Takasaki Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Takasaki

高崎市

Core city

City view from Takasaki Kannon

Flag

Seal

Location of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture

Takasaki

Location in Japan

Country

Area

• Total

459.16 km² (177.28 sq mi)

Population

(October 1, 2019)

• Total

368,667

• Density

802.916/km² (2,079.543/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)

Symbols

• Tree

Zelkova serrata, Cyclobalanopsis

• Flower

Sakura

• Bird

Japanese bush-warbler

Phone number

027-321-111

Address

Takamatsu-cho 35-1, Takasaki-shi, Gunma-ken 370-8501

Website

www.city.takasaki.gunma.jp

Takasaki City Hall

Takasaki Guanyin

Takasaki is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. As of October 1, 2019, the city had an estimated population of 368,667, and a population density of 803 persons per km². Its total area is 459.16 square kilometres (177.28 sq mi). Takasaki is famous as the hometown of the Daruma doll, theoretically representing the Buddhist sage Bodhidharma and in modern practice a symbol of good luck.

History
Geography
Surrounding municipalities
Economy
Local attractions
Sport
Twin towns – sister cities
- Friendship
Notable people
See also

History

During the Edo period, the area of present-day Takasaki was the center of the Takasaki Domain, a feudal domain held by a branch of the Matsudaira clan under the Tokugawa shogunate in Kōzuke Province. The area also prospered from its location on the Nakasendō highway connecting Edo with Kyoto. Post stations located within the borders of modern Takasaki were: Shinmachi-shuku, Kuragano-shuku, and Takasaki-shuku. Following the Meiji Restoration, Takasaki was briefly capital of Gunma Prefecture, before the capital was moved to Maebashi in 1881.

Takasaki Town was created within Gunma District, Gunma on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the municipalities system. It was raised to city status on April 1, 1900. On April 1, 1927, Takasaki annexed the neighboring villages of Tsukasawa and Kataoka, followed by Sano on October 1, 1937. The city largely escaped damage in World War II. Following the war, it continued to expand its borders by annexing the village of Rokugo on April 1, 1951, Shintakao and Nakamura as well as Yawata and Toyooka from Ushi District on January 20, 1955. This was followed by Orui village and Sano village from Tano District on September 30, 1956. The city celebrated its 360th anniversary in 1963 and annexed the town of Kuragano on March 31 of the same year. On September 1, 1965 the village of Gunnan was annexed.

On April 1, 2001 Takasaki was proclaimed a Special City (Tokurei-shi), which gave it greater autonomy.

On January 23, 2006, the towns of Gunma, Kurabuchi and Misato (all from Gunma District), and the town of Shinmachi (from Tano District) were merged into Takasaki. On October 1, 2006, the town of Haruna (from Gunma District) was merged into Takasaki. Gunma District was dissolved as a result of this merger. On June 1, 2009, the town of Yoshii (from Tano District) was merged into Takasaki.

Takasaki was elevated to a Core city with even greater autonomy on April 1, 2011.

Geography

Takasaki is located in the southwestern part of Gunma Prefecture in the flat northern part of the Kantō Plain.

Surrounding municipalities

Gunma Prefecture
- Maebashi
- Annaka
- Fujioka
- Kanra
- Shibukawa
- Shintō
- Tamamura
- Naganohara
- Higashiagatsuma
Nagano Prefecture
- Karuizawa
Saitama Prefecture
- Kamisato

Economy

Takasaki is a regional commercial center and transportation hub, and is a major industrial center within Gunma Prefecture. Companies headquartered in Takasaki include:

CUSCO Japan – automotive parts
Yamada Denki – home appliance retailer

Local attractions

Takasaki Castle
Mount Haruna
Lake Haruna
Haruna Shrine
Minowa Castle
The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma
The sound of a suikinkutsu in the Suikintei Garden of former Yoshii town is designated as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan by the Ministry of the Environment