Kiryu and Akagi are home to tourist attractions such as Kiryu Castle ruins and Lake Umeda (Kiryu River Dam), tourist events such as the Kiryu Yagibushi Festival, and local delicacies such as string noodles.
Kiryu is located in the east of Gunma Prefecture, and its representative industry is silk weaving, which has continued since the Nara period (710-794), and is ranked alongside Nishijin textiles in Kyoto. The Watarase and Kiryu Rivers flow through the area, and the Ashio Mountains spread out, with the population concentrated in the flatland areas.
Tatebayashi, located in the eastern part of Gunma Prefecture, is adjacent to Tochigi Prefecture, where a dry wind blows in winter and the summer heat can reach over 40 degrees Celsius.
The Watarase Yusuichi (Watarase Recreational Area) stretches downstream on the Watarase River and is home to many golf courses and barbecue facilities. Taking advantage of this large area, sporting events such as hot air balloons, skydiving, and triathlon competitions are also held.
Kiryu's representative gourmet food is handmade udon noodles. Try it with tempura of locally harvested wild vegetables. There are many handmade udon noodle shops, and at Kiryu Udon-no Sato, you can not only taste but also experience handmade udon noodle and tour the factory. In addition to handmade udon, handmade soba noodles are also popular.
Sauce katsudon is also a specialty, a simple pork cutlet bowl seasoned with sauce that is crispy and crunchy. You can also taste delicious handmade udon and handmade soba in Tatebayashi. There are also long-established Japanese restaurants that will satisfy every gourmand.
Near downtown Kiryu is the Kiryugaoka Zoo, where visitors can interact with rare animals. Trees such as cherry blossoms and azaleas are abundant and bloom beautifully during the season. The Kiryuugaoka Amusement Park, located on the north side of the Kiryuugaoka Zoo, offers a wide variety of attractions at reasonable prices.
Yamakami Castle, built in the Kamakura period (1185-1333), is now the Yamakami Castle Ruins Park, with athletic and other facilities. For active fun, an indoor swimming pool called Caribbean Beach is recommended.
Akagi is famous for Mt. Akagi, where you can enjoy a bit of skiing in winter, and Lake Akagi at the top of the mountain, which is crowded with people enjoying wakasagi (smelt) fishing when the ice covers it thickly. It is recommended as a spot to stop by to enjoy mountain climbing and outdoor activities.