where he was executed stands a monument with the following statement inscribed "Great Oguri-Kouzukenosuke was falsely accused and decapitated here".

◆ Takasaki Festival

Each citizen of Takasaki looks forward to the Takasaki Festival every year. It adds new life to the city with its portable shrines (Mikoshi), floats (Dashi), and festival music (Ohayashi). People come from all over the prefecture to see Takasaki's Fireworks Display which is the largest in the Northern Kanto area.

◆ Shinmachi Furusato Festival

Enjoy Bon Dance in yukata (Japanese informal summer kimono) and the fantastic display of floating lanterns on the Nukui River at night. The fireworks display is a feast of light and sound. The night of the Summer Festival is full of nostalgia and memories.

◆ Haruna Festival Fireworks

At this event, fireworks are thrown into the lake one after another from boats against the background of Haruna-Fuji. The resulting scene decorates the surface of the water brilliantly. Other events like the floating of lighted lanterns are also made for a spectacular night.

◆ Takasaki Raibu Festival

Raibu （ 雷 舞 ） is a dance performance wherein participants endeavor to dance （ 舞 ） as fiercely as lightening （ 雷 ） , a common feature of Gunma. This festival can be said to be a particularly interesting Gunma event. Using a special arrangement of several songs blended with a traditional harvest song （ yagi-bushi ） , dancers utilize Daruma shaped clappers and wear costumes of their own choosing as they unveil their performances.

◆ Ebisuko Market

Takasaki is such a commercial city that the Ebisuko Market (honoring the God of wealth) makes perfect sense. The streets are filled with people who come to take advantage of the big sales and drawings for various prizes.

◆ Takasaki Pageant of Light

The Pageant of Light which illuminates the winter nights of Takasaki is a major event which brightens the hearts of its citizens.

◆ Shorinzan Daruma-ichi

A famous winter scene of Takasaki City is Daruma-ichi held at Shorinzan Darumaji Temple. Buyers and sellers bargain over the price of Daruma Dolls while rubbing their hands together to keep warm.

Takasaki Event Calender 1 January New Year’s Day Concert

6 and 7 January Shorinzan Daruma-ichi Late February – Late March Misato Ume Festival Late March – Early March Takasaki Film Festival The 2nd Sunday of March Haruna Ume Marathon The 3rd Sunday of March Haruna Ume Festival Early April Takasaki Haru Matsuri Early April Shinmachi Cherry Blossom Festival Early April - Early May Misato Moss Phlox Festival 29 April Takasaki Spring Festival Late May Oguri Festival Late July Yoshii Gion Festival The last Sunday of July Misato Furusato Summer Festival Mid-August Shinmachi Furusato Festival Mid-August Kurabuchi Summer Festival The 2nd Sunday of August Gunma Haniwa-no-Sato Festival Late August Takasaki Byakui Dai-Kannon candle Festival ｢Mandoe ｣ The 1st Friday of August Haruna Festival Fireworks The 1st Saturday and Sunday of August Takasaki Festival Mid-October Takasaki Raibu Festival Mid-October – Late October Takasaki Marching Band Festival Late October Takasaki Noh Theater October – November Takasaki Music Festival The 3rd Saturday and Sunday of October Haruna Furusato Festival The last Sunday of October Minowa Castle Festival The 2nd Saturday and Sunday of November Yoshii Autumn Festival Early November Shinmachi Street Performance Festival Late November Ebisuko Market December – January Takasaki Pageant of Light Mid December – 25 December Lake Haruna Illumination Festival