Tour B | Sample Itineraries | Gunma: Kusatsu/Minakami | Featured Destinations

Tour BA journey with fruit picking and traditional craft making

Gunma Prefecture is one of the premiere locations in Japan for fruit production. From the mountains and plateaus to the plains, the landscape is filled with undulations, providing temperature differences in daytime and at night, excellent for a wide variety of fruit. This itinerary will take you on an all-you-can-pick trip to enjoy a wide variety of sweet fruit, as well as let you visit hands-on locations to experience such traditional Japanese crafts as washi papermaking and bamboo weaving.

Trip Details

Times and train names are current as of September 2011. Because the times and train names are subject to change, they should be used for reference.

dep.
8:52

Tokyo Station

approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes on the Max Toki 311 on the Joetsu Shinkansen

arr.
10:13
dep.
10:25

Jomo Kogen Station

Local bus (approx. 12 minutes) or taxi

Taxis make sightseeing easy!

Ekikara Kantakun is a great taxi service from JR to help you enjoy sightseeing. The taxis leave from JR stations. A trip of two to three hours by taxi is a convenient way to enjoy the area. Ekikara Kantakun service is available for boarding between 9:00 and 15:00.

The fee ranges from 5,800 to 9,800 yen. Up to four passengers per car. Purchase a taxi ticket in advance from the station counter.

Stations with Ekikara Kantakun service

Stations with Ekikara Kantakun service
Tasaki, Maebashi, Shibukawa, Numata, Jomo Kogen Station
For further details, contact the JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at your nearest station.

A taxi stand

dep.
10:37

Imajuku Station

On foot
(approx. 15 minutes) or taxi

arr.
10:55

Fruit orchard – Torikan

Fruit picking in the orchard, barbecuing and more

Lots of delicious fruits!

With 10 different types of fruit ripe in the orchard, you can pick all you want! And it always just tastes better when you pick it yourself. You can have a barbecue in the park with your freshly picked fruit to round out a delicious meal.
Total time: about 2 hours, 20 minutes including lunch

Hours of Operation

9:00 to 17:00

Entrance Fees

Middle school students and older: 500 yen
Elementary school students: 300 yen
Young children: Free of charge (with an accompanying adult)

Official Torikan website (in Japanese only)

Freshly picked fruit!

dep.
13:20

Fruit orchard – Torikan

On foot
(approx. 15 minutes) or taxi

dep.
13:38

Imajuku Station

Local bus (approx. 10 minutes) or taxi

dep.
13:47

Takumi-no-Sato

Experience handcrafts at Takumi-no-Sato

Takumi-no-Sato – experience a variety of traditional crafts

In Takumi-no-Sato, an artisan village, there are some 24 artisan houses where you can experience such crafts as woodworking, bamboo weaving, washi papermaking and soba noodle rolling. Create a traditional craftwork in unique Japanese style. The artisan houses are surrounded by tranquil fields and rice paddies, excellent for a stroll between workshop lessons.
Total time: about 1 hour, 30 minutes

Hours of Operation

9:00 to 17:00

Entrance Fees

Prices vary for each artisan house.

Official Takumi-no-Sato website (in Japanese only)

A woman tries her hand at weaving at Takumi-no-Sato.

dep.
15:33

Takumi-no-Sato

Local bus (approx. 10 minutes) or taxi

arr.
15:56
dep.
16:22

Jomo Kogen Station

approximately 1 hour, 20 minutes on the Max Tanigawa 418 on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line

More tourism information on Gunma

Gunma Tourism International Association

arr.
17:40

Tokyo Station

Shinkansen

On foot

Taxi

Bus

Note:

Buses do not run often, so if you are planning to use them, take care not to miss the bus. Inquire at the JR Ticket Office (Midori-no-madoguchi) at your nearest station for detailed bus schedules.

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