Gunma Prefecture

Gunma prefecture is known for being shaped like a flying crane. It’s about 60 miles north of Tokyo and has a good combination of natural environments, historical places and urban cities. Therefore, there are many wonderful and exciting places to discover.

Located in the northern part of the Kanto region, Gunma is located in the southern part of a basin-shaped valley surrounded by four renowned mountains, Mt Akagi, Mt Miyogi, Mt Haruna and Mt Asama. Because of this unique geography, Gunma is famous for thunder in summer and dry, strong winds from the mountains in winter.

As a historical place, there are so many castles in Gunma, originally built in the Muromachi era (1338-1573), so you are able to discover many historical stories along with the citadels they feature. The Nakasen-do was one of the five routes of the Edo period, and one of the two that connected Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to Kyoto. This route went through Gunma, so it created cultural exchange with other regions, and perhaps helped make Gunma prosper and more fascinating as a cultural landmark.

Of course, there are also many places to relax and activities to find. For example, hot springs, hiking trails, ski resorts, fruit picking, or the biggest new shopping mall in Kanto, Smark, or premium outlet malls too. Speaking of hot springs, many of the most highly rated onsen are located at Kusatsu, in Gunma.

By the way, Gunma has an original mascot character, Gunma-chan, a horse. Please check it out.