IBARAKI GUIDE

Discover the Ushiku Daibutsu, the World’s Tallest Bronze Buddha Statue, and Enjoy Delicious Food and Shopping in a Day Trip

The Ushiku Daibutsu in Ibaraki Prefecture is the tallest bronze statue of the Buddha worldwide. Standing 120 meters tall, this statue has a temple inside offering visitors a place of worship. Temple-goers can enjoy not only attractions of the statue, but also seasonal flowers in the surrounding garden and a small petting zoo opened on Sundays and holidays.

A winery designated as a Japan Heritage, where visitors can dine, is located nearby. There is also an outlet mall in the area. The following is a recommended route for a day trip from Tokyo to enjoy the Daibutsu and its surroundings.

A 2-Day, 1-Night Trip to Kasama: Enjoy Pottery and Local Culture

Those interested in pottery and art should visit Kasama City, known for its unique pottery culture, and the Kasama Himatsuri Pottery Festival. Kasama-yaki (pottery) has a long history and is designated as a Japan Heritage. In the following, we will introduce a 2-day/1-night model course that allows you to fully enjoy the local pottery culture as well as attractive local restaurants and eateries, the Kasama Inari Shrine—one of the three major Inari shrines in Japan—museums and parks. A rental bicycle will be used on the first day, with walking and a taxi ride on the second day.

A Full Day in the Mt. Tsukuba Area! From Nature Walks to Hot Springs!

Mount Tsukuba is a sacred mountain which is even mentioned in the famous saying 'Tsukuba to the east and Fuji to the west.' With its two peaks, Mount Tsukuba has been designated a geopark, along with its surrounding area, due to its rich vegetation and wildlife. It has been dearly loved for many years by nature and hiking enthusiasts.This model itinerary will allow you to enjoy Mt. Tsukuba to the fullest, including hiking in nature, visiting a historical shrine, enjoying a day-trip hot spring, and more.