Maebashi: City of Water, Greenery, and Poets
Maebashi, Japan is the capital city of Gunma. It is dubbed as “City of Water, Greenery, and Poets” because of its rich nature and pure waters. Also, it is the hometown of many local contemporary poets. The modern town was established in 1889 and received city status in 1892.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Maebashi is during the months of April through July, for the perfect weather. Peak tourist season is usually during the months of January, March, and April. People are least likely to visit in December. The city is home to many festivals, but one of the most popular one is Tanabata Festival or Star Festival. Held every July, it celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi. Legends have it that the Milky Way separated the 2 lovers; and they only get to meet on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. Locals usually celebrate with arcade and bamboo decorations. It has also been a practice for them to write their wishes, often in the form of poetry, on small pieces of paper; and to hang these on bamboos.
What to Do & Area Attractions
When in the city, tourists should visit Kichijyoji Temple. It is a Soto Zen Buddhist temple established in mid-15th century. Today, the only remaining wooden structures are the Sanmon gate and Kyozo. Another nearby attraction is Minowa Castle. Of the original structure built in the early 16th century, only ruins of the earthworks, moats, and stone walls remain. There are a lot of affordable Maebashi, Japan hotels, such as Hotel Sanderson and APA Hotel Maebashieki-Kita.