Takasaki is Gunma’s largest city, conveniently located in the centre of Honshu, and served by a number of expressways and shinkansen lines. Popular Takasaki tourist destinations include Shorinzan Daruma-ji temple, Kannonyama with its Byakui statue, and Mount Haruna with its nearby shrine.
Takasaki sightseeing brochure:
http://www.takasaki-kankoukyoukai.or.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/en_pamphlet01-28.pdf
ABC GARDENS sells various kinds of flowers, herbs, plants, and gardening supplies. It is located at the foot of Kannon-yama, in Notsuke-machi, and takes 10 minutes by car from Takasaki Station.
Opening hours: 9:00-18:00 (closed at 17:30 from Oct. to Feb.)
Closed in the middle of August and over new year.
Takasaki Park, located adjacent to the south side of City Hall, was opened in 1876 on the site of the southwest corner of the former Takasaki Castle.
Since 2002, the park has undergone renovation work and is now a bright and spacious park, bustling with families on weekends and holidays. There is even a mini-zoo. The park is a place where you can relax throughout the four seasons: in spring, enjoy cherry blossoms in full bloom, in June, enjoy the rose garden, in summer, enjoy the fountain under the shade of the trees, in autumn, kick your way through fallen gingko leaves, and in winter, take a bracing walk under the sunlight among the trees.
https://www.city.takasaki.gunma.jp/docs/2013122400977/
BISTROT REGAL serves inexpensive, delicious French cuisine in an informal setting, using organic vegetables and herbs from their own fields. It is located near Takasaki koen Park, and is about 10 minutes walk from Takasaki Station.
In spring, you can enjoy the view of Takasaki park’s beautiful cherry blossom from the windows.
Opening hours: 11:30-14:00 (L.O.14:00) / 17:30-22:00 (L.O.21:00)
Closed on Sundays and Mondays
Due to the limited number of seats, reservation is recommended.
Pricing: from ¥1,400 Lunch / from ¥4,400 Dinner
Syorinzan Darumaji is well known as the birthplace of daruma, a Japanese lucky charm. About 200 years ago, the ninth chief abbot carved a wooden model based on the Chinese Zen master Daruma. He then taught neighboring farmers how to make papier-mâché daruma dolls to help those who were struggling from severe famine. They were sold on the day of the New Year’s Festival, a tradition that continues to this day.
It is located in a quiet mountainous area, and is nice to stroll around. Painting Daruma experience is available without reservation.
There are many ancient tombs in Gunma Prefecture. Kannonyama Kofun is one of them.
It is a 100-meter-long tomb in the form of a keyhole-shaped burial mound. It was built in the late 6th century, more than 1,400 years ago. It is the grave of a person who ruled the area now known as Takasaki City.
Some of the artifacts excavated from the Kannonyama Tumulus are designated as national treasures and are housed at the Prefectural Museum of History in Gunma no Mori.
Stone chambers in ancient tombs are usually already dug out, and in most cases the items that were supposed to be stored inside have been stolen. Fortunately however, the tomb thief was unable to dig out the stone chamber of this tomb because it had collapsed, and the items stored by the tomb owner at the time were unearthed exactly as they were. This is extremely rare in Japan.
https://www.pref.gunma.jp/03/x4510004.html
Located in Kami-nakai-machi, east Takasaki, Rafu serves the owner’s specialties which use completely hot air roasted coffee beans. It also sells beans and original coffee-related products.
Opening hours: 11:00-19:00
Closed on Mondays
Pricing: from ¥520 per cup
Take Out (Coffee) is available.
https://www.instagram.com/rafu_and_peace/
LITTLE LIGHT COFFEE is a small trailer house cafe located near G MESSE GUNMA, and is regularly busy with local customers. Staff select coffee beans from all over the world, and do their own roasting and extraction.
Staff speak English.
Opening hours: 11:00-18:00
Closed on Sundays and Mondays
Pricing: from ¥450 per cup
https://www.littlelightcoffee.jp/english
Conveniently located near Takasaki Station, Nikuyama serves a pork and beef based 9 dish dinner course. The lunch options include steak rice bowl, curry, etc.
Opening hours: 11:00-14:00,18:00-22:00 from Sunday to Friday/ 11:00-14:00,17:00-22:00 on Sundays
Irregular holidays
Due to the limited number of seats, reservation is recommended.
Pricing: from ¥1,200 Lunch / ¥5,500 Dinner
https://nikuyama-takasaki.owst.jp/
Torihei serves several Japanese-style chicken dishes, including its signature bento box, and has many branches throughout Gunma. Torihei is popular among local people.
Opening hours: 11:00-21:30
Pricing: from ¥800 set meal
Take Out (Bento Box) is available.
Cafe Asunaro is operated by Takasaki Keizai University students. The prices are very reasonable and it is a spacious, quiet and comfortable place, perfect for reading books and studying.
Opening hours: 10:00-20:00
Closed on Mondays
Pricing: from ¥350 for coffee
