What to do and see in Gunma Prefecture, Kanto: The Best Events

One of the finest sites to see cherry blossoms in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, this location was even listed in the "100 Best Cherry Blossom Sites in Japan." A road in the southern part of town spans 1.3Km and is lined with almost 1,000 large Yoshino cherry trees about sixty years old. In spring, this becomes a gorgeous "tunnel" of flowers. At night, paper lanterns are lit up, and you can see another face of the blossoms. During the event, there are street performances and traditional presentations, as well as exhibits of local food products available to purchase.

Held every year from mid-April through early May, this festival takes place at the Tsutsujigaoka Park in Tatebayashi, Gunma Prefecture. Azalea have long grown in this area, and they were protected by the daimyo warlords even as far back as over four hundred years ago. Today, this park is designated as a national cultural asset and listed as one of Japan's finest views. The Tatebayashi Azalea Matsuri begins when the azaleas bloom and spans for close to a month. There are also many other rare varietals on view. Guides are in attendance to describe in detail the beauty of the flowers.

Also popularly called the "Daruma-ichi," this event is beloved by those in Maebashi as a way of ringing in the new year. Held at the Hachiman Shrine in Honmachi, the event begins with the burning of old daruma dolls from the year before. Parades of sacred palanquins, goblins, and lions make their way through the streets, and the crowd gets lively with chants and the colorful coats worn by performers. Nearby you will find stands selling daruma dolls, auspicious items, plants, and stalls selling food. The event lasts long into the night.

Held on the first Saturday and Sunday of August in the center of Takasaki, Gunma. It is the prefecture's largest festival, with close to 700,000 people attending anually. In addition to traditional cultural events like the carrying of shrine palanquins, Japanese taiko drum performances, and the Awa Odori dance, There is a parade of floats -- the largest of its kind in eastern Japan -- featuring flutes, drums, and a walking orchestra. You will see creative floats based around daruma, performances of skilled feats, and more. Lots of shops and stalls offer local Takasaki cuisine. A fireworks festival is held on the first night, with close to 15,000 fireworks illuminating the night sky.

Alight at Takaku Station in Kiryu in early August and you will find a summer festival held that spans from Suenohiromachi-dori to Honmachi-dori. Events like rolling a giant pill-shaped marble down the sreet, parades of shrine palanquins, and a textile market are held. At night, the finals for the All-Japan Yakibushi Championship are held, with performances from past winners and a show of yakibushi singing. Colorfully decorated turrets are installed throughout town, and people throng to dance the yakibushi late into the night.

A unique festival held in Shibukawa, Gunma Prefecture on the fourth Friday and Saturday of July. Known as the "stomach dance," performers paint a variety of unusual faces on their stomachs and chant "show your belly button, yoi-yoi" as they dance through the street. There are lots of other fun navel-related events. Shibukawa is situated smack-dab in the center of Japan, which is where the "navel" idea comes from, and the festival started in 1984 as a way of revitalizing the town. Today it has become a signature sign of summer and draws many tourists.

The Isesaki Fireworks Festival is held in autumn. Complex, multi-point fireworks are the main attraction here, and the show runs for an hour and a half, with 10,000 fireworks of all sorts timed to music. The finale is always amazing each year. Seibu Park, the Sports Center, and the Isesaki Auto Race Stadium are also good places to see the fireworks.

A sparkling event on Lake Haruna. The area around the Visitor Center on the west bank of the lake is illuminated with almost 550,000 lights. Fireworks also color the night sky, and a laser show with messages adds to the thrill. These are must-sees! For the length of the event, the Mount Haruna ropeway is opened at night, and you can see the entire illumination in all its glory from the top of the mountain, as well as stunning nighttime views of Takasaki and Maebashi. There are street stalls offering hot food and drink, and it gets lively with visitors.

The Ebisu Ko is one of the famous events held at Kiryu Nishinomiya Shrine. Every year on November 19 and 20, the festival is held to pray for success in business, and it is thronged by people well into the night. Shops along the route to the shrine sell auspicious trinkets and foodstuffs, and there are close to 700 in total. The event gets so jam-packed that it's almost a task in and of itself to make it to the shrine!