江戸時代の風情が残る町【群馬県甘楽町日帰りドライブ旅】-A day trip driving around Kanra Town, Gunma Prefecture-

江戸時代の風情が残る町【群馬県甘楽町日帰りドライブ旅】-A day trip driving around Kanra Town, Gunma Prefecture-

A day trip by car to Kanra-machi, Gunma Prefecture We’ve arrived in Kanra-machi, Gunma Prefecture, for a day trip by car. Kanra General Park Kanra Comprehensive Park is a large park with abundant natural scenery. The “Kanra DE Umbrella Sky” event is held every year from mid-April to the end of May. Approximately 480 colorful umbrellas stretch across the sky for a total length of about 96 meters. Rakusan-en Garden (National Designated Place of Scenic Beauty) Rakusan-en Garden was built by the Oda clan during the early Edo period as part of the Obata Domain’s official residence. This is the only feudal lord’s garden in Gunma Prefecture, and visitors can enjoy a landscape that remains unchanged from the Edo period. The name “Rokusen-en Garden” is derived from the saying in the Analects of Confucius: “The wise enjoy water, while the benevolent enjoy mountains.” Water lilies were in bloom in the pond called “Sensui” in the southeast garden. It seems that water lilies can be enjoyed from June to around August. We enjoyed matcha tea and seasonal Japanese sweets at the tea house “Ryōuntei”. The Raku-zan-en Garden, built during a period of peace and stability, embodies the wish for world peace and the well-being of the people. The plum blossom tea house is located on a hilltop, offering a panoramic view of the entire garden. We were able to enter the tatami room, and the refreshing breeze felt wonderful. This tea house has a unique pentagonal shape, which is rare to find in other parts of Japan. This 38.5-meter-long, 19-room longhouse is believed to have been the residence of the servants who worked for the feudal lord’s estate. You can obtain the commemorative stamp for Obata Castle at the Ganra Roadside Station. Hoshaku-ji Temple Hōshaku-ji Temple was reestablished as a temple of the Sōtō Zen sect after having previously belonged to the Tendai sect, and it became the ancestral temple of the Obata clan. It is said that grinding up a piece of the “substitute guardian Buddha” statue and drinking it has medicinal properties, and indeed, one can see traces of grinding on the neck of the Buddha statue. It is called “Nade-Hōtei” (literally, “Hōtei to be stroked”) because people come to pray while gently stroking its head. At the Benzaiten shrine, worshippers pray by gently stroking the image of Benzaiten with a cloth. I received my temple stamp (gosyuin) with a handwritten inscription. Obata Hachimangu Shrine Obata Hachimangū Shrine was built in 1645 to ward off evil spirits from the southwest direction. The enshrined deity is Emperor Ōjin, and the shrine is said to offer blessings for warding off evil spirits, protecting against misfortune, and averting disasters. The shiba inu dog with the bobbed hairstyle is affectionately known as “Kumatachan.” She looks like she’s smiling with a slightly embarrassed expression, which is so cute. The main hall features ceiling paintings depicting dragons, as well as images of flowers, birds, people, and animals. The artist is Tankun, an Edo period painter, and his artwork is displayed every Sunday. The shrine’s official seals (goshuin) also featured images of the shiba inu dogs with their distinctive curly haircuts. Mentai Park Gunma Mentai Park is a theme park specializing in marinated wasabi-peppered fish roe (mentaiko), operated by Kanefuku, a long-established company specializing in this product. We have 6 stores across the country, and each store offers unique menu items and exhibits. The spicy marinated fish roe French-style crisp crackers are available as a bonus item at the store’s claw machine and at the checkout counter. This is so delicious, you’ll want to keep eating it! It would also be great as a snack to go with drinks. Kinkoyama Shirakura Shrine I noticed a large statue of a tengu (mythical creature) along the highway, and I was curious, so I stopped to take a look. There was a torii gate and a sign indicating that a shrine was located further ahead, so I decided to continue walking. Kinkōzan Shirakura Shrine was founded in 772 as a shrine dedicated to the worship of nature deities. In the local community, he is affectionately known as “the Tengu deity of Shirakura.” The shrine was unattended, but you can get a stamped religious certificate (goshuin) at the Obata Hachimangū Shrine that I visited earlier. Ichinomiya Kanzan Shrine We’ve left Kanra-machi, but we’ve arrived at Ichinomiya Kanzan Shrine in Tomioka City. Established in 531, this shrine is unique in Japan for having a “downhill approach path.” The path leading to the main shrine slopes downwards, with the main shrine located at a lower level than the torii gate. The enshrined deities are Hetsumi-no-Mikoto and Hime-Ōkami. The handwritten religious seal I received included an illustration of a frog symbolizing good luck. Kanra-machi, Gunma Prefecture, was a place where the history of the Edo period and abundant nature thrived.

群馬県甘楽町日帰りドライブ旅

【甘楽総合公園】
群馬県甘楽郡甘楽町大字小幡747-1
駐車場　無料
※アンブレラスカイは毎年4月〜6月開催

【国指定名勝楽山園】
群馬県甘楽郡甘楽町大字小幡648-2
営業時間　9:00〜17:00（11〜2月は16:00）
休園日　12時29日〜1月1日
入園料　高校生以上300円 中学生以下は無料
駐車場　無料

【宝積寺】
群馬県甘楽郡甘楽町轟774
参拝時間　9:00〜17:00
駐車場　無料

【小幡八幡宮】
群馬県甘楽郡甘楽町大字小幡1
社務所受付時間　9:00〜16:00（土・日曜日のみ）
天井画　9:00〜15:00（日曜日のみ）
※境内は常時開放
駐車場 無料

【金光山白倉神社】
群馬県甘楽郡甘楽町白倉1533-1
社務所　無し
駐車場　無し（近くに公民館あり）

【めんたいパーク群馬】
群馬県甘楽郡甘楽町金井676-2
営業時間　平日9:30〜17:30
土日祝9:00〜18:00
入場料　無料
駐車場　無料

【一之宮貫前神社】
群馬県富岡市一ノ宮1535
総門　通年開門
楼門　6:00〜17:00
社務所　8:00〜16:30
駐車場　無料

※訪問時は公式HP・SNS等の最新情報のご確認をお願いいたします。

（訪問:2024年5月）

A day trip driving around Kanra Town, Gunma Prefecture
【Kanra General Park】
747-1 Obata, Kanra-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma Prefecture
Parking: Free
*The “Umbrella Sky” event is held annually from April to June.
【Rakusan-en Garden (National Designated Place of Scenic Beauty)】
648-2 Obata, Kanra-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma Prefecture
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (11:00 AM – 4:00 PM from November to February)
Closed: December 29th – January 1st
Admission Fee: 300 yen for high school students and above; Free for junior high school students and below
Parking: Free
[Hoshakuji Temple]
774 Todoroki, Kanra-cho, Kanra-gun, Gunma Prefecture
Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Parking: Free
【Obata Hachiman-gu Shrine】
1 Obata, Kanra-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma Prefecture
Office Hours: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Saturdays and Sundays only)
Ceiling Painting Viewing Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Sundays only)
*The shrine grounds are open at all times
Parking: Free
【Kinkosan Shirakura Shrine】
1533-1 Shirakura, Kanra-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma Prefecture
Office: None
Parking: None (Community center nearby)
【Mentai Park Gunma】
676-2 Kanai, Kanra-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma Prefecture
Opening Hours: Weekdays 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Weekends & Holidays 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Admission Fee: Free
Parking: Free
【Ichinomiya Kanzen-jinja Shrine】
1535 Ichinomiya, Tomioka City, Gunma Prefecture
Main Gate: Open year-round
Pagoda Gate: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Parking: Free
*Please check the official website or social media for the latest information before visiting.

#観光 #神社 #公園 #庭園 #パワースポット #狛犬 #群馬県