Hello! This is Gunma prefecture's newsletter on tourism,

G'-now March. In this issue, we would like to share the information

about beautiful flowers in Gunma.

In Gunma, when mountain ranges in north still hold plenty of snow,

the plain in south begins to decorate itself with colorful flowers.

The representative flower of spring is Sakura (cherry blossoms),

the most famous flower in Japan. After staying dormant in cold

season, cherry blossom buds come into bloom with the rise of

ambient temperature in spring. The color of pale pink decorates

towns and spots welcoming everyone to spend relax time under

the tree.

The Treasures Garden (Tatebayashi City)

Within the site various kinds of flowers in each garden with different theme

would welcome you throughout the year.

Shiroijuku (Shibukawa City)

Shiroijuku is a remain of the market town as well as post town in Edo period.

You can enjoy the beautiful double cherry blossoms alongside the waterway

which run through the center of the street. Festival will be held under the

blooming double cherry trees on 24 April 2012.

Sakura no Sato (Shimonita Town)

It is the park located halfway up Mt. Myogi. 5,000 cherry trees with 54

varieties create beautiful scenery lasting for a month.

Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura (Maebashi City)

When cherry blossoms of 1,400 trees become in full bloom, the 2km-long-

street will hold cherry blossom tunnel. Have a fantastic moment by walking

through the tunnel.

Akagi Cherry Blossom Festival will be held in 7-22 April 2012.

Kannonyama Park (Takasaki City)

Cherry blossoms of 3,000 trees become in full bloom in early April

surrounding Byakui Dai-Kannon (the big statue of Goddess of Mercy with

white robe), the symbol of the city.

It is also worth to see cherry blossoms that are lit up in the night.

March 2012, Gunma Pref. visit-gunma@pref.gunma.lg.jp

Newsletter from Gunma

Shiroijuku

Sakura no Sato

Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura

Kannonyama ParkThe Treasures Garden

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March April May June

M L E M L E M L E M L

<Cherry Blossoms>

@ The Treasures

Garden

@ Kannonyama

Park

@ Akagi Nanmen

Senbonzakura

@ Sakura no Sato

@ Shiroijuku

<Other Flowers>

Daffodil

(Suisen)

Moss Phlox

(Shibazakura)

Tulip

Azalea

(Tsutsuji)

Chinese Peony

(Syakuyaku)

Rhododendron

(Syakunage)

260,000 moss phlox with the theme of

'pink celestial raiment left by Orihime' at

Misato Moss Phlox Park (Takasaki City)

5,000 Chinese peony brilliantly bloom

at Tomioka Chinese Peony Park

(Tomioka City)

More than 150,000

shrubs of

rhododendron at

Asama Plateau

(Tsumagoi Village)

In Gunma, we have various spots where you can enjoy the beauty of each

season. Especially in spring, not only cherry blossoms but also other flowers

bloom in all their beauty at various spots throughout the prefecture.

Tulip Festival with

150,000 tulips in

many varieties at

Gunma Flower Park

(Maebashi City)

The Flowering Time in Gunma <Spring>

Breathtaking scenery

of azalea, the

prefectural flower of

Gunma, all over the

Gunma Prefectural

Tsutsujigaoka Park

(Tatebayashi City)

A carpet of daffodil

spread over the field

next to Iwai Shinsui

Park (Higashi

Agatsuma Town)

Once you decided to visit Gunma to feast your eyes and heart

with beautiful flowers, do not forget to have a plan to feast

your stomach with sweet strawberry!

The season of strawberry in Gunma is quite long: basically

January to June. The variety of strawberry which we strongly

recommend you is Yayoihime, the Gunma brand variety! Its

distinct characteristics are big size, sweetness and better

keeping quality. You can enjoy strawberry picking in

Shibukawa city and other semi-mountainous area in Gunma.

You can also purchase it at berry farms and shops that sell

areal agricultural produces across the prefecture.

As strawberry picking (purchasing as well) is quite popular,

we prefer you to visit berry farms and shops in the morning.

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Asama Kogen Rhododendron Park (Tsumagoi Village)

Access:

- About 120 min. by car from Karuizawa Sta. of Nagano

Shinkansen

- About 100 min. by car from Manza Kazawa-Guchi Sta. of JR

Agatsuma Line (via Onioshi Highway)

Map 11

Daffodil field next to Iwai Shinsui Park

(Higashi Agatsuma Town)

Access:

- About 40 min. by car from Shibukawa-Ikaho IC of Kan'etsu

Expressway

- About 15 min. on foot from 'Iwai-Jizo-Mae' bus stop (10 min. by

bus from Gunma Haramachi Sta. of JR Agatsuma Line)

Map 8

Shiroijuku Double Cherry Blossom Festival

(Shibukawa City)

Date: 2012.4.22

Access:

- About 10 min. by car from Shibukawa Sta. of JR Joetsu Line

- About 10 min. by car from Shibukawa-Ikaho IC of Kan'etsu

Expressway

Map 1

Misato Shibazakura Festival (Takasaki City)

Period: 2012.4.14 – 5.13

Hours: 8:00 – 17:00

Entrance Fee: Adult 300 yen/ Child 100 yen/ free for child under 6

(group rates available)

Access:

- About 30 min. by car from Takasaki IC of Kan'etsu Expressway

Map 6

Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura Festival (Maebashi City)

Period: 2012.4.7 – 22

(Date may be changed depending on the bloom condition)

Access:

- About 45 min. by car from Maebashi Sta. of JR Ryomo Line

- About 30 min. by car from Isesaki IC of Kita-Kanto Expressway

- About 5 min on foot from 'Kronenberg-Yuhodo-Iriguchi' bus stop

of Sakura-go (special sightseeing bus)

*Sakura-go will available from Maebashi Sta. at the price of 1,000 yen

(adult) / 500 yen (child) (including entrance fee of Gunma Flower

Park and Kronenberg) on Sat., Sun., and a national holiday in April.

You can purchase the ticket in the bus.

Map 3

Gunma Flower Park/ Tulip Festival (Maebashi City)

Period: 2012.4.14 – 5.6

Hours: 9:00 – 17:00 (18:00 on Sat., Sun., and holidays)

(Apr.-Sep.)

Entrance Fee: 700 yen/ free for child under 15

Access:

- About 20 min. by car from Akagi IC of Kan'etsu Expressway

- About 30 min. by car from Maebashi Sta. of JR Ryomo Line

Map 10

Sakura no Sato (Shimonita Town)

Access:

- About 25 min. by car from Shimonita Sta. of Joshin Dentetsu

(Transit from JR to Joshin Dentetsu at Takasaki Sta.)

- About 30 min. by car from Shimonita IC of Joshin'etsu Expressway

Map 2

Tomioka Chinese Peony Park (Tomioka City)

Entrance Fee: 300 yen/ free for child under 15

Access:

About 20 min. by car from Tomioka IC of Joshin'etsu Expressway

Map 7

Kannonyama Park/ Takasaki Spring Festival

(Takasaki City)

Period: 2012.4.7 – 8

Access:

- About 30 min. by bus to 'Kannon-Sancho' bus stop from JR

Takasaki Sta.

- About 10 min. by car from JR Takasaki Sta.

- About 20 min. by car from Takasaki IC of Kan'etsu Expressway

Map 4

Gunma Prefectural Tsutsujigaoka Park/ Azalea Festival

(Tatebayashi City)

Period: 2012.4.15 – 5.15

Entrance Fee: 300 yen (beginning and end of bloom)/

600 yen (full-bloom)/ free for child under 15

(Group rates available)

Access:

- About 5 min. by car from Tatebayashi IC of Tohoku Expressway

- About 10 min. by bus from Tatebayashi Sta. of Tobu Isesaki Line

(Transit from JR to Tobu Isesaki Line at Isesaki Sta.)

Map 9

The Treasures Garden (Tatebayashi City)

Period (Spring):2012.3.31 – 2012.6.30

Hours: 8:00 – 18:00

Entrance Fee: Adult 500 – 1,500 yen/ Child 200 – 700 yen

(The rate would be changed depending on the

bloom condition)

Access:

- About 10 min. by car from Tatebayashi Sta. of Tobu Isesaki Line

- About 15 min. on foot from Morinji Sta. of Tobu Isesaki Line

(Transit from JR to Tobu Isesaki Line at Isesaki Sta.)

- About 10 min. by car from Tatebayashi IC of Tohoku Expressway

Map 5

Information

of the spots

Good news for foreign tourists who use train

from Tokyo to Gunma!

JR Kanto Area Pass is very useful ticket as it allows you

unlimited rides using reserved seats on ordinary cars on

Shinkansen, limited express and other trains of JR East Lines

and other private Lines in Kanto area (including Joshin

Dentetsu of Gunma) for 3 consecutive days!

The prices are 8,000 yen for adult and 4,000 yen for child.

You can purchase the ticket at Narita Airport Terminal 1 and 2,

Haneda Airport International Terminal and Travel Service

Centers in some railway stations in Tokyo and Kanagawa.

URL: http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/kantoareapass/#category06

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Transportation GuideAccess to Gunma (Takasaki City)

From Tokyo:

Kan’etsu Expressway About 60 min.

(From Nerima IC. to Takasaki IC. or Fujioka IC.)

Joetsu Shinkansen About 50 min.

Nagano Shinkansen About 50 min.

(From Tokyo Station to Takasaki Station)

From Haneda Airport:

Highway Express Bus About 135 min.

(From Haneda Airport to Takasaki Station East

Exit)

From Narita Int’l Airport:

Highway Express Bus About 180 min.

(From Narita Int’l Airport to Takasaki Station

East Exit)

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About information in this newsletter, please contact to; visit-gunma@pref.gunma.lg.jp

Gunma’s Food Security Related to the Nuclear

Power Plant Accident

According to the result of monitoring radioactive

materials in drinking water and food in Gunma

prefecture in February 2012 (1,294 samples in

total), drinking water and food of Gunma

prefecture are safe at the moment for consumption.