Maebashi is Gunma's prefectural capital, a practical inland city on the Tone River plain with Mount Akagi rising to the northeast. It does not have the instant pull of Kyoto, Nara, or even nearby Takasaki, but it is a real city with a clear setting: government towers and shopping arcades below, volcanic slopes and lakes above.
The strongest reason to come is the Maebashi-Akagi combination. You can start with the city centre's Rinkokaku, Arts Maebashi, and the high view from the Gunma Prefectural Government Building, then head up toward Mount Akagi and Akagi Shrine for cooler air, lake scenery, and walking.
Maebashi is best for travelers already in Gunma or looking for an easy Kanto side trip with a city-and-mountain rhythm. Time it for cherry blossoms at Akagi Nanmen Senbonzakura and the case becomes much stronger. Outside blossom season, treat it as a rewarding second-tier stop rather than a must.