1-Day Tour from Karuizawa: Mt. Myogi's Stone Arches, Daruma Temple & Giant Kannon Statue

Defined by its dramatic mountain geology, deep spiritual history, and iconic cultural crafts, Gunma Prefecture is a vibrant region sitting just past the edge of the Japanese Alps. This engaging one-day tour takes you from the mountain resort town of Karuizawa to the jagged, awe-inspiring peaks of Mount Myogi for a scenic morning hike through massive natural stone arches.

You’ll continue your journey in Takasaki City, which we saw from the heights of Mt. Myogi, exploring the historic birthplace of the famous Japanese Daruma doll and standing before a towering 41.8-meter-tall Goddess of Mercy. Led by a locally based guide and including private transport throughout the day, this tour beautifully captures the natural power and rich cultural spirit of Central Japan.

Highlights

• Hike the Stone Arches of Mt. Myogi - a highly scenic, 2-hour guided nature walk through massive natural rock formations using safe bypass trails.
• Discover Nakanotake Shrine - a dramatic mountain sanctuary guarded by a towering golden statue of Daikokuten, the deity of wealth and fortune.
• Explore Shorinzan Darumaji Temple - the historic birthplace of the Daruma doll, featuring grounds beautifully stacked with hundreds of vibrant red charms.
• Ascend the Takasaki Byakue Daikannon - climb inside a towering 41.8-meter-tall White-Robed Goddess of Mercy for panoramic views of the Kanto plain before returning to Karuizawa.

Description

The tour starts at Karuizawa Station, where your guide will greet you at 09:00 and board the tour vehicle to depart, heading east down into the rugged mountain borders of Gunma Prefecture.

Morning: The Rugged Peaks of Mt. Myogi

Your first destination is Mount Myogi, celebrated as one of Japan's three most scenic jagged peaks, where you will explore the famous Ishimon (Stone Gates).

• The Hike: Reaching the stone arches involves a highly scenic 2-hour guided hike through a lush mountain forest. We utilize designated bypass trails to avoid the mountain's steep chain-climbing sections, ensuring a safe but visually stunning trek.
• The Archways: Along the trail, you will pass through massive, naturally formed stone arches and witness unique geological rock formations that look like they belong in another world, culminating .
• Nakanotake Shrine : The trail descends perfectly into the grounds of Nakanotake Shrine, where you will be greeted by an incredible, towering golden statue of Daikokuten, a prominent deity of good fortune.

After exploring the shrine grounds, you will have free time to enjoy a well-earned lunch at your own expense at the shrine's own restaurant before departing for the city.

Note: While we use bypass trails to avoid technical climbing, this hike still traverses uneven forest terrain and steep stone steps. Guests must be in reasonable physical condition and wear sturdy, comfortable walking or hiking shoes. Please let us know if you have any concerns about this section of the tour. The hike will be steep at times, so plenty of time is allotted to ensure breaks during this part of the tour.

Midday: Shorinzan Darumaji Temple & Museum

In the early afternoon, we head into Takasaki City to visit the historic birthplace of the Takasaki Daruma.

• The Temple Grounds: You will explore the beautiful, peaceful temple grounds, which are famously stacked and vibrantly decorated with hundreds of red Daruma dolls left by past visitors giving thanks for fulfilled wishes.
• The Daruma Museum: A special highlight of this stop is the small on-site museum. Here, your guide will show you a fascinating collection of regional Daruma dolls gathered from all over Japan. You will learn how the shapes, colors, and painted facial features of this iconic Japanese good luck charm change drastically depending on the prefecture they come from.
• Daruma Painting Experience: As a special inclusion on this tour, you will participate in a hands-on Daruma painting experience! You will get to choose the color of your own Daruma doll and receive guided instructions on how to properly paint its traditional facial features. Afterward, you will take your personalized, hand-painted Daruma home with you as a unique souvenir and authentic good luck charm.

Afternoon: The Giant Kannon of Takasaki

From the Daruma temple, a short drive takes us to Jigen-in Temple to marvel at our final destination: the Takasaki Byakue Daikannon.

• The Monument: Built in 1936, this towering White-Robed Goddess of Mercy stands an impressive 41.8 meters tall and remains one of the most powerful spiritual symbols of the region.
• The View: You will have the opportunity to climb the nine flights of interior stairs up to the statue's shoulder, rewarding you with panoramic views of Takasaki City, Mount Myogi, and the surrounding Kanto plain.
• Note: Climbing inside the Daikannon requires navigating over 140 steps. If you prefer not to climb, the temple grounds at the base of the statue are flat, peaceful, and offer excellent photo opportunities.

At 16:15, we board our vehicle for the comfortable highway drive back to Karuizawa Station, where the tour concludes.

Meetup Points

Karuizawa Station @ 09:00

Please wait outside the north entrance of Karuizawa Station on the second floor pedestrian walkway. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag and ensure you are there prior to the meetup time as the tour will need to depart by 09:05

Notes

Included

• Transportation from Karuizawa Station between the listed activities / attractions.*
• Entrance fee to the Takasaki Byakue Daikannon
• Daruma painting experience at Shorinzan Darumaji Temple
• Guided tour at all listed attractions.
• English-speaking guide

*Operated by Machinovate, Nagaden Bus, or an equivalent charter bus company based in Nagano Prefecture.

Excluded

• Lunch
• Additional food, snacks & drinks
• Shinkansen / 'Bullet Train' tickets
• Accommodation

Tour Availability Disclaimer

All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.

Other Information

• Significant Walking & Hiking: The 2-hour hike through the Mt. Myogi Stone Arches involves uneven mountain terrain, exposed tree roots, and steep stone steps. While we strictly use bypass trails to avoid the dangerous chain-climbing sections, you must wear comfortable, sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots with good grip.
• Accessibility: This tour is not wheelchair accessible and may not be suitable for mobility-impaired travelers due to the mountain hiking trail and the 140+ interior stairs required to climb to the shoulder of the Takasaki Byakue Daikannon. (Guests who prefer not to climb the statue can relax and take photos on the flat, paved temple grounds at its base).
• Transport: This tour uses private vehicle transport. Tours can be conducted by microbus or a larger coach depending on the season and the size of the group.
• Changing Weather: A large portion of this tour is conducted outdoors. Because you are traveling from the high-altitude resort of Karuizawa down into the Kanto plain of Takasaki, temperatures can fluctuate significantly throughout the day. Please dress in layers and carry a light jacket.
• Daruma Painting Experience: The cost of your Daruma doll and the painting experience is included in the tour. Please be mindful of wet paint during the activity, and consider bringing a small day-bag or tote to safely carry your newly painted good luck charm home with you!
• Lunch: Lunch is not included in the tour price. Guests will have free time to purchase their own lunch at the restaurant located on the grounds of Nakanotake Shrine.
• Return Timing: This tour is scheduled to conclude at Karuizawa Station between 17:30 and 17:45. However, due to highway traffic, we cannot guarantee the exact end time. For guests booking onward Shinkansen tickets to Tokyo or Nagano, we strongly recommend booking departures for 18:15 or later.
• Infant Policy: Infants (0-5) are free of charge. We cannot guarantee that a seat on the tour transport will be available for infants, and they may be required to sit in the lap of an adult if the vehicle is fully booked.
• Itinerary Changes: Please note that there may be possible changes to the itinerary or included experiences due to local events, severe weather (which can impact mountain trail safety), sudden closures, or other unforeseeable factors.