Surrounded by lakes Itako city (潮来市) played an important role in the mid-Edo period more than 300 years ago. The city was an important waterway town with many canals running through the town and produce from Northern Japan was shipped through here to the capital Edo (now Tokyo).
It has managed to keep this culture and visitors can take boat rides through the canals and visit the 200 year old sake brewery.
Itako is most known for its beautiful Iris Festival (Suigo Itako Iris Festival) between late May to late June which attracts tens of thousands of people from around Japan.
From Tokyo
From Airports
From Main Stations
Mashiko offers has over 300 pottery artist studios and many offer classes. Some have english speaking instructors and can ship overseas.
Mashiko has a sake brewery open to visitors. You can walk around, learn about sake making and taste the different varieties.
There are several Pottery museums in Mashiko including Mashiko Sankokan and Mashiko Museum of Ceramic Art.
The region around Mashiko is know for its Strawberries and even export them to Singapore and Thailand. Strawberry picking is available at several farms from December to early May.
Mashiko has one of the oldest Indigo dyeing studios in Japan.
Hire a bicycle from the station and enjoy a day around the countrysides. (half day tours are also available)
We’ve created a special online guide about Mashiko to help overseas visitors explore Mashiko. Click the image to discover more!
Mashiko offers a wide range of Japanese food, starting with Soba (local soba wheat), and Tonkatsu (pork cutlet), as well as artisan Japanese restaurants.
Mashiko has popular curry restaurants using local vegetables as well as nice coffee shops. Mashiko also has a local dish called Burma jiru ( a soup dish inspired by Burmese cooking).
A small European style restaurant with delicious homemade food prepared with local ingredients hand-picked by our chef.
Mashiko has one Japanese Ryokan with an Onsen. (See below for information about Mashikokan Satoyama Hotel)
Find the full list of hotels in Mashiko available at Booking.com here.
Mashiko has a newly refurbished hotel (Yuwakan) that opened in 2020. Before it was moved to Mashiko, foreign diplomats used it 100 years ago as well as being used for the crown prince to escape WW2.
Mashiko has several guesthouses which are very affordable. Many artists use them and stay in Mashiko for months to make pottery.
Find the full list of hotels in Mashiko available at Booking.com here.
Several places are available in Mashiko.
Find the full list of airbnb’s available at aribnb here.
Type: 3 star Ryokan / Hotel
Location: 7 min drive from Mashiko Station.
Type: Guesthouse
Location: 8 min drive from Mashiko station
Type: Holiday rental
Location: 12 min drive from Mashiko station
Each of these places are within a day trip away. Click on the image to find out more.
We’ve created a special online guide about Mashiko to help overseas visitors explore Mashiko. Click the image to discover more!
We’ve created a Mashiko Photo gallery to help overseas visitors and travel companies see what Mashiko has to offer. Click the image to discover more!
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