Hobikisen: Traditional Fishing Boat

Eastern Ibaraki

Southern Ibaraki

Other

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

Information

Address: Lake Kasumiguara
Access: By car: 40-minute drive from Tsuchiura City along the Tsuchiura-Kita IC on the Joban Expressway
Business Hours: Please inquire for prices
Website: https://www.ibarakiguide.jp/special/kasumigaura_hobikisen.html
Contact: Please direct inquiries to the relevant municipality.
Tsuchiura City Tourism Department: 029-826-1111
Kasumigaura City Tourism Association: 029-897-1111
Namegata City Public Development Company: 291-32-7561
Prices: Tsuchiura City The White Iris Sightseeing Cruise
Adults: 1570 yen
Children: 780 yen
The Jet Wheel Tsukuba
Adults: 1680 yen
Children: 840 yen

Map

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Tsukuba City

Southern Ibaraki

Mount Tsukuba

The twin peaks of Mount Tsukuba are symbolic of Ibaraki. In Japanese, the peaks are Nyotai and Nantai, meaning the female peak and male peak, respectively. At 877 meters tall, Nyotai, the female peak, is the higher of the two. Mount Tsukuba is accessible in under two hours from Tokyo, making it ideal for escaping city life and getting in touch with nature. There are over 1000 species of flora and fauna on the mountain alone!
Both peaks are easily accessible by cable car or ropeway. If you're looking to exercise, there are plenty of hiking trails that suit all levels. Many trails have unique rock formations and historical Shinto sites.
While Mount Fuji is the symbol of western Japan, Mount Tsukuba is undeniably the symbol of eastern Japan. No trip to the Kanto region is complete without exploring this mountain!

Parks/Nature

Tsukuba City

Southern Ibaraki

Tsukuba Dog Park WanWan Land

There are over 80 dog breeds at this theme park. Visitors are also welcome to bring their dogs to the park.

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Southern Ibaraki

Hirose Company

Hirose Company is a sake brewery on the banks of the Koise River established in 1805. Blessed with cold land suited for sake brewing and groundwater from the Mt. Tsukuba system, the brewery produces sake, umeshu (plum liqueur), and other liqueurs. Shiragiku, one of their notable brands, is excellent as a souvenir since it's exclusively crafted using rice grown by contract farmers in Ibaraki Prefecture.

You can make an advance phone reservation if you want to tour the brewery.

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