Akagi Area

Index

Highlights of Akagi area

Akagi area (赤城) consists of seven mountains of unspoiled nature and a crater lake in the center of Gunma Prefecture north of Tokyo.

Located one hour’s drive from the center of Maebashi city (前橋市) and Kiryu city (桐生市), it is a great getaway from Tokyo and full with nature activities such as hiking, cycling, camping and fishing all year round. The dry clear sky in the winter also makes it an ideal place for watching the beautiful stars.

During May and September there are also many different types to of highland flowers to discover.

There are buses, but for easy access driving is recommended. Why not rent-a-car and include a visit the several hot springs and activities down each side of the mountains?

Beautiful autumn leave Onuma Lake on the top of Mt. Akagi in Akagi area

Cycling in sakura season in Akagy area (oomuro koen)

Akayashio flowers (types of Azaleas) blooming at Kakunanbuchi in Akagi Area

Access

From Tokyo

From Airports

Stations nearby

Things to DO in AKAGI AREA

Hiking

Mount Akagi (a collection of several mountains in Akagi area) has many different hiking trails to match your level. Some are available for beginners, and some are for the more advanced.

Cycling

Akagi offers cool e-bikes for light cycling as well as sport type e-bikes to rent between mid April to the end o of November. Visitors can hire bikes at the Akagi Koen Visitor Center (Map) from a minimum of 3 hours or book a cycling tour with a guide and explore the nearby mountains.

Wakasagi Fishing

Akagi has the best Wakasugi Fishing in Japan! In the summer you can fish Wakasagi by boat and in the winter you can fish them by drilling a holes in the iced lake and dropping a small fishing rod into the water!

Camping

Akagi area offers several different camping sites which offer tents and bungalows. Please see the Places to STAY section for more details.

Stargazing

Without the city lights, the night sky is amazing in Akagi. Surrounded by the water and mountains, the clear night sky is a wonderful experience before a restful night.

Driving on 'Initial D' Roads

For fans of the car racing anime 'Initial D ' driving up the road to the Akagi mountains is a dream come true. Akagi was home to Akagi RedSuns and you can drive up the road in the stories. (read external site)

Explore Mt. Akagi in 2days
- Akagi Area Itinerary -

To find out how you can enjoy Mt. Akagi (Akagi area) check out this 2 day itinerary packed with ideas of what to do, where to eat, where to stay and more.

Top events around Akagi area

A view of sakura cherry blossoms and a train on Watarase Valley Railway

04 | APR

‘Sakura view’ along Watarase Valley Railway / わたらせ渓谷鉄道- 2H from Tokyo

Visit Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura. Mt. Akagi sakura festival in Maebashi city near Tokyo

04 | APR

Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura / 赤城南面千本桜- 2.5H from Tokyo

Locals and visitors dance together at the Kiryu Yagibushi Festival Finale

08 | AUG

Kiryu Yagibushi Festival / 桐生八木節まつり- 1h 40 min from Tokyo

autumn leaves along Watarase Valley Railway (Watarase Keikoku Testsudo)

11 | NOV

‘Autumn view’ along Watarase Valley Railway / わたらせ渓谷鉄道- 2H from Tokyo

Japanese Food

One of Akagi area’s speciality is pork. Hayashi Pork Farm offers high quality local pork and runs Ton Ton Hiroba a local pork restaurant which offers great Tonkatsu!

Western Food

There are a few nice family run cafes and restaurants that offer homemade pasta, pizza and curry. Try Trekker’s Cafe by Lake Onuma is one of them.

Enjoy a BBQ!

If you are driving, camping may be another option for you! Akagi has many camping sites with BBQ areas as well as local shops/indoor markets where you can buy local vegetables and meat.

Places to STAY

Camping

Camping is a popular activity in Akagi and there are many Camping sites such as these.

Akagi LogINN
Zawa Zawa Mori
Akagi Outdoor Base AFCN
Takibi no niwa
SUBARU Fureainomori Akagi
Akagi Auto Camp Jyo
Akagi Bible Camp
Kamp Bouken Nakama
Riheichaya Shinrin Koen
Hanamigahara Sjhinrin Koen Camp site

Ryokan (Japanese style)

Aoki Ryokan on the shores of Oonuma lake and there are several other onsen ryokans (Japanese style inns with hot springs) in the Akagi Onsen district about half-an-hour drive from Lake Onuma.