Exploring Takasaki 10/11/07

Hello all,
Today was one of my days off so I decided to travel to Takasaki. First, a bit about Takasaki: Situated on the Kanto Plain approximately 100km north of Tokyo, Takasaki City covers an area of 330 square kilometers stretching from the border of Saitama Prefecture to the border of Nagano Prefecture. It's a city that encompasses vibrant commerce and industry found in the downtown district, as well as the peace and tranquility of nature found in the rural Kurabuchi district. Numerous concerts, city parks, festivals, and other events provide citizens with plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy everything life has to offer. The city has a long history as a center of transportation and commerce. The remains of many ancient communities have been uncovered in Takasaki, proving that people thrived in the area more than 1400 years ago. During the Edo period (1600-1868), Takasaki's role as a castle town led to an influx of merchants and an increase in the population. Following the Second World War Takasaki continued to grow as an industrial city with an extensive transportation system. In January of 2006 Takasaki City merged with Gunma Town, Misato Town, Shinmachi Town and Kurabuchi Village to form the current city that is home to approximately 320,000 people. Its proximity to Tokyo, only 50 minutes by bullet train, continues to make the city a strategic location for transportation and commerce. Serviced by both the Joetsu and Nagano bullet train lines, a bullet train stops at Takasaki station every 15 to 30 minutes, making Takasaki a gateway to the entire prefecture as well as the Sea of Japan and Japanese Alps. It is also at the crossroads of the Kanetsu, Joshinetsu and Kita-Kanto Highways. The new Takasaki Municipal Office was constructed in May of 1998, being both of a modern design and accessible for its citizens. Takasaki City continues to strive towards creating an international society where both the environment and its citizens can co-exist in harmony together.

As far as stories go my trip to Takasaki was rather uneventful, I didn’t get lost or anything really exciting like that, but I did some great pictures, so long story short, the purpose of this post is to share some the pictures I took today with everyone.

A good view of Takasaki


Byakui Dai-kannon


In 1936 the Kannon statue, 41.8 meters high, was built by the local entrepreneur, Inoue Yasusaburo. He was concerned about the stagnant world of ideology at the time, and built the statue hoping to spread the virtuous deeds by the Kanzeon-bosatsu or the Goddess of Mercy to shed light on the ideological world.


A massive suspension bridge in Kannonyama Park


Me on the massive suspension bridge in Kannonyama Park

View from an overpass in Takasaki

Looking the opposite way on the overpass

Entrance to a Temple in Takasaki

The Temple itself, it seemed as though they were setting up for an event, as there were many folding chairs and tents to each side of the path.

Another good view of Takasaki

Takasaki Koen Park

A small waterfall in Takasaki Koen Park
A nice view of some hills/mountains from Takasaki Koen Park

Byakui Dai-kannon from Takasaki Koen Park (needless to say it was very long walk to the statue)

Another view of how far it was to Byakui Dai-kannon, you can just make it out, it's the tall object in the center of the picture way off in the distance (my feet hurt just looking at the picture)

Takasaki Koen Park had some very random cages with animals in them, like a monkey (here) as well as rabbits, chickens, swans, and peacocks, weird.

Another view of the massive suspension bridge in Konnonyama Park.


That is all for this time, I hope that you enjoy the pictures. I would really like to go back because Konnonyama is a very big park and I didn't have a lot of time to walk around, I feel there are many more cool things I could see there.

Still missing everyone back home,
Adam