Newsletter from Gunma

March 2013, Gunma Prefecture

Mail to: visit-gunma@pref.gunma.lg.jp

Hello! This is G’-now, the newsletter from Gunma

Prefecture. For this issue, we would like to introduce you

the spots for cherry blossom viewing in Gunma. Depending

on your situation and favor, various spots are available for

you to enjoy the world of spring!

Tenno-zakura （天王桜）（天王桜）（天王桜）（天王桜）

The 300-years-old wild cherry tree full in bloom in Katashina Village.

While enjoying a row of cherry trees in bloom is a fantastic time,

admiring a big, old cherry tree would also be a nice moment.

(Flowering Time: Late April – Early May)

Location: Hariyama, Katashina-mura, Tone-gun, Gunma

Access: About 60 min by car from Numata Station on JR Joetsu Line

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1. Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura （赤城南面千本桜）（赤城南面千本桜）（赤城南面千本桜）（赤城南面千本桜）

About 1,000 cherry trees are in bloom alongside the

promenade of two-kilometers-long. Other 500 cherry

trees and moss phlox can be enjoyed at Miyagi

Senbonzakura no Mori, which is the park next to the

Senbonzakura.

(Flowering Time: Early – Late April)

2. Shikishima Park （敷島公園）（敷島公園）（敷島公園）（敷島公園）

The contrast of 350 cherry trees and pine trees

in the park is a sight to see.

(Flowering Time: Late March – Early April)

Location: 262 Shikishima-cho, Maebashi-shi,

Gunma

Access: About 20 min by bus from Maebashi

Station on JR Ryomo Line

Website: http://www.maebashi-

cvb.com/engilsh/spots/index.htm (Japanese)

3. Takasaki Park （高崎公園）（高崎公園）（高崎公園）（高崎公園）

Take a walk from Takasaki Sta. and you will see

the beautiful cherry blossoms around Takasaki

City Hall and Takasaki Park next to the City Hall.

(Flowering Time: Late March – Mid-April)

Location: 127 Miyamoto-cho, Takasaki-shi,

Gunma

Access: About 10 min on foot from JR Takasaki

Station

Website: http://www.takasaki-

kankoukyoukai.or.jp/see/h07.html (Japanese)

<Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival>

Period: 6 (Sat) – 21(Sun) April 2013

* Period may be changed due to the condition of

bloom.

Location: Naegashima-machi, Maebashi-shi, Gunma

Access: About 25 min by car from Isesaki IC of Kita-

Kanto Expressway

About 45 min by car from Maebashi Station of JR

Ryomo Line

Website: http://www.maebashi-

cvb.com/event/e_senbonsakura.htm (Japanese) 4. Sakura no Sato （さくらの里）（さくらの里）（さくらの里）（さくらの里）

(Flowering Time: Mid-April – Early May)

Location: 1258-17 Kamikosaka, Shimonita-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma

Access: About 25 min by car from Shimonita Station on Joshin Dentetsu

About 30 min by car from Shimonita IC of Joshin-Etsu Expressway

Website: http://www.town.shimonita.lg.jp/shoko-kanko/m03/m02/m01/03.html

(Japanese)

Walking through the tunnel of cherry blossom is one way to enjoy viewing

cherry blossom. Or, getting your place beside the cherry tree in the park

and admiring cherry blossom would be another good choice.

Would you like to go on a hike in cherry blossom season? Sakura no

Sato on a mountain side of Mt. Myogi welcomes you to enjoy walking

through the huge park with over 5000 cherry trees. There are some

viewpoints that you can have a panorama sight of cherry trees!

Gunma-chan, mascot

character of Gunma Prefecture

If you have your children on the trip, let’s take them to amusement parks!

Low-cost play rides are available and cherry blossoms decorate the park

beautifully.

5. Kiryu-ga-oka Amusement Park / Zoo

（桐生が岡遊園地（桐生が岡遊園地（桐生が岡遊園地（桐生が岡遊園地/桐生が岡動物園）桐生が岡動物園）桐生が岡動物園）桐生が岡動物園）

Beautiful 430 cherry trees welcome you to

the free-entrance amusement park and zoo!

(Flowering Time: Early April)

Location: (Amusement Park)4-1-1 Miyamoto-

cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma

(Zoo) 3-8-13 Miyamoto-cho, Kiryu-shi, Gunma

Access: About 15 min on foot from Kiryu

Station on JR Ryomo Line

Website:

https://www.city.kiryu.gunma.jp/web/home.

nsf/42fed222e9b38157492568fd002b273a/9

b152deabde974a949256a110004178a?Open

Document (Japanese)

6. Kezoji Park （華蔵寺公園遊園地）（華蔵寺公園遊園地）（華蔵寺公園遊園地）（華蔵寺公園遊園地）

While your children having fun with

amusement park ride, you can enjoy viewing

1,000 cherry trees in bloom. The best

viewpoint is from Ferris wheel!

The park is consisted of low-cost amusement

park and playground with play set, long slide

and so on (free of charge).

(Flowering Time: Late March – Early April)

Location: 1 Kezoji-machi, Isesaki-shi, Gunma

Access: About 10 min by bus from Isesaki

Station on JR Ryomo Line

Website: http://www8.wind.ne.jp/kezouji/

(Japanese)

7. Lunar Park and Maebashi Park （るなぱあく・前橋公園）（るなぱあく・前橋公園）（るなぱあく・前橋公園）（るなぱあく・前橋公園）

200 cherry trees are in bloom around Maebashi Park. Also,

take a several minutes walk to Lunar Park which is the small

amusement park with low-cost.

(Flowering Time: Late March – Early April)

Location: 3-16-3 Ote-machi, Maebashi-shi, Gunma

Access: About 15 min by bus from Maebashi Station on

JR Ryomo Line

Website: http://www.lunarpark.jp/ (Japanese)

Cherry blossoms beautifully match with

historical sites. Here are some historical

spots for you to visit.

8. Shiroijuku （白井宿）（白井宿）（白井宿）（白井宿）

Double cherry trees are in bloom alongside the Shiroijuku old street. The street keeps

building and waterway built in Edo period.

At the festival on 28 (Sun) April, local people wear armor and hold a samurai procession.

(Flowering Time: Late April – Early May)

Location: Shiroi, Shibukawa-shi, Gunma

Access: About 15 minutes by car from Shibukawa-Ikaho IC of Kan-Etsu Expressway

Website:

http://www.city.shibukawa.lg.jp/kankou/shizen/harunohana/shiraiyadoyae.html

(Japanese)

9. Castle Town Obata （城下町小幡）（城下町小幡）（城下町小幡）（城下町小幡）

Obata area in Kanra Town holds the vestige of the

Castle Town of the Obata clan in Edo period. Ogawa

waterway in the castle town with cherry trees are a

sight to see. On 14 (Sun) April, samurai procession is

held as a part of the festival.

(Flowering Time: Early – Mid-April)

Location: Obata, Kanra-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma

Access: About 10 minutes by car from Tomioka IC of

Joshin-Etsu Expressway

Website:

http://www.town.kanra.gunma.jp/sansin/kankou/news

/02.html (Japanese)

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Travel to Japan in March?

Then, visit Gunma for

interesting event on Hina

Festival!!

b. Stone Steps Hina Festival

（石段ひなまつり）（石段ひなまつり）（石段ひなまつり）（石段ひなまつり）

On 2 - 3 March, stone Steps, the symbol of

Ikaho Onsen becomes the tiered stand for

Hina festival. Come and see the children

neatly dressed in their Hina costume.

Location: Ikaho Onsen (Ikaho, Ikaho-machi,

Shibukawa-shi, Gunma)

Access: About 25 min by bus from Shibukawa

Station on JR Joetsu Line

Website: http://www.hotels-

ikaho.or.jp/hinamatsuri.html (Japanese)

a. Tatebayashi “Ohinasama” Festival

（館林「お雛さま」まつり）（館林「お雛さま」まつり）（館林「お雛さま」まつり）（館林「お雛さま」まつり）

About 2000 hina doll welcome you in 10 venue in total.

From seven-steps-decoration hina dolls to Kyoho-bina

which style was popular in Edo period, they are rich in

variety and you will enjoy your walk!

Location: Tsutsujigaoka Second Park and other places

in Tatebayashi City, Gunma

Access: About 10 min by car from Tatebayashi IC of

Tohoku Expressway

Website: http://www.utyututuji.jp/event/event.html

(Japanese)

Access to Gunma (Takasaki Sta.)

From Tokyo:

Kan-Etsu Expressway About 60 min

(From Nerima IC to Takasaki IC)

Joetsu Shinkansen About 50 min

Nagano Shinkansen About 50 min

(From Tokyo Sta. to Takasaki Sta.)

From Haneda Airport:

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)

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b.

Gunma’s G

Get more information about tourism on Gunma from http://www.visitgunma.jp/en/ !

Gunma’s Gourmet for This Month is… Mizusawa udon!

Mizusawa udon is famous for its chewy and

transparent noodle as it is called one of the Three

Japan’s Famous udon. The ingredients of Mizusawa

udon are flour, salt and spring water from Mt.

Mizusawa. These simple ingredients meet technique of

masters in each restaurant and finally become delicious

udon noodle.

Mizusawa udon restaurants are lined up on the street

in front of Mizusawa Temple as it originally was used to

be served to temple visitors.

After admiring beautiful cherry blossoms, take a small

trip to the mountainside of Mt. Haruna. It would be a

nice lunchtime to enjoy delicious Mizusawa udon!