At the beginning of the year, the Takasaki Daruma Market brings a local tradition into focus: Takasaki Daruma dolls are offered at market stalls. Together with art, historic sites and activities within the municipality, it presents Takasaki from different perspectives. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether you are more interested in Daruma, architecture and history, or Mount Haruna.
New Year Daruma Market
The Takasaki Daruma Market is a recurring New Year tradition. It takes place near the west exit of Takasaki Station. The market also includes a food area serving yakimanju and horumon. This event combines the sale of the figures it is named after with specific local food offerings. If you are planning your trip around the market, check the date in advance.
The Daruma Hall at Shorinzan Daruma Temple offers another perspective on Daruma. It displays figures from various parts of Japan. The temple is within the municipality of Takasaki; it is about 20 minutes away by bus from JR Takasaki Station. Check the timetable for a specific departure. The market and the hall offer different points of interest: the market is part of the New Year tradition, while the hall showcases figures from various regions of Japan.
Art and architecture
The Takasaki City Art Museum holds exhibitions in painting, sculpture and design. Attached to the museum is the former home of Inoue Fusairo, which clearly preserves the architectural style of Antonin Raymond. Thus, both exhibitions and architecture are among Takasaki’s cultural attractions. Those interested in architecture will find not only exhibition spaces here but also a specific historic building associated with the museum.
Minowa Castle: history and walking paths
The ruins of Minowa Castle are within the municipality of Takasaki. The Nagano clan built the castle about 500 years ago, and walking paths run through the expansive ruins. Two later designations recognize the site in different ways: in 1987, it was designated a National Historic Site of Japan; in 2005, it was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Castles. The dates therefore refer to separate recognitions. The paths and the site’s history appeal to different interests, but both can be explored in the same place.
Mount Haruna: local cuisine and activities
The municipality of Takasaki also includes destinations around Mount Haruna. Shops at the entrance to Haruna Shrine serve monzen soba, made with Haruna buckwheat flour and spring water from Mount Haruna. The dish combines a named local ingredient with water from the surrounding area. You can go boating on Lake Haruna. This offers a choice between a culinary discovery at the shrine and an activity on the lake, each a distinct Mount Haruna attraction.
A variety of sporting events take place throughout the year in the context of outdoor tourism around Mount Haruna, including hill climbs and triathlons. If a particular competition is the reason for your trip, check its exact date in advance. This will help you decide between a more general trip to Mount Haruna and one planned around a specific event.
Choose the focus of your trip
The market is a New Year tradition, while sporting events around Mount Haruna take place throughout the year; art, architecture and the ruins of Minowa Castle offer further cultural and historical interests. If you are traveling for a particular market or competition, plan around its specific date. Without a fixed event date, you can base your choice more on the cultural or active focus of your trip.
Discover more destinations: Tone District, Tomioka, Minakami, Shibukawa, Kawawa, Numata, Ueno, Kiryū
For the broader travel overview: Gunma Prefecture.
