Introduction to Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture
This time, we would like to introduce Annaka City (安中市) in Gunma Prefecture (群馬県), a destination where the harmony of Japan’s railways, nature, and culture creates a unique appeal. It is also highly recommended as a day trip from the Tokyo metropolitan area. At the end of this article, we will also introduce a convenient and cost-effective travel pass, so please be sure to read on!
Annaka City, located in western Gunma Prefecture, is a charming town where natural beauty and historical atmosphere coexist. Since ancient times, it has been an important transportation hub, serving as part of the Tōsandō (東山道) and later as a post town and checkpoint along the Nakasendo Trail (中山道) during the early modern period.
Today, Annaka City continues to benefit from its excellent location, with one JR Hokuriku Shinkansen station and five JR Shinetsu Line (信越本線) stations within the city. It is easily accessible from the Tokyo area in approximately 90 minutes, making it a convenient tourist destination. The city is also adjacent to Karuizawa (軽井沢) in Nagano Prefecture, a well-known resort area, and Tomioka City (富岡市), home to the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Tomioka Silk Mill.
While many people recognise Annaka as a “sacred place for railway enthusiasts” or the town of Touge no Kamameshi（峠の釜めし, a famous Japanese ekiben served in a traditional clay pot), it is also a city rich in attractions. These include Japan’s largest group of railway heritage sites that can be explored on foot, one of only two operating silk-reeling factories remaining in Japan, and a historic hot spring town that once flourished as a summer retreat for leading figures in Japan’s business world.
Recommended Experiences: Hot Springs and Walking
Isobe Onsen (磯部温泉)
Two experiences we especially recommend in Annaka City are hot springs and walking. Gunma Prefecture is often called a “hot spring kingdom,” and among its many famous hot spring areas, Annaka City is home to Isobe Onsen, one of the prefecture’s seven representative hot spring resorts.
Isobe Onsen developed along the clear stream of the Usui River, with views of Mount Myogi (妙義山), and is well known as the birthplace of the hot spring symbol (♨). The area features six traditional ryokan, day-use hot spring facilities, and free foot baths that visitors can enjoy casually.
A local specialty, Isobe Senbei (磯部せんべい), is made using mineral water and is known for its light, crispy texture. It is a popular souvenir enjoyed by people of all ages.
The hot spring water is classified as a chloride bicarbonate spring (塩化物炭酸水素塩泉), renowned for its high quality and smooth feel on the skin. Often referred to as a “beauty bath,” it can be enjoyed throughout the year.
Walking the Historic Nakasendo Trail
From spring through autumn, walking is particularly recommended. One highlight is the Nakasendo (中山道), one of the five major highways of the Edo period, which connected Nihonbashi (日本橋) in Edo (Old Tokyo) with Sanjō Ōhashi (三条大橋) in Kyoto and was known for its difficult passes.
In 2024, the Usui Pass section of the Nakasendō connecting Annaka City and Karuizawa Town was designated a National Historic Site. This marked the second National Historic Site designation in Annaka City and the first additional designation of a Nakasendō site in the Kanto region. Visitors are invited to experience both history and nature while walking the Usui Pass, once traveled by countless people during the Edo period.
The Popular “Abandoned Railway Walk” 廃線ウォーク
Another popular attraction is the “Abandoned Railway Walk,” a walking event organised by the Annaka City Tourism Organisation.
The section of the Shinetsu Line between Yokokawa and Karuizawa was discontinued in 1997 following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen. The Usui Pass（碓氷峠）was long considered one of the most difficult sections in Japanese railway history. To overcome its steep 66.7% gradient, advanced technologies were introduced, including the Abt rack railway system, helper locomotives, and Japan’s first electrified main railway line. These innovations made the line an essential part of Japan’s modernisation.
After the line was closed, voices arose calling for the preservation of its railway history and the use of railway memory as a tourism resource. Through these efforts to create new value, the Abandoned Railway Walk was born.
Participants can walk along the former railway line while observing structures that once ensured railway safety and technologies developed to conquer steep gradients（For example, The Old Maruyama Transformer Substation 旧丸山変電所 and Usui Third Bridge（Megane Bridge）碓氷第三橋梁.
This experience is popular not only among railway fans, but also among those interested in history and nature.
The Abandoned Railway Walk serves not only as a place to pass on railway history, but also as a space for co-creation, where local residents and visitors come together to think about the future of the region.
Access from the Tokyo Area and a Convenient Travel Pass
For travel from the Tokyo metropolitan area to Annaka City, the JR TOKYO Wide Pass is highly recommended. This cost-effective pass allows unlimited travel during its validity period on JR East lines in the Tokyo and surrounding areas, including Shinkansen and limited express trains, as well as buses and the Tokyo Monorail (Tokyo Panorama Line), which connects Haneda Airport with central Tokyo.
* For more details about the JR TOKYO Wide Pass, please visit:
JR TOKYO Wide Pass| Find Your Pass | JR-EAST
After arriving at Haneda Airport, we recommend starting your journey by enjoying the view from the Tokyo Monorail. The urban landscape rising above the canals offers an exciting introduction to your trip in Japan.
From Tokyo Station, take the Joetsu Shinkansen or Hokuriku Shinkansen—often described as a place where travelers can “feel Japanese culture”—and head to Takasaki, the city of Japan’s good-luck symbol, the Daruma (だるま), while enjoying views of the Kanto Plain. From there, the journey continues on the Shin’etsu Line, where you can experience Annaka City’s rich natural environment and railway culture.
A Must-Try Local Specialty: Touge no Kamameshi 峠の釜めし
An essential part of the Shinetsu Line journey is Ogino-ya’s Touge no Kamameshi, a symbol of Japanese railway travel with a tradition spanning over 60 years. This luxurious bento is served in a charming ceramic pot filled with local ingredients. The pot can be taken home as a souvenir and is also perfect for sharing on social media.
Annaka City is highly recommended as a day-trip destination from the Tokyo area. Visitors may also choose to extend their journey by traveling to Karuizawa by Shinkansen and walking the Nakasendō toward Yokokawa, imagining the challenges faced by Edo-period travelers as they crossed one of the most difficult mountain passes in Japan.
We warmly invite you to visit Annaka City, where railways, nature, and culture exist in perfect harmony.
Header Image Credit: JR EAST Takasaki Branch
