人が輝き、伝統息づく星の里　たかやま
　高山村は、群馬県の北西部に位置し、総面積は６４．１６平方キロメートル。南北に１０００メートル級の山々が連なり、村の中央を東から西の方へ名久田川が流れています。
　戦国時代には、交通の要所として各所に城が設けられ、城跡、合戦跡が今に残ります。近世になると、越後と江戸を結ぶ三国街道の宿場として、大いに賑わい、明治２２年、中山村と尻高村が合併して現在の高山村となりました。

Takayama – A starry village alive with traditions
Takayama Village is located in the northwestern part of Gunma Prefecture and has a total area of 64.16 km2. 1000-meter peaks range to the north and south, and the Nakuta River flows east to west through the center of the village.
During the Period of the Warring States, castles were established at various locations as key points for transportation, and the remnants of those castles and battles remain to this day. In more modern times, Takayama prospered as a posting station along the Mikuni Road connecting Echigo (modern-day Niigata) and Edo (modern-day Tokyo). In 1889 Nakayama Village and Shittaka Village merged, and the present-day village of Takayama was formed.

◆自然　Nature

　高山村は、標高１０００メートル級の山々に囲まれた緑豊かな高原地帯。春には、新緑の野山を色とりどりのツツジやコブシの花が咲き、ピンクや薄紫のスミレがやさしく疲れた体を癒すように、道行く人を和ませてくれます。この時期は、小野子山山頂付近にある樹齢３００年ともいわれる県指定天然記念物「高山のゴヨウツツジ」も、白いたくさんの花を咲かせます。夏は山百合やホタルブクロ、秋は紅葉の山々にリンドウやキキョウが咲き誇り、ハイキングを楽しませてくれます。
　子持山、小野子山、十二ヶ岳は、標高１２００メートル以上あり、高山村側からは、比較的登りやすいため、多くの登山者が訪れ、自然を楽しんでいます。また、高原の澄んだ空気の中、鳥のさえずりを聞きながらのキャンプや、ゴルフも高山村ならではの贅沢です。

Takayama Village is a highland area rich in greenery and surrounded by mountains rising over 1000 meters. In the spring, azalea and magnolia flowers bloom in the green mountain fields, and pink and purple pansies soothe and refresh traveler's tired bodies. It is in this season that the"Takayama Goyo Tsutsuji," a special azalea located near the summit of Mt. Onoko, produces its many white flowers. This azalea is said to be 300 years old and has been designated a natural treasure by the prefecture. Lilies and spotted bellflowers bloom in the summer, and in the fall gentians and Japanese bellflowers bloom together with the changing leaves, making hiking very enjoyable.
Mt. Komochi, Mt. Onoko, and Mt. Junigatake each have altitudes over 1200 meters, and as they are relatively easy to climb from the Takayama side, many climbers visit to enjoy nature. If you would prefer to camp or play golf while listening to the birds sing in the pure mountain air, Takayama is also the place for you.

◆星　Stars

　群馬県の人口は、平成５年に２００万人に達しました。これを記念し、平成１１年「有形の文化資産」として建設されたのが、ぐんま天文台です。この天文台は、天文学の新たな出発点として、訪れた人たちが宇宙に広がる未知の世界や、最先端の天文情報に触れることによって、天文学だけでなく、地球の自然環境についても問題提起しています。
　星がいちばんきれいに見られるのは、秋から冬にかけて。日常の生活の中で、忘れがちな星の存在を高山村で再確認し、星たちに語りかけてみて下さい。宇宙に少し近づくことができると思います。
・開館時間　昼間火曜日から日曜日　午前９時から午後５時まで
・開館時間 夜間金曜日から日曜日　午後６時から午後１０時まで
　季節により時間が異なります。

The population of Gunma Prefecture reached two million in 1993. To commemorate this event the Gunma Astronomical Observatory was completed in 1999 as a "tangible cultural property." As a fresh starting point for the study of astronomy, this observatory allows visitors access to both cutting-edge astronomical information and the unknown world that extends into the cosmos. As such, the observatory raises questions not only about astronomy, but also about the Earth's own natural environment.
The stars are best seen from fall through winter. Come to Takayama and check out the stars we tend to forget in our daily lives. You can get a little closer to the cosmos.
Afternoon Hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 9am - 5pm
Evening Hours: Friday - Sunday, 6pm - 10pm
Hours may vary depending on the season.

◆温泉 　Hot Springs

　６５度という高温の源泉を持つ高山温泉は、身体が心底暖まる塩化物温泉。村内には、この湯を使った日帰り温泉施設「高山温泉いぶきの湯」と「高山温泉ふれあいプラザ」、そして宿泊施設「国民宿舎わらび荘」があります。
　 「高山温泉いぶきの湯」は、静かな田園風景の中に佇む、小さな和風造りの日帰り温泉。日頃の雑踏を離れ、のんびりしたい方におすすめ。一方、とんがり屋根が目印の「高山温泉ふれあいプラザ」は、サウナ付き大浴場、露天風呂、温水プール、ジャグジー等備えたスパリゾート。コテージも併設されていて、お子さまからお年寄りまで人気の日帰り温泉です。また、「国民宿舎わらび荘」は、天文台に一番近い温泉宿です。天体観測の拠点として、また、サークルやクラブの合宿などどなたでも利用できます。
営業時間・料金
・高山温泉ふれあいプラザ　午前１０時から午後９時　大人５００円（３時間）
・高山温泉いぶきの湯　　　午前１０時から午後９時　大人３００円（２時間）

With a heat source of 65C, Takayama's hot springs will warm your body from the very bottom of your heart. Takayama has two day-trip hot spring facilities, "Ibuki no Yu" and "Fureai Plaza," and a public lodge called "Warabiso."
"Ibuki no Yu" is a small, Japanese-style hot spring which stands in the middle of a quiet, rustic landscape. Detached from the daily hustle, "Ibuki no Yu" is recommended for those who want to relax. In contrast, "Fureai Plaza,"with its distinctive pointed roof, is a spa resort complete with public bath and sauna, outdoor bath, heated pool, and Jacuzzi. With cottages also on the premises, "Fureai Plaza" is a hot spring popular among people of all ages. Finally, "Warabiso" is a hot spring hotel which is located close to the Astronomical Observatory. It can be used as a base for observing the stars or as a gathering place for clubs and other group activities.
Hours and Prices:
Fureai Plaza: 10am - 9pm adults 500 (for 3 hours)
Ibuki no Yu: 10am - 9pm adults 300 (for 2 hours)

◆文化 　Culture

　かつて江戸と新潟を結ぶ三国街道の宿場町として栄えた高山村。今でも村のあちこちに残っている当時の面影は、村の大切な文化財です。宿札をはじめ貴重な本陣の書き物や什器が残る「新田本陣」と、表門と駅逓所として当時の形をそのまま残した有形文化財「平形家住宅門屋」。無形文化財では、室町時代に起源を持つ獅子舞「役原獅子」や、江戸時代中期から伝わる「三島神社太々神楽」などが今に受け継がれています。中でも、人形浄瑠璃「尻高人形」は、高山村を代表する文化のひとつ。本来、三人で人形を動かすのが多い人形浄瑠璃の中で、尻高人形のように一人遣いというのは、全国的にも大変珍しいものです。この尻高人形は、国選択の無形民俗文化財と県の重要無形民俗文化財に指定されています。
　 また、村内の要所要所に、合計３８体の道祖神があります。そのほとんどが、双体道祖神で、一体一体の姿形も多種多様。いろいろな表情を見せてくれます。

Takayama Village flourished as a posting station along the Mikuni Road, which once connected Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and Niigata. Even now, the remnants of those times are important cultural assets. For example, the "Shinden Honjin," once a lodging for government officials and military leaders, contains many precious writings, utensils, and sign boards ("yadofuda"). In addition, the "Hirakatake Jutaku Monya," a former postal center complete with front gate, has been left untouched as a "tangible cultural asset." As for less tangible cultural assets, the traditions of the lion dance "Yakubara Shishi," which has its origins in the Muromachi Period, and the "Mishima Jinja Daidai Kagura," a Shinto dance handed down since the middle of the Edo Period, are being passed on even now. Shittaka Dolls ("Shittaka ningyo"), in particular, characterize the culture of Takayama Village. Among the many Japanese puppet theaters in which it normally takes three people to manipulate the puppets, the one-man performance of Shittaka dolls is extremely rare even across Japan. Shittaka dolls are designated as an "intangible folk culture asset" at both the national and prefectural level.
There are also a total of 38 guardian statues ("dousojin") at key points throughout the village. Most are twin statues ("soutai dousojin") and the shape of each　differs in their many different faces.

車
　　　 関越自動車道渋川伊香保ＩＣから３０分
　　　 関越自動車道月夜野ＩＣから２０分
電車
　　　 ＪＲ吾妻線中之条駅からたかやまバス中山本宿行きバス３０分.
　　　 上越新幹線上毛高原駅からタクシー２０分

By car:
30 mins. from the Shibukawa-Ikaho interchange on the Kanetsu Expressway
20 mins. from the Tsukiyono interchange on the Kanetsu Expressway
By train:
30 mins. by bus from Nakanojo Station on the JR Agatsuma Line
(Take the Takayama bus bound for Nakayama-Honshuku)
20 mins. by taxi from Jomo-Kogen Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen Line