Numata City is located in northern Gunma Prefecture and is the northernmost of the prefecture’s 12 cities. Historically, the city prospered as a center for the collection and distribution of timber and developed as a market town. Today, it continues to serve as an important urban center in the northern Gunma region.
The city center spreads across one of Japan’s largest river terraces, a distinctive landform that has had a major influence on the city’s scenery and history. Mountains listed among Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains rise around the city, providing magnificent scenery and abundant natural attractions.
Numata also offers a wide variety of sightseeing opportunities, including hot springs, ski resorts, fruit orchards, historic sites, and mountain landscapes. Each season brings a different reason to visit.
The Tone River flows along the western side of Numata, while its tributary, the Katashina River, flows along the southern edge. The Usune River runs to the north. These rivers have played a major role in forming the city’s extensive river terraces.
The city center is located on the upper terrace, while the JR Joetsu Line and National Route 17 run below the terrace. JR Numata Station stands at the foot of the terrace escarpment, providing visitors with a clear sense of the city’s distinctive vertical landscape.
The Kan-Etsu Expressway also crosses the upper terrace, with the Numata Interchange located on the eastern side of the city center, making the area convenient to access by car.
In 2005, the former villages of Shirasawa and Tone were merged into Numata, expanding the city’s territory and creating a municipality with an even wider range of natural and sightseeing attractions.
Numata is surrounded by numerous mountains, including Mount Kesamaru, Mount Akagi, Mount Kasho, Mount Kamataboko, Mount Togami, and Mount Amagoi. These mountains provide opportunities for hiking, trekking, and enjoying panoramic views.
At an elevation of approximately 1,300 meters, Tambara Plateau is particularly well known for its extensive beech forests and wetlands. It is one of the notable highland nature areas in the Kanto region.
Each season offers a different landscape: fresh greenery and skunk cabbage in spring, lavender in summer, colorful foliage in autumn, and powder snow in winter. The scenery changes dramatically throughout the year.
Numata has an inland climate with significant differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures. The average annual temperature is approximately 12°C, while winter temperatures can occasionally fall to around -15°C. The city is also designated as a heavy-snowfall area.
At the same time, annual precipitation is relatively low and the area enjoys comparatively long hours of sunshine, creating favorable conditions for agriculture.
The significant temperature difference between day and night is particularly beneficial for growing sweet, flavorful fruits and high-quality agricultural products.
Numata developed as the castle town of Numata Castle from the medieval period onward. During the Warring States period, the area became the focus of intense struggles among powerful clans, including Uesugi Kenshin, Takeda Shingen, and the Hojo clan.
Numata later came under the rule of Sanada Masayuki and his son Nobuyuki. In 1590, Sanada Nobuyuki became the first lord of Numata Domain, and Numata Castle remained a stronghold of the Sanada clan for approximately 90 years.
Today, the former main and second baileys have been developed as Numata Park, a popular place for residents and visitors to relax while exploring the site’s history.
Komatsu-hime (Dairen-in), the wife of Sanada Nobuyuki, was the daughter of Honda Tadakatsu, one of the renowned Four Heavenly Kings of Tokugawa Ieyasu. She is remembered in historical stories as a strong-willed and courageous woman.
One famous story tells that during the Battle of Sekigahara, she refused to allow her father-in-law Masayuki and her brother-in-law Yukimura to enter Numata Castle. Her grave is located at Shokakuji Temple, making the temple an important destination for visitors interested in the history of the Sanada clan.
The Numata City History Museum explores the history of Numata under the theme of “Numata, the Castle Town in the Sky.” Large-scale dioramas and videos explain the relationship between the river terraces and the development of the castle town.
The city also has a number of historic buildings, including the Former Ubukata Residence, a National Important Cultural Property, as well as the Former Toki Family Western-style Residence and the Former Numata Savings Bank. These buildings offer glimpses of the atmosphere of Japan’s Taisho-era modernization.
Fukiware Falls is designated as both a National Natural Monument and a Place of Scenic Beauty. The waterfall is approximately 7 meters high and 30 meters wide, creating an impressive curtain of rushing water.
The powerful sound and spray of the falls have earned it the nickname “the Niagara of the East.”
The scenery changes with the seasons, from fresh green foliage in spring to clear flowing water in summer and brilliant autumn colors in fall.
Near Fukiware Falls is Oigami Onsen, a hot spring resort where visitors can enjoy relaxing baths together with dishes featuring seasonal mountain vegetables.
Other hot spring areas, including Shirasawa Kogen Onsen and Nango Onsen, can also be found in the surrounding region, offering soothing places to unwind after sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Tambara Wetland, located on Tambara Plateau, is a beautiful highland wetland sometimes called “Little Oze” because of its resemblance to the famous Oze wetlands.
Wooden boardwalks allow visitors to explore the wetland, where alpine plants such as daylilies and cotton grass bloom in early summer. The clean mountain air and peaceful scenery make it an excellent destination for nature walks and wildlife observation.
Nearby, Tambara Dam is a large rock-fill dam surrounded by tranquil natural scenery. The area is particularly attractive during the seasons of fresh greenery and autumn foliage and is also popular with photographers.
Mount Togami and Mount Amagoi, located relatively close to the city center, are popular hiking destinations that can be climbed by beginners with suitable preparation.
From their summits, hikers can look across Numata’s distinctive river terraces, the city itself, and the surrounding mountains. On clear days, the panoramic views are particularly refreshing.
Numata is home to numerous impressive old trees designated as Natural Monuments of Gunma Prefecture.
The Great Ginkgo Tree at Shoda Shrine turns brilliant golden yellow in autumn, creating a beautiful sight within the shrine grounds. The Great Keyaki Tree at Suga Shrine is also remarkable for its massive trunk and spreading branches, conveying a sense of the long history it has witnessed.
In spring, cherry blossoms appear throughout Numata. Among the area’s notable trees are the Ishiwari-zakura, a cherry tree that has grown from a crack in a rock, and the elegant Kamihocchi Weeping Cherry Tree.
Each tree has its own distinctive character, and many visitors come to see them when the blossoms are at their best.
Roadside Station Shirasawa is a convenient stop for travelers exploring the area. Visitors can purchase local agricultural products and regional specialties, while the facility also includes the Bokyo-no-Yu hot spring.
The open-air baths offer views of the surrounding mountains, making this a pleasant place to stop and relax during a road trip.
Numata also has a long connection with silkworm cultivation and silk production.
Tone Wind Cave was used to store silkworm eggs by taking advantage of naturally cool air flowing through the cave. It has been recognized as part of the Gunma Silk Heritage, a collection of sites associated with the region’s silk industry.
The site provides an interesting example of how people historically used natural landforms and environmental conditions to support local industry.
Kasho-zan Ryugein Temple is one of Numata’s best-known sacred sites and is famous for its long-standing tengu, or Japanese mountain goblin, tradition.
The temple grounds contain enormous tengu masks, including one of the largest in Japan. Their imposing appearance makes a strong impression on visitors.
Surrounded by the quiet mountains, the temple offers a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere away from the bustle of the city.
Numata is also home to several valuable Buddhist sculptures.
The Eleven-Headed Kannon at Sanko-in Temple is designated as a cultural property of Gunma Prefecture and is noted for its serene expression and graceful appearance.
The Seated Senju Kannon Bodhisattva, known as Sanada Kannon, is designated as a cultural property of Numata City and preserves an important connection with the history of the Sanada clan.
Numata is particularly well known for fruit cultivation, with apples being one of its signature agricultural products.
The area’s sweet apples, often prized for their rich flavor and juicy texture, are especially popular in autumn, when visitors come to enjoy apple picking.
Other fruits grown in the region include grapes, cherries, strawberries, and blueberries. The city also produces konjac potatoes, edamame, and tomatoes, as well as specialty foods such as Okutone Mochi Pork and Ginhikari trout.
Local specialties also include miso manju, miso bread, and edamame menchi, offering plenty of opportunities to discover the flavors of Numata.
Numata’s fruit-growing areas, including the Ikeda Fruit Orchard Area and Shirasawa Fruit Orchard Area, offer seasonal fruit-picking experiences.
Depending on the season, visitors can pick strawberries in spring, cherries in early summer, and grapes and apples from summer through autumn. Enjoying freshly harvested fruit is a memorable way to experience the region’s agricultural culture.
The annual Numata Festival is held from August 3 to 5. During the festival, floats known as mando and portable shrines parade through the city, filling the streets with excitement.
The energetic procession of portable shrines is one of the festival’s highlights. The Tengu Mikoshi, a portable shrine carried exclusively by women, is another spectacular feature of the event.
Numata brings together magnificent nature, samurai history, rich agricultural traditions, and relaxing hot springs.
Walking through this “castle town in the sky,” built on an impressive river terrace, allows visitors to experience a landscape where history and nature exist side by side.
With a different character in every season, Numata offers waterfalls, mountains, hot springs, historic sites, fruit orchards, festivals, and local cuisine. It is an appealing destination for travelers who want to experience both the natural beauty and cultural heritage of northern Gunma.