When Japan first began trading with countries around the world in the late Edo period, silk was its biggest export. The Tomioka Silk Mill was founded as a model mill in 1872 by the Meiji government with the aim of improving the quality and productivity of silk production. The first buildings were timber-frame and brick construction, a pattern which continues to be used almost unchanged today. The site is filled with ways to learn about its history, including guided tours and a smartphone guide. The group of buildings from the time when the mill was first opened is designated Important Cultural Properties and National Treasures and was also collectively registered as a World Heritage Site in 2014.

This waterfall is located in Tonemachi-okkai, Numata City. It is referred to the “Niagara of the East” because of the way the river water falls majestically into the V-shaped valley. There’s a walkway around the waterfall along with natural sights such as “Masutobi Waterfall” and “Hannya (Wisdom) Rock” and the “Ukishima Kannon Hall.” In addition to being designated a Natural Monument and Place of Scenic Beauty, it has also been chosen as one of Japan’s 100 most beautiful waterfalls.

This ropeway spanning Tanigawadake at the border of Gunma Prefecture and Niigata Prefecture connects the 746-meter altitude Doaiguchi Station with the Tenjindaira Station located at an altitude of 1,319 meters. There is also an observatory, and visitors can use a lift to reach Tenjin Toge Pass which is the start of a hiking route. The trekking course from Tenjin Toge follows the mountain ridge and takes about two and a half hours, and is a veritable treasure house for plants such as　Hosobahinayukiso (a kind of Leontopodium Fairriei). The large 360-degree panoramic view from the top of the mountain affords spectacular vistas of the surrounding mountains, and is a very popular hiking course that is suitable even beginners.

A theme park located in Omae-hosohara, Tsumagoi Village, you’ll find plenty of attractions here, including the “Toy Room Area,” which is filled with toys from across all eras, the “Nature Athletic Area,” which utilizes Karuizawa’s natural scenery to provide entertainment, and the “Attraction Area,” which has something for children of all ages. If you have a free pass, you can get a discount on Hotel Green Plaza Karuizawa’s lunch buffet and hot spring, which makes this a great option for a day trip.

The Akagi-jinja Shrine is located at the top of Mt. Akagi. It has been known as a mountain where gods have resided since ancient times. Mt. Akagi is the main enshrined deity and Akagi Daimyojin is worshiped as the god of the lake. On the first Saturday of August, the Soke, or Grand Master, in charge of Ogasawara style Japanese horseback archery etiquette and his disciples hold a Japanese archery dedicatory match. At night, paper lanterns are set adrift in a ceremony called Toronagashi accompanied by a firework display and every year many tourists visit the festival. The Autumn Festival held on the national Sports day in October is also very popular.

This shrine is located in Harunasan-machi, Takasaki City, Gunma prefecture. It is believed to have been built during the reign of Emperor Youmei over 1,400 years ago, and provides divine favors for successful businesses and crops. The inner shrine and various buildings have been a designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan and the shrine’s Yatate-sugi (cedar trees) are designated a Natural Monument of Japan.

This beautiful scenery was created from the lava that flowed out and spread when Mt. Asama had its giant eruption in 1783. The sight of the giant lava boulders scattered around makes for an impressive sight. In spring the lovely alpine plants bloom in profusion, while visitors can enjoy the changing leaves in the fall. The contrast with the deep black earth is indeed a sight to behold.

This safari park is located in Okamoto, Tomioka City. There’s a bus that visitors can ride and feed lions and various herbivores, as well as a night safari, a bird show, and other activities for observing the animals. There are many other intriguing sights, including the “Wild Cat World” walking safari, which lets you observe tigers, lions, and other felines up close, and the “Wolf Forest/Wolf Repopulation Center” where endangered wolves are bred and available for viewing.

This railway bridge in Matsuida Town, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture is commonly known as “Spectacles Bridge.” Completed in 1892, this four-arch bridge is 91 meters across and 31 meters tall, and upheld the Abt-system railway until the line closed in 1963. It is now a national Important Cultural Property, and you can enjoy walking along the “Abt-no-michi” —a road that follows the old rail line.

This natural history museum located in Kamikuroiwa, Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture focuses on the history of life starting with Earth’s origin and Gunma Prefecture’s natural environment. Among the dynamic, popular exhibits are a full scale moving model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a diorama of a beech forest. Kids love learning from the many hands-on exhibits too. In addition to the permanent exhibits, there is also a special exhibition room, an astronomical observatory, a learning room, and an information corner.

Billed as reasonable, fast and tasty motsuni dishes, the Nagai Shokudo eatery along National Route 17 in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture. This eatery was originally a stop for long distance truck drivers and bikers. However, due to its recent popularity from nationally televised variety shows, visitors come now from all over Japan. The motsuni dish with chitterling stewed in rich miso-based broth and the Gunma specialty konjac jelly is full of nutrition. The motsuni is also gift packaged and sold at the shop, or in their vending machines.

This ropeway extends from Higashi-ogawa, Katashina Village, Tone County to a 2,000-meter-high point on Mt. Nikko-Shirane. It is 2,500 meters long in total and has a 600-meter difference in elevation, and it takes about 15 minutes to cross one way. In addition, the limited-time “ropeway night cruise” and “sunset cruise” offer wonderful views of the night sky. The valuable “family pack” includes two adult tickets and one elementary school children’s ticket, and there’s also a “super-value pack” that includes entry to a hot spring.

This is a wide farm road made up of two routes, from the north and south, that goes two-thirds around the mountain foothills near the center of Tsumagoi Village. The southern route runs through extensive cabbage fields while getting close to Mt. Asama, and connects to the northern route after crossing National Route 144. The northern route runs to the north of Tsumagoi Village along the plateau region and foothills of the mountains of Azumaya and Kusatsu Shirane, passing “Aisai-no-Oka”, famous for the sacred area of devoted husbands. Mountain vegetables and cabbages are sold along the roadside from July to October. Part of the northern route is closed during the winter months due to snow.

A hotel resort in Omae Hosohara, Tsumagoi Village, Agatsuma County. The resort centers around four main buildings equipped with various types of guest rooms including dedicated rooms for those with babies, and also features the Akatsuki-no-Yu natural hot spring bathhouse. With an arrangement of various leisure facilities throughout the vast resort including a golf course, tennis courts, dog hotel, church, cafe, and a number of different shops you can thoroughly enjoy your stay surrounded by the nature of the highlands. Located just a one-minute drive away from the resort is the Karuizawa Toy Kingdom amusement park.

This shrine is located on Mt. Myogi’s eastern foothills in Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture. It received considerable adoration from the Tokugawa shoguns, as it is located to the north-west of Edo, representing the calm Inui Tenmon gate. Built in 537, the exquisite black-lacquered main hall is a national Important Cultural Property. The area is famous for weeping cherry trees in spring and fall leaves in autumn.

The Usui Pass, on the border of Gunma and Nagano prefectures, at elevation 960 meters, was considered an essential pass connecting Kanto area with the Shinano and Hokuriku areas. At its peak, on the border, are located the Kumanokoutai-jinja Shrine and Miharashidai lookout known as an excellent Sunset Point. In recent years, it has become popular as a tourist area with the Usui Pass Railway Culture Park, the Abt Walking Path, the Lake Usui, and the Megane Bridge across the Usui River, all nearby.

The Mizusawa Kanzeon is a Buddhist deity in a temple of the Tendai sect in Mizusawa, Ikaho Town, Shibukawa City. The temple was founded by the order of Empress Suiko and boasts a history of more than 1,300 years. Its principal image is a bronze statue of the eleven-faced Buddha, Juichimen Senju Kanzeon Bosatsu, rarely shown to the public and said to have miraculous powers to assist all those who pray to her. The Mizusawa Temple is the 16th in the Bando 33 Kannon Pilgrimage, a pilgrimage circuit of 33 Buddhist temples in Eastern Japan.

Located within Joshinetsu-kogen National Park, this artificial lake was created during construction of Nozori Dam in Nakanojo Town, Agatsuma County, Gunma Prefecture. There is a nice walking path around the 10-kilometer circumference, chosen as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Paths.” The coast is a green field, filled with alpine plants. You can see hundreds of varieties of plants from summer to fall, including Nozori hemerocallis and renge azalea. The leaves of fall go perfectly with the clear lake surface.

This is the sister hotel of the Manza Kogen Hotel and is located at an altitude of around 1,800 meters. It is located approximately 80 minutes from the Joshin-etsu Expressway Usui-Karuizawa Interchange. Visitors can enjoy the three hot springs, including the Komakusa no Yu, with its view of the mountains and the star-filled sky, and the Shakunage no Yu, which is a roofed outdoor bath reserved for women only. The spring water is a characteristic cloudy color with its high sulfur content. It is an acidic, sulfuric magnesium sodium sulfur chloride spring. It is said to have a skin cleansing effect and to be effective for nerve pain, sensitivity to cold, recovery from fatigue, etc. All of the guest rooms have free Wi-fi and it is also possible for non-guests of the hotel to use the baths.

This is a railroad theme park located in Annaka City’s Matsuida Town established on the site of the former JR Yokokawa Locomotive Depot rail yard. The main attraction is the locomotive engineer experience in which visitors can drive a real 108-ton electric locomotive (reservation required). Inside the park is a Railway Museum where visitors can learn about the history of the now-abandoned Usui Line and the Railway Display Hall which houses more than 30 valuable train cars. Visitors can ride a steam locomotive that goes around the park, a miniature steam locomotive and a trolley train, making this park popular among both children and railroad fans alike.

This stone theme park is located in Takayama Village, Agatsuma County, Gunma Prefecture, symbolized by the “Lock Heart Castle” —the first European castle in Japan, moved here from Scotland. In the streets made to look like medieval Europe, you’ll find a stone church, shops, restaurants, galleries, museums and a unique atmosphere. You can even “become a princess” with a dress and tiara for pictures. This area is often used for weddings, TV shoots, and other events.

This tourist spot to shout out is on the northern route of the Tsumagoi Panorama Line. It began with an event where husbands shouted out their love for their wives in the middle of a cabbage field, known as the “kyabechu” (the cabbage kiss), and the hill has made Tsumagoi Village famous as a sacred place for loving husbands. Before shouting out your love there is a bell to ring, as well as a shouting platform that has been reported on by international media, and a hugging platform. After shouting “I love you”, which husbands find difficult to say on a daily basis, couples time slip back to their newly-wed days, rekindling their love. The hill overlooking the magnificent Mt. Asama is a tourist spot for drives and closed during the winter season.

A swimming pool in Niisatochono, Kiryu City. This is the largest indoor heated pool facility in the Kanto region, covering a total area of 15.3 hectares. In the two-story facility they have a wave pool where you can play with body-boards, a lazy river, a 25-meter lap pool, the Rodeo Mountain water slide, three other waterslides, and a jacuzzi and sauna. And when you take a break from playing you can relax in their restaurant and relaxation area.