Ancient burial ground featuring lots of haniwa: hollow terracotta figures of soldiers, horses, shrine maidens, etc. You can climb up the kofun burial mounds and see an excavated coffin.
Traditional katazome dyeing workshops. A pro craftsperson will walk you through how to use stencils and all-natural rice paste to dye your own one-of-a-kind handkerchief.
Learn how to make traditional Japanese nerikiri, a colorful confection kneaded and cut into the shapes of flowers and cute objects. Take your creation home and eat it when you're done.
Workshops and events on how to brew the perfect cup of Japanese green tea.
History museum at the site of an 8th century Buddhist temple, featuring a model of the pagoda and explanations in English. You can view the reconstructed foundations to take a step back in time.
Accessory shop featuring leather goods and handbags made from repurposed rice sacks. They also offer leathercraft workshops.
Historic castle grounds turned into a large hilltop forest park. Walking paths wind through what used to be dry moats, and there are a few restored and rebuilt castle ruins.
Japanese garden and nobleman's study preserved from the Edo Period (1600-1800s). The garden is beautiful in the fall when the maple trees turn red.
Inventive farm-to-table restaurant featuring a range of cuisine inspired from around the world. Their resident tea sommelier can brew you an artful cup of green tea.
A takoyaki and yakisoba stand. Takeout only. Takoyaki are savory pancake balls filled with octopus. The owner sometimes puts on a takoyaki hat and dances by the stand--see if you can spot her!
Comfy restaurant serving a large variety of fusion cuisine using local ingredients. Plant-based options are available.
High-quality sushi restaurant. They also serve tempura and Japanese set meals. They can seat big crowds, and even send a shuttle to take large groups to the restaurant—make sure to call in advance.
Pasta restaurant boasting great flavor at reasonable prices. The menu includes some Italian standards alongside pastas with a Japanese twist. Farm-to-table emphasis on local ingredients.
Restaurant serving homestyle French cuisine. The staff speak French.
Organic Italian and French cuisine in a cafe setting. Offerings include stews, steaks, roasts, pasta, and risotto.
Hamburg steak bentos, hamburgers, fried chicken, and other to-go meals featuring local Gunma beef, pork, and chicken. Takeout only.
Cozy izakaya (Japanese bar & restaurant) emphasizing local ingredients.
Casual American- and European-inspired cuisine with an American Diner theme.
Cozy Japanese restaurant specializing in seasonal small plates and curated sake.
Italian restaurant serving pizza, pasta, chicken, varied appetizers, and seasonal offerings. They also have private rooms for special gatherings.
European restaurant serving roast beef, curry, hamburg steaks, etc. The staff speak English.
Scones, muffins and cakes. Offerings change by the week, so feel free to stop by and see what’s in the display case today. Takeout only.
Stylish cafe with a traditional Japanese interior, serving luxury shaved ice, pudding, Japanese sweets, coffee and tea.
Natural cafe with veggie-packed lunch plates, sweets, and vegan options. Focus on local organic seasonal ingredients. Made-to-order bento lunch boxes are also available for takeout.
Cake shop with beautiful sweets created by a Tokyo-trained pâtissier. There's a colorful dine-in space in the back where you can sit and pair your pastry with a drink.
City-operated cafe and tourist rest house in a renovated silk farmer's mansion from the early 20th century. Coffee, tea, and Japanese snacks at publicly funded prices.
Clothing, accessories, home goods, and trinkets, all imported directly from Hawaii.
Large shopping mall with a movie theater, restaurants, clothing and trinket shops. Mix of small boutiques and global chains including Uniqlo, Muji, H&M, Gap, Sports Authority, Flying Tiger etc.
Kokeshi doll shop and factory. Their super cute character dolls are a hit with international customers, and influencers too. This is a great place to buy a distinctly Japanese handmade souvenir.
Eyeglass boutique curating Japan's finest high-quality eyewear. Highlights include bamboo and wood frames.
Unique Japanese souvenirs including curated tea blends and artisanal Gunma goods. They also serve fresh baked Japanese sweet potatoes.
Small organic supermarket specializing in healthy natural foods. Their prepared foods and bento lunches feature local ingredients. Slightly expensive.
Independent charcuterie selling house-cured ham, prosciutto, sausages, bacon, and others. They use simple, natural ingredients to bring out the most flavor. Only open on Fridays.
Short but somewhat steep hiking course from Lake Haruna to the summit of Mount Haruna Fuji. It takes about 1.5 hours up and down. The path is lined with bamboo grass and zigzags through the forest.
Gondola from Lake Haruna to the top of Mount Haruna Fuji. Enjoy views of the lake on the way up, and sweeping panoramas of the surrounding area from the summit.
Large campground with tent sites and cabins, plus plenty of amenities including showers, BBQ station, camp store, and rental tents. Located on top of Mount Haruna, a few minutes from the lake.
Annual road bike race up Mount Haruna. It draws thousands of competitors every spring.
Haruna PGP offers paragliding in the foothills of Mount Haruna, including tandem rides with experienced staff.
Motor boat cruises and swan boat rentals. Enjoy Mount Haruna's rich natural landscape from the surface of the crater lake.
Go for a ride around Lake Haruna on a horse-drawn carriage.
A dormant volcano with multiple peaks and a crater lake at the top. There are hiking trails, a short ropeway to the summit with great views, and Japanese restaurants lining the road around the lake.
See flocks of wintering birds in the winter, and pink plum blossoms in the spring. A walking path encircles the lake, and you can go smelt fishing from October to February.
A large park with lots of trees. Featuring a Japanese garden, a playground, several ponds, and walking paths throughout.
Pink moss phlox blooms in April in swirling patterns across the rolling hills. Moss phlox is called "cherry blossom grass" in Japanese because is looks like mini-cherry blossoms carpeting the ground.
Summer festival at Mount Haruna's caldera lake. 3,000 fireworks are launched above and into the water, reflecting off the surface. You can also send wishing lanterns floating across the lake.
Summer festival at a historical burial ground park. See fireworks above the burial mounds and terracotta figures. There are traditional performances, a sunflower maze, and more.
Takasaki's biggest festival of the year. Two full days of drumming and dancing, food stalls on every corner, and traditional floats parading down the street. Don't miss the fireworks spectacular.
Local festival centered around an old Japanese legend: strange things happen when a fox gets married.
100,000 ume plum trees bloom across a huge hilltop grove overlooking the city. The pink and white flowers give off a sweet fragrance.
