Takasaki Daruma-ichi Fair (Japan’s Largest New Year Fortune Daruma Market)

Schedule: 01 - 02 Januari (Stasiun Takasaki) & 06 - 07 Januari 2026 (Kuil Shorinzan Daruma-ji) | Location: Gunma (群馬県)

Boasting more than two centuries of history dating back to the Edo period when local farmers converged upon Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple to purchase Bodhidharma talismans for New Year prosperity, the "Takasaki Daruma-ichi" stands as the largest fortune Daruma fair in Japan. With Takasaki supplying 80% of the country’s Daruma tumblers, this New Year pilgrimage draws between 300,000 and 400,000 travelers and business leaders from Tokyo and across Kanto seeking auspicious goal-setting charms for the year ahead. The spectacle unfolds across two monumental milestones: first, the colossal civic "Takasaki Daruma-ichi" on January 1 and 2 spanning the 800-meter boulevard outside JR Takasaki Station’s West Exit, where over 50 licensed master artisan guilds erect towering red pyramids of tens of thousands of crimson Daruma; and second, the mystical overnight "Nanakusa Taisai Daruma Fair" at Shorinzan Daruma-ji Temple on January 6 and 7, burning through the winter night. The enduring charm of the market lies in the spirited, cheerful price negotiations between patrons and master dollmakers. The instant a deal is struck, vendor and buyer engage in rhythmic synchronized hand-clapping (Tejime) to seal good fortune. On-site master calligraphers custom-inscribe gold kanji resolutions (business success, household peace, or exam triumphs) across the red chest of the chosen tumbler. Located right outside JR Takasaki Station (50 minutes from Tokyo via Joetsu Shinkansen).