Its rainy season here now but we made the best of a clear day by exploring neighbouring Gunma prefecture which is just a short drive from Yuzawa. It is a great place to visit in summer as it has lots of activities available. In Minakami there is rafting, canyoning and bungee jumping but we decided to take the slow approach to our day off. (Cue obligatory tourist shots).
First stop was “Takumi no Sato” which is a unique town, home to craftsmen of various professions. Visitors can enter the workshops and try their hand at the many crafts available. Craft techniques range from “aizome” fabric dyeing to Japanese “washi” paper making. My favourite had to be the business cards made from thinly shaved wood.
Next up is “Vidro Park” where you can see professional glass blowers at work. Visitors can also make their own glassware with the help of experts. I have to say it looks like pretty hot work in the middle of summer with all the furnaces burning. These guys make it look a lot easier than it is.
We hit a rest stop for lunch and were pretty happy to be served a plate of nothing but meat, lots of meat and a nice local beer. I was always told to eat my fruit and veg as a kid so luckily there was the aptly named “Tomato Land” tomato farm nearby. You can go in and pick your own tomatoes for lunch. Doesn’t get any fresher than that.
So if you're looking for something different to do during your summer holidays, then Gunma would be a great place to start.
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