Gunma Excellence

Inns and hotels

The most common type of Gunma Excellence-certified facility is inns and hotels. Being able to fully relax at your accommodation is key to an enjoyable trip. This is particularly true in Gunma, where many accommodations include natural onsen baths and exquisite local cuisine. Gunma Excellence-certified accommodations are spread throughout the prefecture, from the transportation hub of Takasaki to tranquil hot spring resorts like Manza Onsen. Options include traditional-style ryokan inns like Kirishimaya Ryokan, Naraya, Hotel Takamatsu, and Kawaba Onsen Yutorian, all-seasons resorts such as Kusatsu Onsen Hotel Village, Minakamikogen Hotel 200, Shima Grand Hotel, Minakami Hotel Juraku, and Oze Iwakura Resort Hotel, and sleek urban hotels like Hotel Metropolitan Takasaki.

How to get to Manza, Kusatsu, and Shima

Hands-on activities

Usaburo Kokeshi produces modern takes on kokeshi, a type of traditional wooden doll. Head there to see master artisans making the dolls and even try painting your own. The artisans at Daimonya Co., Ltd. hand-craft Gunma’s famous Daruma dolls, from time-honored styles to modern takes, and guests can paint their own version. Visit Tsukiyono Vidro Park, a leading producer of handmade glass, for demonstrations and glass-making classes.

Families and fruit lovers will enjoy picking strawberries, cherries, grapes, and apples (depending on the season) at Kajitsu no Sato Harada Farm. Thrill-seekers should consider Canyons Ltd., a company that runs canyoning and whitewater rafting excursions.

Historical sights

Tomioka Silk Mill, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was one of the first industrialized factories built in Japan and played a vital role in the country’s modernization. For a European atmosphere, check out Lockheart Castle, an authentic Scottish castle that was dismantled and transported to Gunma, where it was rebuilt.

How to get to Tomioka Silk Mill

Local cuisine

Sample local delicacies with the peace of mind that comes with a Gunma Excellence certification. The Yokokawa branch of Oginoya specializes in kamameshi, a dish of seasoned rice steamed with toppings such as chicken, pork, mushrooms, and konnyaku—a signature Gunma ingredient. Tofu Matsumura is a tofu specialist that uses organic soybeans. They use their house-made tofu for a wide variety of healthy, delicious dishes. For a modern take on Gunma cuisine, head to Shima Onsen Kashiwaya Cafe. Pair its rare cheesecake with coffee roasted in house, or try the popular “loco moco,” topped with an onsen-cooked egg.

How to get to Shima