While using various kanji spellings can sometimes help travelers in Japan differentiate the numerous words that share identical romanized names, it won’t do anyone a lot of good with Masaki. Fortunately, though, the romanji is different in this case. Masaki is in Ehime Prefecture, but the town of Matsumae is in Hokkaido. Travelers certainly wouldn’t want to end up in the wrong prefecture because of a miswritten name!
Of course, Matsumae can be a dynamic place to visit in its own right. However, Masaki boasts a dynamic point of interest that many vacationers should certainly enjoy. The Kubota Palm Garden is not something that should be at all missed. While Japan might have a number of famous botanical gardens, this one is unique because of the heavy focus on Arecaceae. Naturally, as the name suggests, this means that palm trees are a heavy focus. Even if this doesn’t sound interesting, one should give it a try because the enthusiasm of those that work in the facility could easily change that.
Of course, despite the similar kanji, one shouldn’t suggest that Masaki is in competition with Matsumae. However, if they were fighting, the Hokkaido location would have some of its own ammunition. The town shares its name with the Matsumae clan, who was given the area around the town in 1590. Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted the fiefdom, and the modern order came around much later during the Meiji Era. This has left the town with a great deal of history for visitors to explore. Considering that this history includes warlords and foreign expeditions, there is practically nothing about it that could be thought of as boring.
Unsurprisingly, it would be very difficult to say as to which town would make a better vacation. Therefore, the only real way to judge is to see both of them in person.
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.
If someone says that they are headed off on a vacation to Ichinomiya, it can be confusing to say the least. Ichinomiya refers to the first shrine in each of the old provinces of Japan. This means that there are numerous places in the country that share that same name. Anyone who wants to head off to the attractive sandy beaches of the Kujukuri-hama, though, will certainly want to head for the Ichinomiya in Chiba Prefecture. Getting to the destination should not be too difficult, considering that the Kujukuri Toll Road is in a convenient position.
Japan National Route 128 connects Tateyama and Chuo-ku, and might be a great way for those who are using the highway system.
The Kujukuri-hama, or Kujukuri Beach, is one of the most popular places to swim and surf for individuals who live in the Greater Tokyo area. The name refers to the old ri unit of measurement; Minamoto no Yoritomo measured the beach at 99 ri. Since the distance that made up a ri later changed, many people these days incorrectly feel that the beach’s name is a simple reference to the long distance. The sanderling is a small bird that can often be seen on spring and fall days to look for food; any visitor to the beach will certainly want to look out for these busy flying workers.
In particular, the Ichinomiya name in this case refers to the Tamasaki Shrine. This historical landmark features an annual festival on September 13. The kagura performances that the Shrine holds are considered to be an Intangible Cultural Property of Chiba Prefecture. Kagura is a type of theatrical dance in the Shinto community that translates to god entertainment, and it has a long and storied tradition. This cultural and religious monument is certainly not something to miss.
There are those that have the idea that Kyoto’s position as a cultural center has made it a stuffy and dull place. For some people, history will always be boring. However, it really doesn’t need to be. For those that enjoy history, a visit to any of the 17 titled Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto is a fascinating proposition. Those that don’t find that interesting might still find that a few places are still exciting, however.
The period drama genre known as Jidaigeki has an interesting relationship with the city, and even the most jaded visitors will want to check out the Toei Uzumasa Eigamura where many samurai action films were shot. The Eigamura complex has numerous mock ups of famous traditional Japanese sites that are used for filming. Occasionally, a film will actually still be shot there and visitors to the complex are actually invited to have a look.
Shijo Street is the end all to shopping in the city, and it has changed quite a bit since the time of its naming. The term refers to it being the fourth street in Heian-kyo, which was the ancient capital at Kyoto. 
While it may still be as charming as it was in 19th century photographs, today there are numerous methods of modern public transportation to help people around the city.
The Hankyu Kyoto Line goes underneath the street, and has stations at Omiya, Karasuma, Kawaramachi and Nishioji. The street goes east to west straight through the commercial heart of Kyoto, and this should put it on the top of anyone’s list that is interested in modern shopping. Interestingly, the city has a ban on smoking in this district. The eastern end of the street is home to the Yasaka Shrine, and the intersections often feature delightful department stores. Kyoto doesn’t have to be a dull stop.
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.
Of course, despite the similar kanji, one shouldn’t suggest that Masaki is in competition with Matsumae. However, if they were fighting, the Hokkaido location would have some of its own ammunition. The town shares its name with the Matsumae clan, who was given the area around the town in 1590. Toyotomi Hideyoshi granted the fiefdom, and the modern order came around much later during the Meiji Era. This has left the town with a great deal of history for visitors to explore. Considering that this history includes warlords and foreign expeditions, there is practically nothing about it that could be thought of as boring.
