Ibaraki A Land of Charm
Japan
茨 城
Explore Ibaraki Prefecture, a hidden gem of beautiful land rich in history and nature, right at Japan’s doorstep
茨城 A quiet prefecture with abundant nature, Ibaraki has incredibly well-preserved historical landmarks to distinguish it from neighboring prefectures. Peaceful streets conceal the diligent activity of craftsmen at the heart of this picturesque prefecture; the smoky air filled with the distant sounds of banging hammers from artists hard at work. Kangori village along the Tsukuba-michi Road
Signpost in the starting point of the Tsukuba-michi Road.
Fukuda Pottery Works
It’s about 4km (2.5 miles) stretch to Tsukubasan-jinja Shrine.
Kobuntei in Kairakuen Garden
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Statue of the last Shogun, Yoshinobu Tokugawa and his father Nariaki Tokugawa: Kairakuen Garden
Alluring Traditional Crafts and the Learning Spirit of the Last Samurai Yuki/Kasama/Mito At Fukuda Pottery Works in Kasama you can try your hand at creating the beautiful pottery that made the city famous and learn the importance of a true craftsman’s patience from Katsuyuki Fukuda, a sixth-generation master of the art. You can find out even more about Kasama’s popular traditional craft through a hands-on experience at Craft Hills Kasama. Watch as messy lumps of clay transform into one-of-a-kind creations through entertaining classes led by expert artists. When in Kasama, one shouldn’t miss the Kasama Inari Jinja, one of the top 3 Inari shrines in Japan and dating back to 651. Some of the key features are its many stone fox sculptures and the beautiful, purple, 400-year-old twin wisteria trees which bloom in early May. Persistence and devotion are apparent in all the impeccable traditional handmade crafts that come from Ibaraki, like the modest-yet-elegant silk called Yuki-Tsumugi, carefully made in the historic town of Yuki. Tsumugi-no-Yakata offers a hands-on experience, so you can learn about the traditional weaving and dying techniques the people of Yuki used centuries before. The spirit of old Yuki is woven deep into the city as the traditional Edo period streets act like thread linking the past and the present. As you pass by the Buyu Sake Brewery and other surviving misegura from the early 17th century, it ’s easy to imagine what the lively streets of Yuki were like years ago. Ibaraki’s disciplined culture of hard work and the samurai spirit also extend to academics. Mornings in the prefecture’s capital, Mito, are alive with eager students rushing to school ready to learn — a tradition lingering from the renowned Kodokan, Japan’s largest Han (Domain) school. These Edo institutions were established to educate the children of powerful feudal lords and their retainers. From its founding in 1841 by Nariaki
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Tokugawa (9 th Lord of Mito), until 1872, just after the Meiji Restoration, young nobles and samurai, among who Nariaki’s son and later the last shogun, Yoshinobu Tokugawa, studied medicine, mathematics, martial arts, and more. This important Cultural Proper t y is now a tes t ament to the ac ademic endeavors of these last samurai and Yoshinobu Tokugawa, the commander and hence the top samurai. The ruins of the old town’s historic castle, gardens, and residences — many still bearing the famous Tokugawa triple-hollyhock family crest — inspire a deeper exploration into Japan’s exciting history. Just as important as hard work is relaxation. That is why Nariaki Tokugawa also established the historic Kairakuen Garden, one of Japan’s top three garden landscapes, in Mito. Out of admiration for the utility of the fruit, he planted many plum trees on the premises. Now it is home to nearly 3,000 plum trees of 100 varieties. To celebrate the blossoms, the annual Mito Plum Festival is held from mid-February to early March. The best place to view the breathtaking landscape is from the stunning Kobuntei, one of Nariaki Tokugawa’s residences.
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Fukuda Pottery Works
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Buyu Sake Brewery
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Tsumugi-no-Yakata
Kairakuen Garden/Kobuntei
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Kodokan
Kimuraya-Honten This long history store now run by its sixth owner, puts Mito’s numerous plum trees to good use by creating delightful artisan desserts like Mito-no-ume, which are almost too adorable to eat. The sweet plum flavor is simply irresistible. Nariaki Tokugawa would be proud. 6
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7 Tanukian Tsutaya With over 142 years perfecting its craft, this restaurant creates delicious Soba Inari — sweet deep-fried tofu wrapped around Japanese noodles. This delicacy is closely connected to Inari shrines and its fox messengers, as there is a belief that they love eating deep-fried tofu.
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Modern Technology and Japanese Nature in Ibaraki Tsukuba Science City/Mt. Tsukuba/Kasumigaura On the more modern side of Ibaraki, the studious city of Tsukuba has become influential in the world of science and technology. Like the young samurai before them at Kodokan, the children of Ibaraki are hungry for knowledge, and the Tsukuba Expo Center provides a fun place to learn through its dazzling planetarium, full-scale 50-meter-tall (164 ft) model rocket, and various exciting hands-on exhibits. Though the world is separated by many countries and cultures, the pursuit of science seems to always bring people together. That is especially true for the Japanese space program which contributed greatly to the International Space Station with the addition of the Japanese Experiment Module, the largest single component of the ISS. At Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency ( JAXA) in Tsukuba, models of the satellites, modules, asteroid explorers, and rockets being used to launch Japan into the future are on full display. Reignite your passion for science and exploration as you learn about space at JAXA. Back on Earth, among the flat farmlands and grand lakes of Ibaraki, rugged mountains also found their place — the most notable being Mt . Tsukuba nick named “ Shiho ” or “ Pur ple Peak ” for i t s color f ul transformations in the morning and evening. The sacred mountain covered in v ibrant fores t s is Ibaraki ’s top location for hiking and relaxation. Many natural hot springs ONSEN bubbling up around Mt. Tsukuba welcome climbers after an active day of sightseeing. Amidst such awe-inspiring nature, Ibaraki overflows with spirituality. Today Jap ane s e p e ople s t ill make t he pilg r image up t he ancient Tsukuba-michi road to one of the Kanto region’s most famous shrines, Tsukubasan-jinja Shrine, to visit the cultural site and the mountain’s many sacred power spots like the impressive “Osugi”, an enormous, centuries-old cedar tree. The mountainside shrine highlights the age-old culture of Ibaraki with its various religious structures decorated with intricate wood carvings. There are also shrines located of Mt. Tsukuba’s two peaks, Nantaisan and Nyotaisan, which reach up to 877 meters (2877 ft). Both are accessible by cable car and ropeway to hikers who want to experience Ibaraki’s nature and look out over the city below. Ibaraki promotes its luscious greenery and landscapes by making it a central part of many fun-filled activities. At Forest Adventure Tsukuba, test your balance and bravery by climbing around their thrilling courses among the leaves. Great attention is put into cultivating a beautiful natural environment to maximize the experience throughout Japan’s changing seasons. You can also appreciate Ibaraki’s natural scenery while getting some great exercise by renting a bicycle and riding along the Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-Ring Road. These former railroad tracks now take cyclists on a journey around Lake Kasumigaura, Japan’s second largest lake, and the surrounding area through grassy fields, shaded tunnels of leafy trees, old Edo towns, and more. As one of Japan’s most important bread-baskets, Ibaraki is a fantastic place to pick your own fresh fruit and vegetables. Fukuda Green Farm is full of juicy produce, such as pears and persimmons, ready to be gathered at eaten among friends and family. Moreover, Kasumigaura area is the best of blueberry production in Japan. Thanks to Ibaraki’s fer tile farmland, the prefecture has gained a reputation for having delicious food. You can easily find tast y, fresh-from-the-oven bread f ro m l o c a l b a ke r ie s like M o r ge n in Ts uk ub a , a to w n f a m o u s f o r mouth-watering bread and pastries. For meat-lovers, Hitachi gyu’s high grade beef is tender and rich in flavor. 3
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Tsukuba Expo Center
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Onsen in Mt. Tsukuba area
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JAXA 8
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Forest Adventure Tsukuba
Mt. Tsukuba cable car
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Fukuda Green Farm
The top of Mt. Tsukuba
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Hitachi beef
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Mt. Tsukuba
10 Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-Ring Road
11 Tsukubasan-jinja Shrine
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Superb Ocean Views
And More
Ibaraki’s eastern coast is lined with fantastic ocean views from beautiful beaches like Oarai which is mostly known for its iconic seaside Shinto shrine. The powerful silhouetted structure against the horizon creates spectacular sunrise views. On the coast, there is also the stunning hexagonal observation building Izura Rokkakudo designed by legendary architect Tenshin Okakura who founded the Japan Art Institute and Tokyo Fine Arts School and wrote “The Book of Tea” published in the USA, like it was pulled directly from an old Japanese painting, Izura Rokkakudo quietly looks out over the ocean from the cliffs of northern Ibaraki as powerful waves crash against the rocks.
Ibaraki is proud of its cultural heritage and incredible nature sprawling across the whole prefecture, and there is a lot to love. Witness the dreamlike oceanviews of Oarai lsosaki-jinja Shrine as waves from the Pacific Ocean crash into the Shinto Gate of the Seashore God, “Kamiiso-no-torii”, spraying a cool, refreshing mist into the air. Take a relaxing hike through the mountains under the crimson autumn leaves to thundering waterfalls and stunning panoramic views. 3
Seasonal Festivities
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Watch the seasons come to life in spring, summer, and fall as colorful flowers bloom across Ibaraki. One of the 34 most beautiful places in all of Japan, according to CNN, Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki offers a number of outdoor activities among the unique pom-pom-like kochia plants. In addition, Suigo Itako presents Japanese culture through traditional dances and various festivals in early summer.
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to visit...
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Superb Mountain Views
From the seaside to the mountaintops and the fertile farmland in between, Ibaraki offers a number of attractive sites and activities without the massive lines and crowds. It is also conveniently located near Narita International Airport making it a great first destination after arriving. In Ibaraki, there are a variety of ways to experience the beauty and culture of Japan for all kinds of people from all over the world.
Listed as one of the 3 most famous waterfalls in Japan, the multi-layered cascade of thundering water at Fukuroda Falls does not disappoint. Witness its beauty year-round as the seasons change. For more excitement, you can take a thrilling dive right into Ibaraki’s beautiful mountain scenery from one of the longest suspension bridges in Japan, Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge, 375 meters (1,230 ft) above the gorge.
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IBARAKI sense: a place to touch Ibaraki in Tokyo
Explore Japanese Shrines As the largest and oldest Shinto shrine in the Kanto region, Kashima Jingu Grand Shrine, located in the center of Kashima city holds a lot of history and cultural significance. Even the Imperial Envoys have come to Kashima over the years to visit. This shrine dedicated to the deity of martial arts holds Japan’s oldest and largest straight sword.
1 Oarai Isosaki-jinja Shrine
2 Hitachi Seaside Park
4 Kashima Jingu Grand Shrine
3 Suigo Itako
5 Izura Rokkakudo
Hours: Shop & Cafe/ 10:30am - 8pm, Restaurant/ 11am - 11pm (- 9pm Sun & Holiday) Address: 1-2-1, Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Access: 6-min from Ginza Station (Tokyo Metro) on foot or 3-min from Yurakucho Station (JR) on foot
IBARAKI NAVI Ibaraki Prefectural Tourism & Local Products Association
http://english.ibarakiguide.jp
6 Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge 7 Bungee Jump at the Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge
Ibaraki sense is a shop that gathers the bes t that the prefecture has to offer all in one place in the luxurious Ginza shopping district in Tokyo. Even the design of the shop reflects the charm of Ibaraki through their use of materials, like warm natural wood and stone found in the region, and each corner represents a unique region of the rich Ibaraki prefecture.
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ACCESS Train Station JR Mito Line JR Joban Line Joso Line Hitachi-Daigo Sta. JR Suigun Line Fukuroda Sta. Minato Line JR Narita Line Ryugasaki Line Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Oarai Kashima Line Tsukuba Express JR Tohoku Main Line
Expressway Interchange Expressway
Isohara Sta.
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Takahagi IC
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Hitachi-Kita IC
6 Hitachiota Sta.
Mito IC
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Koga Sta.
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Shimotsuma Sta.
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Tsukuba Sta. Metropolitan Inter-City Expressway to Tokyo
Joban Expressway
Ibaraki Airport
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Taiyo Sta.
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Inashiki IC
Kas Kashima-Jingu Sta. 4 Itako IC
Sanuki Sta. Ryugasaki Sta. Toride Sta.
to Tokyo
Higashi-Kanto Expressway
Haneda Airport
Kairakuen Garden/Kobuntei
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Kimuraya-Honten
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2 JAXA Tsukuba Expo Center Forest Adventure Tsukuba
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Kodokan
Tanukian Tsutaya
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Explore Mito Route (P1-2)
Explore Yuki Route (P1-2)
Around Mt. Tsukuba Route (P3-4)
Mito Sta.
Yuki Sta.
Tsukuba Sta.
10 min by bus Kairakuen Garden
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Mt. Tsukuba cable car
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Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-Ring Road
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Tsukubasan-jinja Shrine
Kodokan
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2 Hitachi Seaside Park Oarai Isosaki-jinja Shrine 4 Kashima Jingu Grand Shrine Suigo Itako
Kimuraya-Honten
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6 Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge Izura Rokkakudo Bungee Jump at the Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge
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Fukuroda Falls
Change to JR Mito Line, JR Suigun Line, Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Oarai Kashima Line
Akihabara Sta. (Tokyo) ⬇︎ 45min Tsukuba Express ⬇︎ Tsukuba Sta.
Tokyo to Mito
Recommended Travel Plan
Fukuda Pottery Works 2 Tsumugi-no-Yakata 3 Buyu Sake Brewery 5
Tokyo Sta. ⬇︎ 75min (by Super Hitachi Limited Express) JR Joban Line ⬇︎ Mito Sta.
Highway Bus
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Tokyo to Mito
Tokyo Sta. ⬇︎ 45min JR Tohoku Shinkansen ⬇︎ Oyama Sta. ⬇︎ 23min JR Mito Line ⬇︎ Shimodate Sta.
to Tokyo
Shinagawa Sta.
Train
Tokyo to Shimodate
Narita Airport Akihabara Sta. Tokyo Sta.
Narita Airport (Shin-kuko IC) ⬇︎ 75min by car on an expressway ⬇︎ Mito IC
Akihabara to Tsukuba
Lake Kasumigaura
Ushiku Sta.
Moriya Sta.
Narita to Mito
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Shin-Hokota Sta.
Tsuchiura Sta.
2 Mitsukaido Sta.
Ibarakikuko-Kita IC
4 Ishioka Sta.
Sakaikoga IC
Ibarakimachi JCT
Iwama IC
Mt. Tsukuba
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Ajigaura Sta. 1 Oarai Sta.
Mito Sta.
Tomobe IC
Shimodate Sta.
Yuki Sta.
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Car
Hitachi-Minamiota IC
Tokai Sta.
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Kasama Sta. Oyama Sta.
Hitachi Sta.
Hitachi-Chuo IC
to Utsunomiya
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Takahagi Sta.
Mt. Nantai
Hitachiomiya Sta.
Kita-Kanto Expressway
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Kita-Ibaraki IC
30 min on foot
10 min on foot
15 min on foot Tsumugi-no-Yakata
30 min by car Mt. Tsukuba
10 min on foot Buyu Sake Brewery
40 min by car JAXA
10 min on foot Yuki Sta.
10 min by car Tsukuba Expo Center
10 min on foot
3 min on foot
Mito Sta.
Tsukuba Sta.
See more travel plan ▶ http://english.ibarakiguide.jp/model-course.html
Ibaraki Prefectural Government, International Tourism Division, Bureau of Tourism 978-6 Kasahara-cho, Mito-shi, Ibaraki 310-8555, Japan
Phone: +81-29-301-3616
Tokyo Sta. ⬇︎ 1h45min by Mitogo ⬇︎ Mito Sta. Narita to Hitachi Narita Airport ⬇︎ 1h44min ⬇︎ Mito Sta. ⬇︎ 1h14min ⬇ Hitachi Sta. Ibaraki Airport to Mito Ibaraki Airport ⬇ 40min ⬇ Mito Sta.