Outline
Annaka City was set on 18 March 2006, when the old Annaka City merged with the Town of Matsuida. It's located on the western part of Gunma adjacent to first-class resort, Karuizawa of Nagano Prefecture. Annaka has been on an important part of the road since ancient times. In the Edo Period (1603-1867), one of the major Interstate Highways of the time ran through the city, making it possible to flourish as a post town and for the government of the time to set up a checkpoint. Today, with a Shinkansen stop and two major expressway exits, Annaka enjoys its convenient location to remain as a key place of traffic and transportation. The City of Annaka has been taking a number of measures to bring in more tourism businesses by using its rich natural environment such as Isobe Onsen and old Usui Pass and to bolster local economy at the same time by taking full advantage of its convenient location. Under the theme of “the city of peace where makes people lively, blessed by a rich natural environment and cultural heritage”, Annaka continues to strive to better serve the people of the city. Location (of the city hall): Long. 135°53' E Lat. 36°19' N 180 meters above sea level Covers an area of 276.34 square kilometers
Attractions ◆ Akima Bairin Festival
Over 35,000 ume (Japanese apricot) trees are planted on the hillside of Akima, and the pink & white flowers are in bloom during the festival. Various kinds of events including photographic contest with professional models, Japanese drum performance, ‘koto’ music performance, an outdoor tea ceremony, rice-cake making by children, are held and attract many visitors.
◆ Daidai Kagura at Sakisaki Shrine
Daidai Kagura is a sacred Shinto music and dance performance dedicated to the Sakisaki Shrine during its spring festival. It is designated as a city’s important intangible cultural heritage. It consists of 12 different dances played by seven dancers, three Japanese flutists, a drummer, and a hand drummer, who are clad in costumes, wear masks, and hold Shinto festival articles representing the significance of each of the dance performances.
Ansei Toashi (as known as “Samurai Marathon”) is held on the second Sunday in May every year. This event originates in the matter that a lord of Annaka Domain in the Edo Period organized a foot race on the distance of about 27.5 kilometers for to train the feudal retainers. Their order of arrival was recorded and became the origin of the marathon in Japan. At the event, runners dressed in unique costumes including samurai costume participate. The marathon course starts at the Annaka Castle ruins and finishes at Kumano Shrine via Nakasendo, an Interstate Highway of the Edo Period.
◆ Usui Sekisho (Checkpoint) Festival
This festival is conducted to preserve both the remains and treasured culture of old Usui Sekisho (checkpoint), which is as important as Hakone Sekisho in Tokaido (the Interstate Highway of the Edo Period), and to pass them on to future generations. In this festival, traditional performing arts such as Shishimai (a dance performed in a lion's mask) are performed. It is scheduled to coincide with Samurai Marathon and included in the marathon route.
◆ Usui Pass Firefly Village Festival
The local youth association has been proliferating fireflies in the area for the last ten years. Now they organize annual firefly festival, together with the people from Matsuida Town. There will be food stands, and the gleam of fireflies can be seen from around 19:00. Fireflies can be observed most often from late June to early July in the evening between 20:00 and 21:00.
◆ Isobe Yana (Is the name of a restaurant designed to serve special sweetfish dishes and refers to fish trap)
Sweetfishes, which are Japan’s leading fish, are in season from June to September. At Isobe Yana, you can enjoy grilled sweetfish and fresh Sashimi viewing Yana (a fish trap) in clear Usui River. Menus include grilled, deep-fried, or fresh sweet fish in fixed meal or a la carte. (They are cultured sweetfish in Tochigi and Gunma prefectures.)
◆ Isobe Onsen Festival
Fireworks on the 15 August dates back more than a quarter of a century and thousands of fireworks are launched into the sky. Various performers at the storytellers’ theater and catching sweetfishes are the main attractions on the 14th. Parades of Kodomo mikoshi (portable shrine carried by children) is featured on the 15th. On the 16th, main attractions are the lantern floating and wonderful fireworks.
◆ Annaka City Chrysanthemum Exhibition
Approximately 700 pieces of beautiful chrysanthemum either carefully groomed as bonsai or grown in the shape of waterfall by the city enthusiasts will be on display. Tourists who are visiting Isobe Onsen will certainly enjoy them.
◆ Furusato Festival
Various events are offered, including artwork exhibition, lecture meeting, parade of floats and elementary school marching band, and agricultural fair.
◆ Winter Sweet Festival
More than 1,000 winter sweet trees are planted in the land of 2.5 hectare in Matsuida town. Starting from mid-December through early March, 10,000 branches will be in full bloom, during which these branches and other local delicacies will be on sale and local performing arts will be shown.
◆ Sengataki Fudo Festival
When a feudal lord had his fort in Matsuida, Sengataki Waterfall was their water supply. Legend has it that his princess named O-sen was on the run after the enemy took over the Matsuida Fort. When she managed to escape as far as the Sengataki Waterfall, she had thrown herself into the basin. A number of gods, including Fudo Myo-oh, the god of fire, are enshrined near the basin.