When in Japan: Gunma 101 (Updated)

Hello, Gunma! I had a good start on this leg of the Japanese adventure. A hearty welcome dinner, warm sake at a local bar, and a good night’s sleep in the first few hours in the prefecture. What a welcome. Plus, waking up to a beautiful sunrise promised more good times ahead in this stop after Tokyo. 

Gunma was the center of horse breeding in its ancient past. Centuries later came the bullet trains, which made traveling across Japan and this prefecture quicker. From Tokyo, Gunma is just an hour's ride via the Shinkansen. It's not too far if you want to escape the busy city of Tokyo to delight in the verdant tranquility of nature. Perhaps take a refreshing dip in one of the many mineral-laced hot springs? Gunma is abundant with hot springs. In fact, the prefecture is known for its onsens. 

The hot springs are just one of nature's blessings. There are more. Gunma Prefecture is mountainous. Mt. Haruna, Mt. Akagi and Mt. Myogi, known as the "Three Famous Mountains of Jomo" (an old name for Gunma), the volcanic peak of Mt. Shirane, and the plateaus are outdoor sports and leisure destinations, be it golf, skiing, rafting, hiking, or cycling at any time of the year. It’s four seasons of fun in Gunma. 

Gunma has its share of iconic water sites. The province is home to the iconic Yubatake, or "hot water field," the steaming centerpiece of Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma Prefecture. Pouring more than 4,000 liters of water per minute, Yubatake is one of Japan's most productive sources of acidic, mineral-rich hot spring water. The 2,160-meter summit of Mt. Shirane is where Lake Yugama resides. The vivid emerald green-colored crater lake has the highest acidity content in Japan, with water that dissolves iron. 

Across Japan are temples and shrines, and Gunma prefecture has Ichinomiya Nukisaki Shrine, dedicated to deities of good luck and sericulture; the historic Myogi Shrine in Mt. Myogi features Edo-period buildings; and the 586-founded Haruna Shrine, dedicated to the gods of Water, Fire, and Agriculture, is in Mt. Haruna, one of the Three Mountains of Jōmō. 

Another important figure in Gunma prefecture's landscape is the 1872-established Tomioka Silk Mill. Under the name Old Tomioka Silk Mill, it was designated as a National Historic Site in July 2005. A year later, in 2006, the main factory buildings were designated as Important Cultural Properties. In 2014, the "Tomioka Silk Mill and Related Sites," covering the locations of the Tomioka Silk Mill, Tajima Yahei Sericulture Farm, Takayama-sha Sericulture School, and Arafune Cold Storage, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In love with Japanese food? In the Gunma prefecture, dig into udon noodles from Mizusawa, considered among Japan's best noodles. Don't decline an offer of the konnyakku, a traditional Japanese health food made from the corm of the konjac plant. It's low-calorie and high-fiber. 

While digital photographs and memories can make for fabulous souvenirs, how about taking home a tangible keepsake and a lucky charm rolled into one? The Japanese Daruma dolls, the iconic good luck charm, originated in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, 200 years ago to help farmers. Today, the city produces about 80% of the dolls in Japan.

The local lore relates that a sage sat meditating for so long that his legs atrophied and fell off, thus the doll's oval shape. Because of the shape, the daruma dolls will usually rebound into an upright position when knocked off, which led to the daruma dolls becoming a symbol of optimism and persistence in the face of adversity.

Mountains, onsens, the food, and daruma dolls—Gunma Prefecture will capture the heart. 

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on November 24, 2011.