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Mountains range across the northwestern part of the prefecture.
Most notable are the three Jyomo mountains of, Mt. Akagi, Mt. Haruna
and Mt. Myogi. They are host to over four hundred rivers of every
size, almost all of which converge with the Tone River. The mountain
rivers of Gunma Prefecture are both beautiful and rich in variety.
Many hot springs can be found throughout the prefecture.
 Oze Marshlands
 In
spring Mizubasho (skunk cabbage), autumn tinted foliage, and the
beauty of the four seasons can be enjoyed in Oze, whose precious
nature is representative of a side of Japan which often goes unseen.
Mainly comprised of Ozegahara, a marsh approx. 8km2
in size, and 'Oze Marshlands' a lake noted for its clear waters,
Oze is spread out over the three prefectures of Gunma, Niigata,
and Fukushima. At a height of 2000m above sea level, this is the
largest highland marsh in Honshu. Visitors to Oze will be delighted
by the rare fauna and flora, and a topography formed over many years.
Tone River
 The
Tone river is blessed with a majestic current. Together with the
Shinano River and the Ishikari River, the Tone River is one of the
three largest water systems in Japan. The area of the river basin
is 16,840km2, the largest in Japan.
The river is 322 kilometers long.
The river has its source in Mt. Ominakami and thus most rivers in
Gunma Prefecture form part of the Tone River Water System.
Mt.Akagi
 Mt.
Akagi, whose majestic foothills can be seen from even the south
east plain of Gunma Prefecture, is a symbol of Gunma. On its summit
are two crater lakes known as Onuma (Large Pond) and Konuma (Small
Pond) which attract crowds of visitors all year round for camping,
skating and a whole range of other activities.
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 Mt.Haruna
Mt. Haruna is host to Ikaho Onsen. Formed by
a volcanic eruption, Haruna Lake is surrounded by the mountains
Haruna Fuji and Eboshi. Leisure activities such as cycling, fishing
and hiking etc. are enjoyed all year round in the area. Clusters
of Yellow Day Lilies and Japanese Azaleas may also be seen.
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Mt.Myogi
 Well
known for its rocks weathered into fantastic forms, this famous
peak is ranked among Japan's three most noted places of rugged beauty.
There are many hiking courses, and when the foliage changes color
there are splendid views to be seen.
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Mt.Asama
 Towering
to a height of 2,568m above sea level, Mt. Asama is located on the
border between Gunma and Nagano. It is an active volcano, which
can be seen from the lofty plumes of volcanic smoke it emits. 'Onioshidashi'
(Goblin Rocks), an awesome field of hardened lava left after the
mountain erupted in the Tenmei Era (1783), is a famous spot of natural
beauty. The neighbouring areas Karuizawa and Kita Karuizawa are
summer resorts.
 Kusatsu
Hot Spring
Boasting an output of 37,000 liters of thermal
spa water per minute, Kusatsu is one of Japans most distinguished
hot spring resorts. While, on one hand, the resorts are equipped
with modern facilities, they still retain traditions unique to Kusatsu
including Ryokans with long histories, and practices such as 'Jikan-yu'
( taking a hot spring bath for medical treatment ) and 'Yumomi'.
In winter the resort is busy with skiers.
 Minakami
Hot Spring
Surrounded by the towering Tanigawa Mountain
Range which forms the border with Niigata Prefecture, Minakami is
a hot spring resort built along the banks of the Tone River's upper
reaches. There are many places of scenic beauty in the surrounding
area, such as the raging torrent of Suwa Gorge,and Mt.Tanigawa which
can easily be ascended by aerial ropeway. |
 Ikaho
Hot Spring
Situated on the mountain side of Haruna, Ikaho is a
town with over 400 years of history and at its center almost 360
steps of stone. The spa resort is well known for being a favorite
with great writers and artists such as Roka Tokutomi and Yumeji
Takehisa. |
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