Newsletter from Gunma G’-now August 2013, Mail to: [email protected]

Tourist Guide of Gunma Prefecture: http://visitgunma.jp/en/ Gunma Bureau of Tourism G’face: https://www.facebook.com/visitgunma.En

Nikko Shirane Ropeway (Katashina)

Hello! This is Gunma’s newsletter on tourism “G’-now” August edition. For this edition, we would like to introduce you the beautiful sight of autumnal leaves from the ropeway in Gunma! Speaking of autumn in , beautiful autumnal leaves are what you cannot omit. And ropeway is the convenient way to get to the splendid scenery of autumnal leaves at mountains or lakeshores. Get ready for the trip to the world of Autumnal color!

Gunma-chan , Shirane-Kazan Ropeway (Kusatsu) Mascot of Gunma Prefecture Shirane-Kazan Ropeway Shirane-Kazan Ropeway Season: Mid-Sept. - Early Oct. This ropeway is located within Kusatsu Snow & Spa Resort. In winter, the mountains around are covered with snow and this ropeway becomes a transportation for many skiers. Enjoy the beautiful colored leaves that spread below the ropeway. After the ride you can also easily reach to various spots at Mt. Kusatsu- Shirane. Let’s go on a hike!

• Altitude of Sancho Station on the peak: 2,027 meters • Duration (one-way trip): 8 min • Hours: 9 ：00 - 16:20 * Suspension for maintenance would occur in November. • Fee: 1,500 yen for adult, 750 yen for child 900 yen for adult, 450 yen for child * “Adult” covers the age over 12 and “Child” the age between 6 - 11. • Access from Kusatsu Onsen: About 15 min by bus • Website: http://www.kusatsu-kokusai.com/autumn/ropeway/ (Japanese) • Kusatsu Onsen Tourism Association: http://www.kusatsuonsen- international.jp/en/

Mononugu no Ike Pond Yumi Ike Pond Yugama Yoshigadaira Access: About 10 min on foot from Access: About 10 min on foot from Access: About 30 min on foot from Access: About 10 min on foot from Sanroku Station at the base of the Sancho Station on the peak Sancho Station on the peak Sancho Station to Shirane Rest mountain House + About 50 min on foot from the Rest House to Yoshigadaira Ikaho Ropeway Season: Early Nov.

By riding the ropeway to the peak of Mt. Monokiki in Ikaho, get the splendid view of the onsen resort that is surrounded by mountains in autumnal foliage. • Altitude of Miharashi Station on the peak: 932 meters • Duration (one-way trip): 4 min Mt. Haruna Ropeway • Hours: 8:40 - 17:15 • Fee: 800 yen for adult, 400 yen for child Season: Late Oct. - Early Nov. 480 yen for adult, 240 yen for child The ropeway that connects the base and the peak of • Access from Shibukawa Station on JR Joetsu Line: About 25 min by bus Mt. Haruna-fuji provides you the gorgeous view of • Shibukawa Ikaho Spar and Resort Tourism Association: http://www.ikaho- Autumnal leaves and Lake Haruna. In addition, riding kankou.com/multilingual/en/index.html a boat to see the mountain covered with red and yellow leaves is another good idea. • Altitude of Sancho Station on the peak: 1,390 meters • Duration (one-way trip): 3 min • Hours: 9:15 - 16:55 (Apr. - Oct.) 9:15 - 16:00 (Nov. - Mar.) • Fee: 820 yen for adult, 400 yen for child 430 yen for adult Kajika Bridge Access: About 15 min on foot from Hototogisu 220 yen for child Station at the base of the mountain • Access from Ikaho Onsen: About 25 min by bus Haruna Shrine Website: http://www.tanigawadake- • Access: About 15 min by bus Ikaho Forest Park rw.com/haruna/ (Japanese) from Mt. Haruna Access: About 30 min on foot from Miharashi • Haruna Tourism Association: http://harunavi.jp/ Station on the peak of the mountain to the (Japanese) administration building of the park Tanigawadake Ropeway Season: Early Oct. - Early Nov.

Takaragawa Onsen Access: About 35 min by bus from Minakami Station on Joetsu Line

Lake Naramata Access: About 35 min by car from Minakami IC of Kan-Etsu Expressway

You can reach to Tenjindaira on Mt. Tanigawa, one of the most famous mountains in Japan, by the ropeway! Grand vista of autumn from the peak is a sight to see. Lifts from Tenjindaira to Tenjin Pass is also available. • Altitude of Tenjindaira Station: 1,319 meters (1,502 meters at Tenjin Pass) • Duration (one-way trip): 15 min • Hours: 8:00 - 17:00 (Weekday) 7:00 - 17:00 (Sat., Sun., and holidays) • Fee: 2,000 yen for adult, 1,000 yen for child 1,200 yen for adult 600 yen for child 700 yen per person for round trip 400 yen per person for one-way trip • Access from Minakami Station on JR Joetsu Line: About 25 min by bus • Website: http://www.tanigawadake-rw.com/ (Japanese) • Minakami Tourism Association: http://www.enjoy-minakami.jp/eng/ Nikko Shirane Ropeway At Marunuma Plateau at Mt. Nikko-Shirane, which is located on Season: Late Sept. - Early Oct. the border of Gunma Prefecture and Tochigi Prefecture, you can easily get to the area with 2,000 meters above sea level. At Sancho station, relax your foot with a nice footbath! • Altitude of the Sancho station: 2,000 meters • Duration (one-way trip): 15 min • Hours 8:00 - 16:30 (Weekday during 1 Jun. - 14 Oct.) 7:30 - 16:30 (Sat., Sun., and holidays during 1 Jun. - 14 Oct.) 8:00 - 16:30 (Everyday during 15 Oct. - 14 Nov.) • Fee 1,900 yen for adult, 1,000 yen for child 1,000 yen for adult, 600 yen for child • Access from Numata IC of Kan-Etsu Expressway: About 60 min by car • Website: http://www.marunuma.jp/ (Japanese) • Katashina Village Tourism Association: http://www.oze-info.com/ (Japanese)

Tenku no Ashiyu Footbath Futarasan Shrine Lake Marunuma Access: At Sancho Station Access: About 2 min on foot from Sancho Station Access: About 30 min on foot from Sancho Station on the peak Access to Gunma (Takasaki Sta.) Map of Gunma From : Prefecture Kan-Etsu Expressway About 60 min (From Nerima IC to Takasaki IC) Joetsu About 50 min Nagano Shinkansen About 50 min (From Tokyo Sta. to Takasaki Sta.) From : Express Bus About 135 min (From Haneda Airport to Takasaki Sta. West Exit) From Narita Int’l Airport: Express Bus About 180 min (From Narita Int’l Airport to Takasaki Sta. West Exit)

Note: The required time shown in each access is only a guide. * Check the website below for more spots of autumnal And the information within the newsletter may be the subject to change. When leaves in Gunma! planning to have a trip to Gunma, please refer to the websites attached in each spot or the information in the tourism association in the area. http://visitgunma.jp/en/saijiki/autumn.php#event_13