Visit

Karakasa Manto Festival

This festival dates back to the Edo Period and takes place on the 15th of August every year.
During the festival, a traditonal umbrella known as a 'karakasa' around 5m accross and 6m tall is lit up with fireworks. The fireworks cascade down the umbrella in a fiery spectacle for nearly 10 minutes.
The festival is dedicated to wishing for a bountiful harvest, the safety of one's family and peace. 

Yoshida Lotus Root Farm

Ibaraki Prefecture is the top lotus root producer in Japan, with the vegetable growing especially well around Lake Kasumigaura. Yoshida Lotus Root Farm not only cultivates the root vegetable but also produces lotus leaf tea and lotus root products. They aim to grow lotus roots in a way that is great for the environment and your body while avoiding using pesticides as much as possible. Lotus roots―eaten boiled, stir-fried, and even raw―are highly nutritious in vitamin C, tannins, potassium, and dietary fibers and offer many health benefits. Lotus leaf tea is also effective for swelling and constipation, expelling toxins from your body, and is great for beautifying the skin.

At Yoshida Lotus Root Farm, you can visit the lotus fields and purchase lotus root products as souvenirs. Lotus root must be eaten fresh, so advance reservations are required if you wish to buy any produce.
Due to being near Ring Ring Road, it's a recommended place to stop by while cycling.

Hobikisen: Traditional Fishing Boat

Hobikisen describes a traditional wooden fishing boat that sails along Lake Kasumigaura, the second largest lake in Japan. These boats with billowing white sails evoke a nostalgic sense of days gone by.
During the warmer months, visitors can take a cruise on the lake to observe traditional fishing boats at work.
Three municipalities in the Lake Kasumigaura area offer these sightseeing boat trips: Kasumigaura City, Tsuchiura City, and Namegata City.

*Picture courtesy of Kasumigaura city