New Year’s season brings not only the joy of holiday but also the joy of admiring illuminations. Many municipalities and local organizations offer breathtaking tableaus of illuminations during the holiday season. Put on a warm coat and hit the road with someone you’d like to spend a romantic night with.
Lake Haruna Illumination Festa ‘08
12/12(wed) – 12/25(Thu) 5pm – 10pm
〇Take a Gunma bus bound to Haruna-ko for one hour and 10 min from JR Takasaki Stn, then walk 20 min.
〇Drive one hour and 10 min from Takasaki or Maebashi IC, Kan-etsu Expwy, or 40 min from Shibukawa IC. (¥300/parking by the lake)
*Lake Haruna reflects the beautiful illuminations and creates a fantastic world for visitors. There will be a big turnout. Call Haruna Tourism Association at 027-374-5111 for inquiry.
*GTIA offers you a better-value bus tour to enjoy the illuminations at Lake Haruna. Book your seat now for a 3-hour round-trip bus tour with a free drink ticket included (no alcohol, sorry) only for ¥2,000/adult and ¥1,500/kid. Reservations are necessary. Remember traffic will be pretty heavy during the winter season and the roads will be icy. This tour will be quite convenient. Contact GTIA at 027-243-7271 for reservation or inquiry.
Takasaki Pageant of Light
11/22(Sat) – 1/4(Sun) 4:30pm – 11pm (until 12am on weekends)
*The famous Takasaki pageant of Light this year will take place at the West Exit stretching along the main street with about 20,000 light bulbs lit up.
Call Bunka-ka at 027-321-1203 for inquiry.
Maebashi Corridor of Light
11/8 – 1/31 Sunset – 9pm
Around Maebashi Suzuran Department Store in the downtown area
An arch of lights, 46m long, 7m high and 5m wide will be installed over the street, with about 40,000 light bulbs.
Watarase Gorge Railway Illuminations
12/7(Sun) – 2/15(Sun)
Along the Watarase Gorge Railway running between Kiryu and Mato
Stations and trees along the railways are decorated with colourful light bulbs. As the train runs along the track, the illumination seems to fly away. Enjoy both a train ride and a world of fantasy. A special round-trip train, “the Ilumination train,” will run leaving Kiryu Stn at about 4:45pm via Mato Stn taking about 3 hours. (Reservations are necessary.) Last year, dinner came with a train ticket for ¥2,500/adult. Details for this year, however, are yet to be decided. Call 0277-73-2110 for inquiries.
Admiring the sunrise on New Year’s Day is deemed to be an auspicious practice in Japan. Search for good spots and make a New Year’s resolution admiring the very first sunrise of the year.
Takasaki Byakui Kannnon
Where : 2710-1 Ishihara-machi Takasaki
A 20 min drive from either Takasaki IC or Maebashi IC
Inquiry : Call Jiko-in at 027-322-2269
There will be a big turnout during New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The parking lot will be free of charge from New Year’s Eve through New Year’s morning. Enjoy a spectacular view from the top of the mountain.
Takasaki City Hall Observation Lobby on 21F
Where : Takasaki City Hall
A 10 min walk from West Exit, JR Takasaki Exit
When : 5:30am – 7:30am on New Year’s Day
Inquiry : Call Kanzai-ka at 027-321-1215
The City Hall Observation Lobby will be open to the public to view the Sunrise on New Year’s Day.
Kawachi Shrine, Mt. Mitsusmine
Where : Kawachi Shrine, Mt. Mitsumine
A 25 min drive from Numata IC, Kan-etsu Expy A walk 25 min from the parking lot
Inquiry : Call Shoko-ka at 0278-23-2111
Kawachi Shrine is located on top of Mt. Mitsumine offering a fine view. Amazake, a sweet drink made from fermented rice, will be served at the shrine on New Year’s morning.
Mt. Ushibuse
Where : At the observation platform on Mt. Ushibuse
A 10 min drive from Yoshii IC, Joshin-etsu Expy Park your car in Parking Lot 2 then walk 30min.
Inquiry : Call Sangyo-shinko-ka at 027-387-3111
Many people come to admire the sunrise on New Year’s Day. There will be a performance of Yoshii Daiko Drumming as the sun rises. Amazake, a sweet drink made from fermented rice, and Tonjiru, a soup with pork and veggies, will be served. (Drinks and soup service are subject to change.)
