Since it is located to the north of Mt. Onigajo, the name of Kihoku in Ehime Prefecture reflects where it is. Naturally, this makes it a great place from which to enjoy the Onigajo rage, and it often receives crisp weather because of the elevation. Those who enjoy the cool mountain air should certainly enjoy Kihoku, though it can be warmer than Matsuyama or Uwajima at certain times of the year. Nevertheless, snowfall usually does not stick for too long and the summers bring some heat and humidity. As with many places in this area of Japan, the rainy season in June and July has become quite famous.
During the day, one can find a train between Uwajima and Kihoku nearly every hour. Travelers who aren’t hurried should feel comfortable with the several buses that move daily, and Route 320 also connects the town to Uwajima. It really is a great place to explore the small town feel that many Japanese tours lack, and the town relies on agriculture. The Dechikonka festival is, to many visitors, a celebration of the local delicacy: pheasant. Nabemono stew made from pheasant is made for the festival, and is given away. Local economic activities also include pottery, wood and numerous other agricultural products.
Naturally, with all of this farming, visitors will want to visit the farmer’s markets that the town boasts. Morinosankakuboshi is located in Hiromi, and features vegetables as well as rice. There are numerous local products sold in the area. Those with adventurous pallets might want to dip into the boar curry, but there are other foods being bought and sold in the adjacent marketplace. Those looking for souvenirs might also want to try Yumesanchi in Hiyoshi. Vegetables, rice and other food products are again highlights, but shops there have a much wider variety than one might otherwise expect.
The nation of Japan is famous for being an island nation, so the city of Maebashi will shatter the preconceived notions that anyone has about this geographical arrangement. Out of all the prefectural capitals in the country, Maebashi is the furthest one from the coast.
The capital of Gunma has some rather interesting weather patterns that might be good for vacationers looking to duck out of the cold. With the dry karakaze winds blowing in the winter, caused by the blocking of snow clouds by the mountains, the winter is actually relatively mild. The summer, however, is toasty. This might just be the perfect thing for anyone looking to take advantage of the rather new Maechari bicycle rental scheme.
The East Japan Railway Company’s station in Maebashi features a stand out front, from which bicycles might be rented for a low price. The south side of Mt. Akagi features a popular attraction: the Gunma Flower Park. As well as the massive flowerbeds and the five associated greenhouses, there is an event hall and a petting zoo. The park even has a play area for small children to enjoy. Those who enjoy this park will also want to make a stop at the Ogo Green Flower Pasture.
The most famous feature is the 22-meter high Dutch-style windmill that looks rather unique in a Japanese city. Numerous animals call the complex home, and there are even accommodations for guests to stay. Barbeque pits and exercise stations invite people to spend a day or even a whole vacation in the beautiful area. Fall visitors will enjoy the special windmill festival and those in the spring will do the same with the cherry blossom celebrations. Don’t forget to stop at Sampomichi, though. This special store located within the Green Flower Pasture features fresh fruits and vegetables for sale. They’ll make a tasty snack that is far more authentic than spending yet another lunch hour in a restaurant.
Japan is known for its colorful festivals (matsuri). If you are planning to take a vacation in Japan, you surely should try to plan your tour in a way that will allow you to cover as many of these festivals as possible. Some festivities take days to complete. Given below are some of the most famous festivals and their approximate dates.
February – February in Japan attracts more than a million visitors both from within the country and from all over the world. It is the time of ‘Sapporo Snow Festival’. The highlight of the festival is the display of hundreds of statues made of ice, which all belong to one theme (mostly from the events of the last year). There are ice slides, amusement rides and variety of concessional stands for enjoying sumptuous food.
July and August – ‘Kyoto Gion Matsuri’ kicks of July. One of the top 3 national festivals of Japan, this has a colorful parade of tall floats. It is also called the festival of Yasaka Shrine. August begins with Nebuta Matsuri, the lantern festival which has huge lanterns on display. Don’t miss it if you are traveling to Japan during August. In the 2nd week of August, Awa Odori,a traditional dancing festival, is held in the Tokushima city.
Hope you enjoy your visit to Japan. You can read more about Japanese Festivals here!
