群馬県の南西部に位置し、 地形は標高1,370ｍの稲含山から北に傾斜し、南部の山間地、中央部の丘陵地、北部の平坦地と変化に富んでいる。
　織田信長の次男・信雄（のぶかつ）から八代１５２年にわたり統治された地であり、県内で唯一残る大名庭園「楽山園」は、平成１２年国名勝に指定され、町を代表する観光名所として、広く人々に親しまれている。また、町からは上毛三山や上信越国境、浅間山が一望でき、歴史的にも古代から栄えた土地柄を偲ばす史跡や文化財が多く残り、自然にとけこみ、歴史の息づく町である。
　平成２２年３月２０日に歴史まちづくり法に基づく「甘楽町歴史的風致維持向上計画」を認定。

Situated in the south-western part of Gunma, Kanra-Town has a diverse landscape. 1,370-meter Mt. Inafukumi flows into kanra's northern plains. A hilly area lies at its center, and mountainous area in the south.
Starting with Nobukatsu Oda, the second son of the famous warlord Nobunaga Oda, the feudal Oda family ruled the area for over 152 years. Rakusan-en is a Japanese garden built in the Oda residence and has survived to this day, being the only one of its kind in Gunma. It was designated as a natural monument of scenic beauty in 2000. It is well-known as the tourist spot that represents the town.
Wherever you are in Kanra Town, you can enjoy a panoramic view of one of Gunma's most beautiful mountainous terrains that includes the three famous Gunma mountains and Mt. Asama, which borders Niigata, Nagano, and Gunma prefectures. Kanra Town has many cultural and historical sites that remind us of its old glory.
Kanra Town has made and submitted a plan to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to improve its historical scenery in line with the Historical Urban Development Law. The plan was certified on March 20, 2010.

◆名勝　楽山園（らくさんえん） 　Rakusan-en Japanese Garden

この楽山園は、織田信長の次男信雄が小幡に城下町を築く際に造られた庭園です。
７年と数万両を投じて造られたという池泉回遊式の庭園は、当時の格調の高さが偲ばれます。
平成１２年３月３０日に国名勝として指定されました。

This Japanese garden was landscaped as part of Nobukatsu Oda's efforts to build a castle town in Obata during his reign. Designed to allow visitors to walk through it, this stylish Edo period garden took seven years and some eight billion yen to complete. It was designated as a national monument of scenic beauty on March 30, 2000.

◆城下町小幡桜並木 　Row of Cherry Trees in the castle town of Obata

６００ｍにおよぶ桜並木は、古い家並みと名水１００選に選ばれた雄川堰（オガワゼキ）沿いにあり、城下町小幡を散策しながらのお花見は格別です。

Extending 600 meters, cherry trees line the street parrallel to an array of traditional residences along the Ogawa-zeki Stream. Strolling the old castle town under the beautiful cherry trees is a unique experience.

◆雄川堰（おがわぜき） 　Ogawa-zeki Stream

甘楽町を南北に流れる雄川堰は、古くから住民の生活・農業用水、精米などの多目的に利用されてきた用水路で、日本名水１００選・日本疎水１００選にも選ばれています。

Running through Kanra Town from the south to the north, the Ogawa-zeki Stream supplies water to the local residents for daily living and agriculture. The stream's crystal clear water has been listed amongst Japan's 100 purest water sources, and the stream, itself, is one of the 100 most beautiful streams in Japan.

◆武家屋敷　Former Samurai Residences

庭園のある武家屋敷が現在５軒ほどあります。これだけ庭園がまとまって残されているところは関東にはありません。写真は、勘定奉行の役宅跡の高橋家です。屋敷の蔵、それに続く長屋門をくぐると、現代から江戸時代にタイムスリップしたようです。

Five samurai residences with Japanese gardens remain intact in Kanra Town, making it the only place in the Kanto region with such a large collection of period residences and authentic Japanese gardens. This photo shows the official residence of the former Chief Treasurer, Takahashi. It is now owned by his descendants. As you approach the residences, walking by the storehouses and under the gate to the row of houses, you feel as if you have slipped back into the Edo Era.

◆織田宗家七代の墓
　Graves of seven feudal lords of the Oda family

小幡は元和元年（１６１５年）に織田氏の所領となり、以来約１５０年にわたって治められました。初代信雄から七代信富までの墓が今は崇福寺の旧境内に建っています。

In 1615, Obata became the territory of the Oda family, which reigned for the next 150 years. The tombstones of the first-generation head, Nobukatsu, through the seventh-generation, Nobuyoshi, are located at the old courtyard of the Soufukuji Temple.

◆松井家住宅　 Former Residence of Matsui Family

江戸時代、名主を務めた松井家を移築復元したものです。建築年代は江戸中期（１８～１９世紀初頭）とされ、この地方の代表的な農家造りの住宅として当時の生活の様子がうかがえます。

The former residence of the Matsui family, who acted as the head of the local village, has been moved to kanra and restored. The original house was said to have been built in the middle of Edo Era (1603-1867) and shows every sign of a typical farming household from this time.

◆小幡八幡宮　 Obata Hachiman Shrine

織田３代目信昌の時代に創建された神社で、例大祭には、屋台や神楽が町内を練り歩きます。
この屋台、京都や飛騨高山のような華麗さはありませんが、素朴な味わいがあると評判です。

The third-generation head of the Oda family, Nobumasa, founded this shrine. A parade of floats accompanied by sacred Shinto music and dancing is featured at its annual festival. Obata's floats are not as grand as the ones you may see in Kyoto or Hida-Takayama. However, they are popular for their simplicity.

◆歴史民俗資料館　 Museum of History and Folklore

資料館の建物は、この地方の養蚕の最も盛んであった大正１５年（１９２６年）に組合製糸小幡組の繭倉庫として造られたものです。その後、農業会、農協に移管されて、穀物や肥料などの倉庫になっていましたが、昭和５９年に町が買い受け、翌６０年文化庁の指導によって歴史民俗資料館に改装しました。小幡陣屋大手門の位置にあって、このレンガ造りの建物は、養蚕最盛期を象徴する建物として、昭和６１年町の重要文化財に指定されています。
【問合せ先TEL0274-74-5957】

This building was origionally built in 1926 by the Obata Filature Union as their cocoon warehouse at the peak of silkworm-raising in the region. Even after being handed over to the local agricultural association and later to the agricultural cooperative, it was continually used as a warehouse. In 1984, Kanra Town bought and renovated it for use as a museum of history and folklore under the guidance of the Cultural Affairs Agency. Built on the site of the main gate to the former Obata Castle, this brick building epitomizes the most glorious days of the sericulture industry of Gunma and, therefore, was designated as one of the town's important cultural properties in 1986.
For more information, contact 0274-74-5957.

◆宝積寺のしだれ桜　 The weeping cherry tree at Hoshaku-ji Temple

樹齢１４０年のしだれ桜が澄み切った青空いっぱいに広がる様はまさに圧巻で、花は菊女観音の光背にもなり、本堂や山々との風景のバランスも絶妙です。
また、このしだれ桜は、甘楽町の銘木十選　第4位に選ばれました。
見ごろは3月下旬から4月中旬にかけてです。
【問合せ先TEL0274-74-2743】

When you look up at this 140-year-old cherry tree, its pink blossoms are in stark contrast against the crisp-clear blue sky, creating a spectacular view. In front of the tree, the Chrysanthemum Kannon Bodhisattva is enshrined, and the cherry blossoms become the halo of this Buddha of compassion. The cherry tree was nominated 4th of the ten best trees in Kanra Town. The best time to view it is from mid-March to mid-April.
For more information, call (0274) 74-2743.

◆城下町小幡武者行列
　 Parade of Armored Samurai Warriors in the castle town of Obata

甘楽町の最大イベントである城下町小幡さくら祭り「武者行列」は、昭和６０年から毎年開催しています。桜花舞う中、馬上の大将とそれに続く織田隊が出陣し、城下町小幡を勇壮に練り歩きます。歴史に香る町並みと鎧・甲冑に身を固めた戦国武将たちが華やかな絵巻を繰り広げます。凱旋式が行われるお祭り会場では、火縄銃の実演やアトラクション等が行われます。

As part of Kanra's biggest festival, Obata's Cherry Blossom Festival, the procession of armored samurai has become an annual event since 1985. The mounted general and his legion of soldiers, all dressed in samurai costumes, march through the old castle town. Come and witness the Japanese medieval military parade of samurai warriors in armor and helmets. As part of the triumphant celebration, demonstrations of ancient firearms and other attractions are offered.

◆甘楽町さくらマラソン大会　 Kanra Town Cherry Blossom Marathon

歴史の薫る城下町を毎年２千名前後のランナーが駆け抜けます。
【問合せ先：教育課 体育振興係Tel 0274-74-3131　 Fax 0274-74-5813 　 E-mail taiiku-k@town.kanra.gunma.jp】

There are approximately 2,000 annual entries in this marathon that takes place in the old castle town.
For more information, contact the Sports Promotion Section of the Education Department at Town Hall at the following phone number or email address.
TEL: 0274-74-3131 FAX: 0274-74-5813 Email: taiiku-k@town.kanra.gunma.jp

◆もみじ祭り　 Maple Leaf Festival

紅葉山公園では、既存の紅葉に加え記念植樹で植えられた紅葉が毎年１１月中旬前後に一斉に紅葉し、この時期に「もみじ祭り」を開催します。イベント日は、甘楽ふるさと館前にて〝しし鍋〟の無料配布（３００杯限定）と〝紅葉弁当（限定５０食）〟の特別販売「甘楽ふるさと館の入浴料込み」、さらに農産物の特売を行います。

At Momijiyama (Mt. Maple Leaf) Park, along with the usual autumn leaves, memorial trees planted there all turn to red, yellow, and gold in mid-November each year, just in time for the Maple Leaf Festival. Japanese nabe (one-pot dish) is offered for free to the first 300 people who visit. Special bento (50 boxes only) come with full-price admission to the Kanra Furusatokan public bath. Fresh local produce is also sold.

◆甘楽町イベントカレンダー

◆Kanra-machi Event Calendar

★自動車：上信越自動車道「富岡ＩＣより４㎞／吉井ＩＣより５km」
★電車：上信電鉄「上州福島駅・上州新屋駅」
★乗合タクシー：町内に路線乗合タクシーが運行しています。

★By car: 4km away from Tomioka Exit/5km away from Yoshii Exit of Joshinetsu Expressway
★By train: Get off at either Joshu Fukushima or Joshu Niiya Station of Joshin Dentetsu Railways
★By share-ride taxi: You can find share-ride taxi service in Kanra-machi.

Contact:

Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Section, Kanra-machi Town Office
Address: 161-1 Oaza Obata, Kanra-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma 370-2292　JAPAN
TEL: 0274-74-3131　FAX: 0274-74-5813
E-Mail kankou@town.kanra.gunnma.jp
URL http://www.town.kanra.gunma.jp