Gunma Prefecture is Japan's hot spring capital, mountain playground, and silk heritage land — a landlocked prefecture north of Tokyo where volcanic peaks, therapeutic onsen, pristine highland forests, and the UNESCO World Heritage Tomioka Silk Mill define a destination unlike anywhere else in Japan.
Historical timeline
Key moments that shaped Gunma.
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1
Volcanic activity creates Gunma's mountain landscape; early settlements develop around hot springs
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2
Kozuke Province established; Haruna Shrine and Akagi Shrine founded as centres of mountain worship
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3
Silk farming develops in Kiryu and Tomioka areas; mountain worship traditions codified
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4
Numata Castle becomes a key strategic fortress; contested by Uesugi Kenshin, Takeda Shingen, Hojo, and Oda forces
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5
Kusatsu Onsen achieves national fame; Takasaki becomes a castle town on the Nakasendo highway; Daruma craft tradition begins in Takasaki
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6
1872: Tomioka Silk Mill opens as Japan's first modern industrial factory, with French engineer Paul Brunat directing silk-reeling machinery powered by steam
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7
Kiryu grows as Japan's 'Lyon of the East' textile city; onsen tourism expands with railway connections; post-WWII, silk industry declines as synthetics take over
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8
2014: Tomioka Silk Mill inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List; Kusatsu Onsen ranked Japan's top hot spring resort multiple times; outdoor adventure tourism develops at Minakami
Historical sites
Places where Gunma's past comes alive.
Historic
Tomioka Silk Mill (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Where: Tomioka City
Admission: Adult: ¥1,000 ($6.70) | Child: ¥150 ($1.00)
Historic
Shorinzan Darumaji Temple
Where: Takasaki City
Admission: Adult: Free (grounds) | Child: Free
Historic
Haruna Shrine
Where: Takasaki City (Haruna area)
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Historic
Numata Castle Ruins
Where: Numata City
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free
Historic
Kiryu City Silk Heritage District
Where: Kiryu City
Admission: Adult: Free | Child: Free