Takasaki is the home of the daruma doll, a Japanese good luck charm modeled after the famous Buddhist sage Bodhidharma. According to popular lore, he sat meditating for so long that his legs atrophied and fell off — hence the doll's roly-poly egg shape. In Japanese, snowmen are known as yuki daruma, lit. snow Darumas. When buying one, it is customary to make a wish and paint one eye, then paint the other if the wish is granted.
There are lavender fields in Numata and Tatebayashi. Good place to refresh yourself.
