Annaka City is located in southwestern Gunma Prefecture and has a population of approximately 52,000. Since ancient times, the area has served as an important transportation route. The ancient Tōsandō road and, later, the Nakasendō highway passed through the region, and post towns such as Itahana, Annaka, Matsuida, and Sakamoto developed along the route. The Usui Checkpoint was also established here, making the area an important gateway between eastern and central Japan.
During the Edo period, Annaka developed as the castle town of Annaka Domain. In the modern era, it became widely known as a railway town associated with the challenging crossing of Usui Pass.
Located only about 90 minutes from Tokyo while retaining abundant natural scenery and historic sites, Annaka is known for its railway heritage and the famous 峠の釜めし (Tōge no Kamameshi) railway bento. However, these are only part of the city’s appeal. Hot springs, seasonal flowers, industrial heritage, religious sites, and connections to literature and education offer visitors many different ways to explore the area.
Much of Annaka lies within the watershed of the Usui River and its tributaries. The central part of the city sits at the western edge of the Kantō Plain, where peaceful rural landscapes spread across the countryside. To the west, the terrain becomes mountainous, with Usui Pass and surrounding peaks forming a dramatic natural backdrop.
Mount Myōgi, Mount Chausuyama, and several reservoirs and lakes, including Usui Lake, Kirizumi Lake, and Myōgi Lake, offer beautiful scenery throughout the seasons.
Located on the border with Nagano Prefecture, Usui Pass has been known since ancient times as a difficult mountain crossing. Generations of travelers and goods passed through this important route, and traces of its history remain today in the railway heritage sites and former checkpoint.
One of Annaka’s most famous landmarks is the Usui Third Bridge, popularly known as Megane Bridge, or “Spectacles Bridge.”
Completed in 1892, this impressive brick arch bridge consists of four arches and measures approximately 91 m long and 31 m high. It was once used by the Abt rack railway, which enabled trains to cross the steep slopes of Usui Pass.
The former railway line has now been transformed into the Abt Road walking trail, allowing visitors to actually walk across the historic bridge.
The approximately 5-km Abt Road begins near Yokokawa Station and passes former railway tunnels, bridges, and the Former Maruyama Substation, along with several structures designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The route provides an opportunity to experience the technological achievements of Japan’s early modern railway development while enjoying the surrounding mountain scenery.
Nearby, the Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park features locomotives and other railway exhibits, hands-on driving experiences, and rides on a small trolley train. It is particularly popular with families and railway enthusiasts.
Annaka is also home to several attractive hot spring destinations. Among them, Isobe Onsen is associated with the origins of Japan’s familiar hot spring symbol. A map dating from 1661 depicts a hot spring symbol at Isobe, leading to its reputation as the “Birthplace of the Onsen Symbol.”
During the Meiji and Taishō periods, Isobe became a popular summer retreat for prominent business figures. Today, visitors can still enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the historic hot spring town.
The local specialty, Isobe Senbei, is a light and crisp rice cracker traditionally made using hot spring water. Visitors can also enjoy day-use bathing facilities such as Megumi-no-Yu, which features a unique sand-and-salt bath experience.
Deep in the mountains, Kirizumi Onsen offers a very different atmosphere. This secluded hot spring is known as a setting associated with the film The Proof of the Man. Surrounded by quiet forests and mountain scenery, it provides an opportunity to relax away from busy tourist areas.
Gunma Prefecture is one of Japan’s leading producers of Japanese plums, and Akima Plum Grove is one of the three major plum-growing areas in Gunma.
Approximately 35,000 red and white plum trees cover around 50 hectares of rolling hills. From late February through the end of March, the annual plum festival brings visitors to enjoy the colorful scenery and seasonal atmosphere.
Other seasonal attractions include Rōbai-no-Sato, where fragrant wintersweet flowers bloom in winter, and Iris-no-Oka, where approximately 120,000 German irises representing around 1,000 varieties cover the hillsides.
Cherry blossoms in spring, lavender and poppies in early summer, and yellow flowers at Yamabuki-no-Sato provide additional seasonal highlights throughout the year.
Annaka preserves numerous sites that evoke the atmosphere of travel along the historic Nakasendō. These include the Usui Checkpoint Ruins, Goryō Tea House Honjin, and the Haraichi Cedar Avenue, a Natural Monument of Japan.
The city also has important connections to Joseph Hardy Neesima (Jō Niijima), the founder of Doshisha University. His former residence and Annaka Church offer insight into Japan’s intellectual and educational history during the country’s modernization.
Other distinctive religious sites, including Hitsuji Shrine, Kaiunji Temple, and Zenshōji Temple, reflect the diverse religious traditions that have developed in the region.
Tōge no Kamameshi, sold at Yokokawa Station, is one of Annaka’s best-known local specialties. This famous railway bento is served in a traditional Mashiko-yaki earthenware pot and features rice topped with chicken, mountain vegetables, and other ingredients.
Other local treats include Isobe Senbei, plum products from Akima Plum Grove, miso manju, chikara-mochi rice cakes, and naturally brewed soy sauce.
Annaka is also home to Usui Silk Co., Ltd., one of the few silk mills in Japan that continues to operate today. The company remains committed to producing raw silk from domestically produced cocoons, preserving an important part of Japan’s silk-making heritage. Its location near the Tomioka Silk Mill makes it a valuable destination for learning about the history of Japan’s silk industry.
Mount Myōgi is regarded as one of Japan’s Three Great Scenic Wonders, famous for its dramatic landscape of unusual rock formations and rugged peaks.
Around Usui Lake, visitors can enjoy lakeside walks and hiking while taking in the changing scenery of the seasons. Waterfalls such as Asa-no Falls and Senga-taki Falls are also worth visiting.
At Tōge-no-Yu, visitors can relax in hot spring baths while enjoying views of the surrounding mountains, making it a pleasant place to unwind after exploring the area.
Annaka’s history as a major transportation hub, its remarkable railway heritage, seasonal flowers and hot springs, and its development as a center of education and culture are woven together by two recurring themes: mountain passes and learning.
Whether making a short detour during a journey or spending several days exploring the area, visitors can discover many layers of Annaka’s history, nature, and culture. The city’s combination of historic sites, scenic landscapes, hot springs, and local traditions offers a memorable experience in southwestern Gunma.
One of Annaka’s most famous specialties is Tōge no Kamameshi, traditionally sold at Yokokawa Station. Rice is served in a Mashiko-yaki earthenware pot and topped with chicken, chestnuts, shiitake mushrooms, burdock root, quail eggs, apricots, and other colorful ingredients.
Widely recognized as an iconic Japanese railway bento, it remains a popular reason for travelers to visit Yokokawa and enjoy this long-standing local specialty.
Isobe Onsen manju is a traditional sweet associated with the historic hot spring town. Its simple combination of a brown-sugar-flavored outer layer and sweet bean paste makes it a popular accompaniment to tea and a convenient souvenir.
Different shops offer their own variations, making a comparison of the different flavors part of the experience.
The Akima area of Annaka is known as one of the major plum-growing regions in the Kantō area. Plums harvested at Akima Plum Grove are processed into products such as umeboshi pickled plums, plum wine, and plum jam.
These products are characterized by the refreshing acidity and fragrance of Japanese plums. Local specialty products are also sold during the spring plum-viewing season.
Shimonita negi, a famous type of Japanese leek grown in neighboring areas, is known for its strong sweetness and exceptionally soft texture when cooked.
Various related products and processed foods are available in Annaka, and the leek is especially popular as an ingredient in hot pot dishes during winter.
Gunma Prefecture is Japan’s leading producer of konnyaku. In Annaka, a variety of foods made from konnyaku corms are available, including sashimi-style konnyaku, konnyaku balls, and konnyaku noodles.
These foods are popular as distinctive and relatively light local specialties.
Local sake made with Gunma’s clean water and high-quality rice is another attraction. Craft beers are also available around the city’s tourist areas, offering visitors additional ways to enjoy local flavors.
Megane Bridge, the Usui Third Bridge, is one of Annaka’s most iconic landmarks. This brick arch bridge was constructed during the Meiji period and is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Surrounded by beautiful seasonal scenery, its impressive structure attracts visitors and photography enthusiasts throughout the year.
The Abt Road is a walking trail developed along the former Shin’etsu Main Line railway route. Visitors can walk through historic railway tunnels and across bridges while enjoying the surrounding mountains and forests.
It is a popular walking route where Japan’s railway heritage and natural scenery can be experienced together.
Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park is a popular destination for railway enthusiasts. Visitors can see preserved railway vehicles, try hands-on train-driving experiences, and ride a small trolley train.
The park also provides an engaging introduction to the history of railway transportation across the challenging Usui Pass and is suitable for families as well as railway fans.
Isobe Onsen is a historic hot spring resort said to have a history of approximately 1,300 years. Its mineral-rich waters contain salt, and the traditional hot spring town atmosphere can still be enjoyed today.
Ryokan inns and foot baths provide opportunities to relax and enjoy a slower pace of travel.
With approximately 35,000 plum trees, Akima Plum Grove is one of the leading plum-viewing destinations in the Kantō region.
The annual plum festival is held from around February to March, when the hillsides are covered with blossoms and the area becomes lively with visitors.
The Former Residence of Jō Niijima, founder of Doshisha University, has been preserved in Annaka. This historic building provides an opportunity to learn about the life of one of the important figures of Japan’s Meiji-era modernization and educational history.
The Usui Checkpoint Ruins mark the site of a checkpoint established during the Edo period along the Nakasendō, one of Japan’s major highways of the time.
The checkpoint played an important role in controlling travelers and goods, including the famous policy known as “guns entering, women leaving”, which refers to restrictions on the movement of firearms into Edo and women leaving the capital.
A museum has also been established at the site, allowing visitors to learn more about how the checkpoint operated and the history of travel along the Nakasendō.
Kumano Shrine stands at the summit of Usui Pass, directly on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures. It is unusual in that a single shrine precinct extends across two prefectures.
The shrine has long been associated with blessings for safe travel and good relationships. Visiting the shrine while enjoying the fresh mountain air of Usui Pass can be a memorable part of a journey through the area.
The Former Maruyama Substation is a brick building constructed during the Meiji period. It played an important role in supporting the Abt railway system across Usui Pass.
Today, visitors can view its exterior and appreciate it as an important piece of Japan’s industrial heritage and a symbol of the railway history of Usui Pass.
Usui Lake is an artificial lake created by Sakamoto Dam. Surrounded by peaceful natural scenery, it is an attractive destination for enjoying the changing seasons.
Fresh greenery in spring and colorful autumn foliage are particularly beautiful, while lakeside walks and hikes provide an easy way to enjoy the landscape.
Goryō Tea House Honjin preserves historic buildings associated with the Nakasendō. The two main residences, known as Onishi and Ontō, retain architectural features reflecting the formal style of facilities used by high-ranking travelers during the Edo period.
Exploring the site offers visitors a glimpse into what travel along the historic highway was like centuries ago.
Annaka Castle Ruins mark the site of a castle that existed from the Warring States period through the Edo period.
The former castle grounds have been developed as a park and now serve as a relaxing public space. The site also offers an opportunity to imagine the appearance of the castle town in earlier centuries.
The Gōbara Kofun Group is an important archaeological site dating from Japan’s Kofun period. It provides insight into the ancient history of the region.
Gunma is known for its many ancient burial mounds, and the kofun in Annaka form part of this important archaeological heritage. The quiet surroundings make the site a peaceful place to explore Japan’s distant past.
The nature-rich Hosono area has agricultural produce markets and facilities where visitors can purchase seasonal vegetables and local specialties.
It is also a place where travelers can experience the welcoming atmosphere of the local community and discover a more rural side of Annaka.
During summer, Isobe Yana is set up along the river, offering seasonal river-fish dishes. Fresh ayu sweetfish and other fish from the clear waters can be enjoyed as a special summer delicacy.
Dining beside the river while feeling the natural breeze is a memorable seasonal experience.
Rōbai-no-Sato is a popular winter attraction where yellow wintersweet flowers begin blooming around January.
The garden fills with the flowers’ sweet fragrance, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere even during the coldest months of the year.
Annsei Tōashi is associated with a training event for samurai held during the Edo period and is regarded as the origin of one of Japan’s oldest marathon-style events.
The tradition continues today as a modern event, creating a distinctive combination of local history, traditional culture, and sport.
Mount Myōgi, which is easily accessible from Annaka, is one of Japan’s Three Great Scenic Wonders. Its dramatic landscape of unusual rock formations and steep peaks is particularly impressive.
The mountain is popular with hikers and climbers and provides some of the region’s most memorable scenery.
Annaka is home to a remarkable variety of attractions, from railway heritage and historic Nakasendō buildings to hot springs, seasonal flowers, scenic mountains, and traditional food.
Because each season brings a different atmosphere, the city offers new discoveries on every visit. Whether following the old railway route across Usui Pass, relaxing in a hot spring, exploring historic sites, or enjoying local specialties, travelers can experience the many layers of Annaka’s history and culture.