Byakui Dai-kannon (image of Buddha) In 1936 the Kannon statue, 41.8 meters high, was built by the local entrepreneur, Inoue Yasusaburo. He was concerned about the stagnant world of ideology at the time, and built the statue hoping to spread the virtuous deeds by the Kanzeon-bosatsu or the Goddess of Mercy to shed light on the ideological world. Inside is divided into 9 floors where twenty images of Buddha are enshrined. You can go into the interior of the Kannon to see them. Interior entrance fee 300 yen/ open everyday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. during winter) Take a bus going to Kannon sancho, get off at the terminus: Approx. 20 min./ 027-322-2269

Kappapia, Takasaki Kannon-yama Recreational Park Kappapia is a comprehensive recreation facility located halfway up Mt. Kannon-yama where Byakui Kannon is. The park is filled with a lot of flowers and their sweet smell through all seasons. The park is equipped with a loop roller coaster, Twin Dragon, and other scream machines as well as playing facilities for children. In summer, eight unique swimming pools including a wave pool, a loop slider, and a flowing pool are popular. In winter, they turn into ice skating rinks. The park is always busy with school children and families on a day trip. Also barbecue facilities and a restaurant with a menu of Joshu specialty okkirikomi (see Local Food section) are provided in the park for group visitors (reservation needed). Entrance fee Adult 2,100 yen, junior high school students 1,500 yen, children under 4 years old 1,200 yen/ open everyday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m./ 027-323-4123 Take a Joshin bus from Takasaki station going to Kannon sancho, get off at Kappapia: Approx. 15 min.

Takasaki City Dye Plant Botanical Garden Takasaki not only produces original silk, but has a long history of dyed textile. This garden was constructed in 1994 as the first full-scale dye plant botanical garden in Japan. There is a studio museum exhibiting dyed works and colors. It is surrounded by a path where the dye plants are set in chronological order starting from the 6th century through to the present day. This manner of presenting 17,000 dye plants (160 different types) in the garden is very interesting. In the studio museum, a workshop for vegetation dyeing and indigo dyeing is held every first and third Wednesdays and Sundays with reservations (due to change). The workshop consists of the morning session (10 a.m. -) and the afternoon session (1:30 p.m. -). In two hours, a beginner can learn to dye 2 handkerchiefs. Open 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. closed on Mondays and the day following national holidays/ 027-328-6808 20 min. walk from Kannon-sancho bus stop

Dokutsu (cave) Kannon Yamatoku-en

Take a bus going to Kannon-sancho, get off at Yamatoku-en/ 027-322-5025

Kiyomizu-dera Temple, enameled by colorful hydrangea

The nighttime illumination creates an illusionary atmosphere