Annaka: Walking Tours and History

Annaka can be explored through two walking tours and several historical themes. The joint program “襄・城ヒストリート” brings together “新島襄ヒストリート” and “安中城址ヒストリート”. Alongside these, Niijima Jō’s personal story, the founding of Annaka Church, and the Megane Bridge offer clearly distinct areas of focus. If you are looking for a hotel in Annaka, these themes can help you plan your stay around your own cultural interests.

Two Walking Tours Under One Name

The two walking routes have different names: “新島襄ヒストリート” refers to Niijima Jō, while “安中城址ヒストリート” points to the ruins of Annaka Castle. Together, they were established under the name “襄・城ヒストリート”. This gives Annaka a shared walking-tour program with two clearly identified historical references.

Niijima Jō and Annaka Church

The former home of Niijima Jō is located in the associated community. Personal belongings, related documents, and photographs are displayed there. This collection brings together items from his personal life with written and visual materials. Their shared connection to Niijima Jō links the house exhibition with the walking tour of the same name; however, the two are clearly different in form: the exhibition centers on a collection, while the other is a walking tour laid out as an urban route.

Annaka Church was founded on March 31, 1878, after Niijima Jō baptized 30 people, including Jirō Yuasa. It was the first Protestant church in Japan founded by Japanese people and the first in Gunma Prefecture. Its history is therefore set in both a regional and a national context. The Niijima Jō Memorial Chapel was built in 1919 and has served as a place of worship for more than 100 years. The church’s founding date and the chapel’s construction year mark two distinct historical stages.

The Megane Bridge: Design and Height

The Megane Bridge is located in the associated community. Completed in 1892, it is a brick arch bridge and is among the largest of its kind in Japan. It stands 31 meters high, measured from the riverbed. This measurement therefore has a specific reference point; its ranking among the largest bridges of its kind also places the structure in a nationwide comparison. Its construction year, design, and height offer different points of reference for understanding the bridge as a structure.

You can give different weight to these themes in your travel plans: Niijima Jō appears in several historical contexts, Annaka Church can be understood chronologically through its founding and the construction of its chapel, and the Megane Bridge through its design and dimensions. Together, these offer biographical, church-historical, and architectural perspectives. When looking for a hotel in Annaka, you can consider which of these perspectives interests you most and weigh your other requirements for yourself.

Discover more destinations: Tsunago, Maebashi, Ueno, Kawawa, Numata, Minakami, Isesaki, Tone District

For the regional travel overview: Gunma Prefecture.