Backed by the volcanic peak of Mount Akagi-yama, Maebashi is a picturesque city famed for its flower parks and gardens. Akagi’s waterfalls and crater lake offer a range of recreational pursuits throughout the year while Maebashi’s memorials and museums honour the people and industries that have shaped the city.
Things to do in Maebashi
Enjoy a stroll through Shikishima Park along the banks of the Tone River, where more than 600 varieties of roses and over 2,500 pine trees have been planted. See the memorial dedicated to the much-loved Japanese poet Sakutaro Hagiwara and learn about Maebashi’s history of silk production at the Sericulture Memorial Museum.
Visit the beautiful Gunma Flower Park, which sprawls along the southern slopes of Mount Akagi-yama. In addition to its Japanese garden designed with traditional aesthetics, it features an English garden, colourful flower beds and greenhouses showcasing plant species from the Philippines, Indonesia and Brazil.
Follow the leafy trail to the base of Fudo-Otaki Falls, which plunges 32 metres down the side of Mount Akagi-yama. Admire the golden leaves in autumn, the mist and rainbows of summer or the icicles that form on the cascade in winter, then enjoy soaking in the nearby Takizawa Onsen.
Don’t miss experiencing Lake Onuma, which occupies the crater at the summit of the mountain. It hosts an azalea festival in June and is particularly photogenic during autumn. It’s also a popular winter destination for ice fishing when the lake freezes.
Getting around Maebashi
Maebashi is just over two hours by train from Tokyo and around 2.5 hours from Haneda Airport. Both trains and buses travel throughout the city.