Takasaki (高崎市, Takasaki-shi, [takasakiɕi]) is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 August 2020, the city had an estimated population of 372,369 in 167,345 households, and a population density of 810 persons per km². The total area of the city is 459.16 square kilometres (177.28 sq mi).
Takasaki is famous as the hometown of the Daruma doll, theoretically representing the Buddhist sage Bodhidharma and in modern practice a symbol of good luck. Takasaki has been the largest city in Gunma Prefecture since 1990 after beating Maebashi.
| address= | lat=36.31094 | l138.9805 | directi | ph | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | lastedit=2017-09-02 | cThis mountain and the enormous statue on top of it are the most obvious attractions. You can enter the statue for ¥200 to get a good view of the city from the top. Halfway down the mountain there is a cave with Kannon sculptures carved from the stone inside, along with a Japanese garden. Entrance ¥800. To get there, you can catch a bus from Takasaki Station, although they're infrequent, and it might be more interesting to walk up Kannon-dori and up the (long!) stairs to the top of the mountain. }} | address= | lat=36.33056 | l138.95694 | directi | ph | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | lastedit=2017-09-02 | cFamous for being the place where daruma dolls originated. The temple itself is nice, although nothing too special. The small museum of old daruma dolls beside the main temple is interesting. }} | address= | lat=36.2987 | l139.07864 | directi | ph | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikipedia=The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma | image=The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma.JPG | wikidata=Q11609688 | lastedit=2017-09-02 | c }} ** , gunma-kenritsu rekishi hakubutsukan | url= | email= | address= | lat= | l | directi | ph | tollfree= | hours= | price= | image=Gunma-pref-History-museum.jpg | lastedit=2017-09-02 | c }} | address= | lat=36.4667 | l138.85 | directi | image = Haruna00.JPG | ph | tollfree= | fax= | hours= | price= | lastedit=2017-09-02 | cA large dormant volcano within Takasaki. By bus from the station it takes about an hour to reach the top. The shrine was founded in 586 and is very scenically located on the side of the mountain beside a river. Lake Haruna is a large crater lake a bit further up with various tourist facilities. It's possible to walk between the two, but the path is fairly long and poorly maintained. Buses come only every hour though, so it may be worth it. }} | address= | lat=36.40495 | l138.951 | directiin the town of Misato, near the base of Mt. Haruna | ph | tollfree= | hours= | price= | wikipedia=Minowa Castle | image=Minowajyo.jpg | wikidata=Q994006 | lastedit=2017-09-02 | cThere isn't much left to see, but with the help of a good imagination and artist impression, you can get an impression of what was once an important castle. Except for the well and a few rock walls, there are almost no parts of the buildings left, but the earthworks and moats are all visible. All signs are in Japanese and there are some photos from excavation work showing many details that have now been grown over. More interesting as a place to walk around in a forest than for historical or cultural reasons. }}
Daruma dolls are the local specialty. The souvenirs shop at the train station sells them in small sizes and in all colours. Or you can go to the daruma temple and buy them in all sizes (and they can get quite big), although only in red.
From Narita Airport (), Takasaki is served by Azalea Limousine Buses operated by Chiba Kotsu; buses leave once every 1 1/2-2 hours (3 hours to/from Takasaki Station, ¥4500). By train, the easiest (and most expensive) way to reach Maebashi is to take the Narita Express to Tokyo Station, then the Joetsu Shinkansen to Takasaki (Approx. 2 1/4 hours, ¥7800, no charge with the Japan Rail Pass or JR East Pass). Reservations for the Narita Express and Shinkansen can all be made from Narita Airport.
From Haneda Airport (), Limousine buses operate to/from Takasaki Station (3 hours, ¥3500). Going by train is much faster, but more expensive and requires more transfers: The Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, the Yamanote Line to Tokyo, and the Shinkansen to Takasaki (Approx. 1 3/4 hours, ¥5200; cheaper with unreserved shinkansen seat). You can purchase tickets for the JR portion of the journey upon reaching Shinagawa.
The city centre is easily walkable, but to get to most of the sites, bus, bicycle, or car are needed. Buses are usually infrequent and there is no English information. Ask the tourist information board at the train station for information on bus times.
Takasaki, about 100km north of Tokyo, is famous as the hometown of the Daruma doll. It is also the hometown of former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone.
