Gunma - Introduction

Gunma... to me, it was just a country side we don't normally go...

...Until I went to this good-old Japanese traditional style inn village.

I misunderstood Gunma all the while...


Before I go on, here's Gunma basic info!

From Wiki:

One of only eight landlocked prefectures in Japan, Gunma is the northwestern-most prefecture of the Kantō plain. Except for the central and southeast areas, where most of the population is concentrated, it is mostly mountainous.

Actually that's about it and it was my impression all the while till recent.

Here's the direction from Tokyo.

Gunma is a countryside closer to Tokyo.


We went to Gunma because... we wanted to see "snow" in December.

In Kanto area, usually it's January or February to see snow.
But it cost a lot to go farther places like Hokkaido or Tohoku..

So, I searched internet and found the interesting place in Gunma.

It's called "Kayabuki-no-sato, Hatago".
Actually, I found in one of Japanese tour.

"Kayabuki" means "thatched".
So, this place is a village of thatched roof old style Japanese houses.
They converted old style Japanese house into Japanese Inn.

I didn't know Gunma has such old style Japanese houses.
And it's mountain area, so we may be able to see some snow falling if we are lucky!

I've decided to go to this place. :)

Planning for Aomori trip

So, I planned Aomori Nebuta Matsuri festival trip 6 months before, but...
It was TOO LATE!

Transportation was still ok, but all the hotels around the festival location were already fully booked. :(
I checked surrounding areas but they are also fully booked...

I was about to give up...

Then I checked some package tours.
Train tours were also almost sold out and only expensive ones were left.
It was a little too expensive to us..
There was a bus tour.
And... it was still available and CHEAP!
What's more, 2 more festivals in Tohoku area were included in this package tour!

It definitely attracted me. :)

I was a little worried about a long bus ride, though.
As mentioned in Introduction, it's 9-hour drive by car from Yokohama, so I worried if my 5-year-old son could bear with it or not...

But I didn't have to worry about it!
My son enjoyed a bus ride and they stopped at the highway rest areas quite often.

Anyway, the tour started from Ueno at about 8am (it departures from Shinjuku actually and Ueno is the 2nd stop) and arrived in Aomori at 4pm, so it was about 8-hour drive!
Not bad. :)

Scenery from the bus

This is Mt. Iwate.

We took a Japanese tour because we went with my mother (she doesn't understand English).

But I saw many foreign tourists taking package tours in Aomori.

If you are going to Aomori for Nebuta Matsuri festival from overseas, probably taking a package tour is a better choice.