Numata: Festival Traditions, History and Fruit Harvests

Numata offers several points of interest to consider when planning a trip: a festival that brings together religious and commercial traditions, historic buildings and seasonal fruit-picking opportunities. You can plan your stay around what interests you most, whether that is festival culture, the city’s history or a particular harvest season. These different themes can help you decide when to visit Numata.

The Numata Festival Brings Together Two Traditions

Held in downtown Numata, the Numata Festival combines the Gion Festival of Suga Shrine, which dates back to the Edo period, with the commercial Numata Matsuri Shōkōsai. The processions include elaborately decorated festival floats called “Mandō.” Another distinctive feature is the “Tengu mikoshi”: this portable shrine bears a large Tengu mask and is carried exclusively by around 300 women. These different elements make the festival a clear blend of religious and commercial traditions. If you would like a festival to be a highlight of your stay, check the specific event dates before your trip.

Castle History and Traces in Numata Park

Numata Castle was built by Akihiro, the 12th head of the Numata clan of the Miura line, over a period of about three years, beginning in 1532. Parts of the former main bailey, the outer bailey, and the second and third baileys are now within Numata Park. Part of the outer bailey is on the grounds of Numata Elementary School and Numata Girls’ High School. The surviving areas are thus spread across the park and other named locations.

The former Ubukata House is also part of the park’s history. This merchant’s house dates to the late 17th century, was designated an Important Cultural Property of Japan on June 17, 1970, and was moved to its present location in Numata Park in 1973. The park also has stone statues of Sanada Nobuyuki and his wife, Komatsu-hime. These historical connections offer a different perspective on a visit to the park than the festival tradition: the focus here is on the castle grounds, an old merchant’s house and figures from Numata’s history.

Architecture, Church Building and Remembrance

The former western-style residence of the Kume family is among Japan’s earliest examples of residential concrete buildings. It draws on the Secession style, an art movement that emerged in Western Europe in the late 19th century. The building thus combines an early example of concrete residential architecture with a style that originated outside Japan. Another historical trace is the western-style section of the former Toki family residence, built by descendants of the last feudal lord of the Numata domain.

The former Numata Church Memorial Hall was built in 1914 and registered as a tangible cultural property on April 21, 1998. Until August 2006, it was used as the “Sekiguchi Kō Kiri-e Museum.” Its construction, registration and former use mark different stages in the building’s history. Together with the former residences, it offers further insight into the architectural and cultural history of Numata.

Park Scenery and Seasonal Harvests

Numata Park has around 200 cherry trees. The park’s landmark is Goten-zakura, an old Edo-higan cherry tree. The approximate number of trees and the celebrated individual tree offer two different scales: the planting as a whole and a particular tree that gives the park its name.

For a seasonal activity, consider the fruit-picking opportunities in Numata: the offerings range from cherries in early summer to strawberries in winter. At Someya Apple Orchard, visitors can pick seasonal apples and eat them on site. The business operates seasonally, and specific harvest periods may vary. If you are planning your stay around a particular harvest, check the current dates for the activity before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Minakami, Tone District, Shibukawa, Tsunago, Tomioka, Kiryū, Takasaki, Maebashi

For the broader travel overview: Gunma Prefecture.