Knowra Gunma Prefecture Gunma Prefecture Gunma is an inland prefecture in Japan’s Kantō region, northwest of Tokyo. Its mountainous terrain, hot springs, and silk-making history shape its landscape and identity.
Kusatsu Onsen : A hot-spring resort in Gunma known for abundant acidic waters and the Yubatake, a central cooling and distribution field. Its mineral-rich waters and historic resort streets make it Gunma’s most prominent hot-spring destination.
Jōmon period : A prehistoric period in Japanese history, conventionally dated from about 14,000 BCE to 300 BCE, associated with settled communities and cord-marked pottery. Archaeological remains in Gunma place its human history within Japan’s earliest settled cultures.
Japanese sericulture : The practice of raising silkworms for silk production in Japan, historically important to rural economies and exports. Gunma became a major center of silkworm rearing and supplied cocoons to silk mills.
Kantō region : A region of eastern Japan comprising Tokyo and six surrounding prefectures, including Gunma. Gunma is the region’s northwestern, landlocked prefecture.
Mount Kusatsu-Shirane : An active volcanic complex in Gunma, known for the crater lake Yugama and restricted access during periods of volcanic activity. Its volcanic activity helps explain the geothermal landscape around Kusatsu Onsen.
Kōzuke Province : A historical province in eastern Japan, covering much of present-day Gunma Prefecture. Gunma’s earlier regional identity was organized as Kōzuke Province.
Silk Road : A network of Eurasian trade routes that connected East Asia with Central Asia and the Mediterranean over many centuries. Despite the shared silk association, Gunma’s silk trade was a modern domestic industry, not part of this ancient route network.
Tokyo : Japan’s capital metropolis, located in the Kantō region on the Pacific coast of Honshu. Tokyo is Gunma’s closest major metropolitan center and a principal destination for its transport links.
Mount Akagi : A complex volcano in central Gunma with a broad caldera and Lake Ōno within its summit area. Its caldera landscape is one of the prefecture’s defining mountain settings.
Silk : A natural protein fiber produced by silkworms and used to make textiles. Silkworm raising and silk processing became central to Gunma’s economy and history.
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