The charm of Tatebayashi, the town of the world's best azaleas and Japan Heritage, just an hour from Tokyo

Tatebayashi: A town nurtured by flowers and a rich marshland culture

Tatebayashi City is located in the southeastern part of Gunma, and offers a panoramic view of the Kanto mountains, including Mt. Tsukuba, Mt. Akagi, and Mt. Nantai. In addition to being able to enjoy a variety of flowers throughout the year, the city is also home to the Japanese Heritage site "Sato-Numa," famous for the swans that fly in, and the nationally designated scenic spot "Tsutsujigaoka Park." Furthermore, many historical buildings remain, including the "Bunpuku Sake Brewery Store," which was built in the Edo period.

• Table of Contents
• Featured in the English tourism magazine "The Bucket List 2024" as "Sacred Beauty"
• Welcome to Tatebayashi! 7 popular sightseeing spots
• 1. Sakura and Carp Streamer Village Festival
• 2. Azalea Festival
• 3. Iris Festival
• 4. Lotus Flower Festival
• 5. The spectacular hand-held fireworks display
• 6. Autumn leaves illumination
• 7. Swans arrive
• How to get to Tatebayashi, 1 hour by train from Tokyo

Featured in the English tourism magazine "The Bucket List 2024" as "Sacred Beauty"

Check out the details of "The Bucket List 2024"

Welcome to Tatebayashi! 7 popular sightseeing spots

We will introduce you to some popular tourist events that you cannot miss when you come to Tatebayashi.

1. Sakura and Carp Streamer Village Festival

It is held around the Tsuruoda River, Kondonuma, Tataranuma, and other areas, and attracts many visitors every year. The sight of over 4,000 carp streamers hoisted in four locations around the city is a spectacular sight.

Tsuruoda River is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot. In the evening, bonbori (a type of light) are lit up, allowing you to enjoy the cherry blossoms at night.

◆Sakura Festival (late March to early April)

Carp streamers swimming in the blue sky. In 2005, the city's total number of carp streamers, 5,283, was recognized by the Guinness World Records.

◆Koinobori Village Festival (late March to early May)

2. Azalea Festival

Tsutsujigaoka Park, which is praised as the best in the world, has been called "Tsutsujigasaki" for over 500 years and has a history of being planted with azaleas since ancient times. Today, there are over 10,000 azaleas of over 100 varieties, including rare species, planted here. Locals describe the bright red azaleas as "burning," and Tsutsujigaoka Park is called "Hanayama." Events are also held during the Azalea Festival, attracting many tourists from overseas.

">

During the period, there will be free tours by "Azalea Guides" and various events.

Take a break in the colorful azalea garden. There is also a café in the park.

SUGAR HILL CAFE

The bright red color looks like it's on fire.

◆Azalea Festival (early April to late May)

3. Iris Festival

Tatebayashi Iris Garden is located within Tsutsujigaoka Dai-ni Park and is home to 4,000 irises of 100 varieties in full bloom.

">

The flower's meaning is "elegance," which is appropriate for the graceful iris.

You can take a leisurely stroll while admiring approximately 100 varieties of flowers.

The former Akimoto Villa was built at the end of the Meiji period. It is open to the public only during the Iris Festival.

◆Iris Festival (Early June to late June)

4. Lotus Flower Festival

"Flower Lotus Cruising" is an event that you can enjoy to the fullest during the hot summer. You can board a pleasure boat and view the flower lotus that grows in clusters in "Jounuma", one of the Japan Heritage Sites. This is a very popular event where you can cruise around Jounuma while feeling the refreshing breeze.

The cruise around Shironuma takes about 30 minutes.

It's like cruising through the jungle.

Lotus Flower Festival (July 10th to late August)

5. The spectacular hand-held fireworks display

During the Edo period, the birthplace of Sakakibara Yasumasa, the first lord of the Tatebayashi domain, which was located where Tatebayashi city is now, was Ueno-go, Mikawa Province, where Toyota city in Aichi prefecture is now located, and so hand-held fireworks were first displayed at the Tatebayashi Festival in April 1999. Currently, the event is held separately from the Tatebayashi Festival every year in late July at Tatebayashi Dream Square, which is said to be the site of the main citadel of Tatebayashi Castle.

The figure is holding the sword with one hand. It shows a heroic figure that remains motionless even as sparks fall from the sky.

">

The main body of the hand tube is made by wrapping rope around a piece of "Moso bamboo" with the nodes removed. (It does not contain gunpowder.) The total weight of the gunpowder is about 2kg for 1 jin and about 12kg for 5 jin.

">

The huge pillars of fire that seem to scorch the night sky can reach up to 10 meters in height, and the climax of the "splash" is overwhelming in its power with a thunderous roar.

◆Tatebayashi Tezutsu Fireworks Festival (late July)

6. Autumn leaves illumination

As the Japanese word "kinshu" (autumn color) expresses, autumn is a beautiful season when ginkgo and maple trees change to vibrant reds and yellows. The best place to see autumn leaves in Tatebayashi is undoubtedly the "Former Akimoto Villa" in Tsutsujigaoka Dai-ni Park.

* Autumnal color A term used to describe the season of gorgeous autumn leaves, which resembles fabric woven with colorful threads.

The former Akimoto Villa is a popular spot for viewing autumn leaves and has also been used in movies and TV dramas.

◆ Autumn leaves illumination (late November to early December)

7. Swans arrive

People have lived in harmony with nature around the areas of "Morinji Swamp, the Swamp of Prayer," "Tatara Swamp, the Swamp of Harvest," and "Shiro Swamp, the Swamp of Protection" since ancient times, and as these swamps have nurtured unique histories and cultures, they were designated as "Japan Heritage Site Sato-Numa" by the Agency for Cultural Affairs in May 2019. In particular, whooper and bender swans fly from Siberia to Shiro and Tatara Swamps every year in mid-November to spend the winter, waiting for spring.

Swans and ducks at Tatara Lake

It's a popular spot where you can see swans, ducks, herons and other birds up close.

The silhouette floating in the sunset is also beautiful.

◆ Swans arriving (late November to early March)

How to get to Tatebayashi, 1 hour by train from Tokyo

■ By train

Tobu Isesaki Line Express

・Tatebayashi Station ⇆ Asakusa Station (Tobu Isesaki Line Limited Express) Travel time: Approximately 1 hour

・Tatebayashi Station ⇆ Kita-Senju Station (Tobu Isesaki Line Limited Express) Approx. 50 minutes

■ Taxi

Taxis are a convenient way to get around the city.

・Tatebayashi Taxi Center TEL 0276-75-3333

・Kita Kanto Taxi TEL 0120-590-845

・Meiwa Kotsu TEL 0276-84--3325