A Happy New Year to You All. Newsletter from Gunma We hope that this year will be a fruitful year for each of you. G’-now For the first issue of 2013, we would like to introduce you the festivals of snow and fire that are held in northern Gunma. Gunma Prefecture, January & February 2013 These festivals are organized by local people and will warmth your heart even amidst the Mail to: [email protected] cold climate. We recommend you to join the festival. Tsumagoi / Asama Plateau Winter Festival 1 (Fri) – 3 (Sun) February 2013 The site is established as the world of snow and ice. Snow activities including snow tubing can be enjoyed in daytime. After the fun time, have a romantic night with 2000 ice candles and fireworks. At northern Gunma where covered with snow, you can enjoy the scenery that can only be seen during winter time. It is after the sunset, when the white snow world is wrapped in darkness. Small light of candles or flame of torches illuminates the area. These winter festivals are made by local people. And each festival holds a wish that all visitors and participants of the festival may be happy. 雪 Yuki Hotaru at Oigami Onsen Sat. and the day before holidays during Koshimoto Goshinbi Fire Festival January to February 2013 Kitakaruizawa Fire Festival 2 (Sun) February 2013 9 (Sat) February 2013 Yuki Hotaru (snow fireflies) is a scenery This is a fire festival that young men with that candle flickers in small snow huts in 4000 candles are lit up wishing a happy white clothing go in procession around places of quite onsen resort. It is just alike New Year. Japanese drum performance of two bonfires, carrying portable shrines. light of fireflies. “Asama Onioshi Daiko” and beautiful You shouldn’t miss the brave performance Please enjoy with wonderful onsen. fireworks are a sight to see. of Japanese drum “Oze Daiko”. Gunma Access Guide Map a. Kitakaruizawa Fire Festival Venue: Kitakaruizawa Fureai Park (Kitakaruizawa, Naganohara-machi, Gunma’s Gourmet for This Month is Konnyaku that of 90 % are Agatsuma-gun, Gunma) c. produced in Gunma. Access: About 30 min by car from Konnyaku is a popular healthy food because of its low calorie and the feeling of fullness that lasts a long time. It is made from elephant foot Naganoharakusatsuguchi Station on with the procedure of powdering, boiling and adding coagulant. In the JR Agatsuma Line d. prefecture, elephant foot is cultivated popularly at hilly and mountainous area in the north and east part. There are also facilities where you can try making konnyaku. During the winter season, why not try konnyaku as hot oden or miso- dengaku (boiled konnyaku with sweet and salty miso sauce). Access to Gunma (Takasaki Sta.) From Tokyo: b. a. Kan-Etsu Expressway About 60 min (From Nerima IC to Takasaki IC) Joetsu Shinkansen About 50 min b. Tsumagoi / Asama Plateau Nagano Shinkansen About 50 min Winter Festival d. Yuki Hotaru at Oigami (From Tokyo Sta. to Takasaki Sta.) Venue: Special Event Site in Prince c. Koshimoto Goshinbi Fire Onsen From Haneda Airport: Land Festival Place: Oigami Onsen Express Bus About 135 min (2277 Hosobara, Omae, Tsumagoi- Venue: Koshimoto Nakazato Park (Oigami, Tone-machi, Numata-shi, (From Haneda Aiport to Takasaki Sta. West Exit) mura, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma) (Koshimoto, Katashina-mura, Tone- Gunma) From Narita Int’l Airport: Access: About 15 min by car from gun, Gunma) Access: About 30 min by car from Express Bus About 180 min Manza-Kazawaguchi Station on JR Access: About 60 min by car from Numata IC of Kan-Etsu (From Narita Int’l Airport to Takasaki Sta. Agatsuma Line Numata IC of Kan-Etsu Expressway Expressway West Exit) For the latest information or detail, please check our sites below! ◆Gunma Bureau of Tourism G’face ： http://www.facebook.com/visitgunma.En ◆Tourist Guide of Gunma Prefecture: http://www.visitgunma.jp/en.