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Tsukuba Botanical Garden

Tsukuba Botanical Garden is a unique and fascinating botanical garden in Tsukuba City, one of Japan's leading research hubs.

The expansive grounds showcase plants that are representative of Japan, as well as rare species from all over the world. Visitors can learn about plant variety and evolution, with approximately 3,000 species from diverse climate zones such as tropical, arid, and temperate regions. It provides a chance to experience the rich diversity of nature and feel the mystery of the natural world.

The garden also has special exhibitions and workshops, providing a range of events that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The gift shop offers guidebooks, botanical postcards, bookmarks, notepapers, plant-related books, and the original products.
Tsukuba Botanical Garden is highly recommended as a place where visitors can enjoy both educational experiences and relaxation.

Fukasaku Farm

Fukasaku Farm in Ibaraki is a popular destination for visitors looking to enjoy fresh fruit.

The farm is well-known for its seasonal fruit-picking experiences, such as sweet melons and strawberries, grown using the farm's unique agricultural methods. In the fall, visitors can also enjoy sweet potato digging, a local specialty of Ibaraki, and indulge in the region's delicious flavors.

In addition to a direct sales shop, there is a Baumkuchen specialty store that uses the farm's vegetables and fruits, a patisserie café, and a gelato shop on the premises. These facilities are extremely popular, often resulting in queues.

Fukasaku's farming methods, crops, and food products have been highly praised in various domestic and international competitions, winning numerous awards.

Hoshiimo Specialty Shop Daimaruya

Daimaruya was established in 1897. To fully bring out the natural flavor of the ingredients, they have been making additive-free products for over 120 years since their founding.

The shop offers a variety of sweet potato-based products, including dried sweet potatoes. Additionally, they have a selection of additive-free gelato made without artificial flavors or preservatives, featuring unique flavors like several types of sweet potato and Ibaraki's famous melon. There are also find pickled shallots, honey, original sweet potato shochu, and plum wine, making this an ideal spot for picking up souvenirs.

Daimaruya also offers workshops on making dried sweet potatoes. Reservations are required; please check the official website for more details.

Ibaraki Airport

Ibaraki Airport is a convenient regional airport.

The airport offers international flights to Taipei City, Taiwan. In addition to its four direct domestic flights to Sapporo (New Chitose Airport), Kobe, Fukuoka, and Naha, there are also domestic connecting flights to Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Miyako (Shimoji Island).

The airport is small, so there is less need to move around, resulting in a seamless experience. It also offers great access, with only about 100 minutes required by bus from Tokyo Station. This makes it perfect for sightseeing or business. Additionally, there are bus routes connecting the prefecture's main stations, Mito Station and Ishioka Station.
Another recommended option for getting around is renting a car at the airport. If visitors to the prefecture stay in an accommodation facility in Ibaraki for more than one night, they can rent a car starting from 1,000 yen (a special rent-a-car campaign). Ibaraki is a large prefecture, so e…

Himegataki Apple Orchards

Daigo, located in northwestern Ibaraki Prefecture, thrives in apple cultivation that takes advantage of the area's climate. The apples grown in this region are called Okukuji apples and are packed with juicy sweetness.

Himegataki Apple Orchards, located between the Kuji River and Tsukimachi Falls, is one of the orchards that grows Okukuji apples. The orchards carefully grow multiple apple varieties without the use of chemical fertilizers.

In the autumn, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat apple-picking experiences and savor freshly picked apples filled with sweetness right on the spot. You also have the option to take home your freshly picked apples.

*Please check their website for information on opening times

Former Uwaoka Elementary School

The Former Uwaoka Elementary School was founded in 1879 and is located in a quaint wooden schoolhouse with a retro ambiance.

The school closed in 2001 but has been beautifully preserved, and you can tour inside the building. The old desks, chairs, and chalkboards that fill the classrooms and hallways will make you feel as if you've traveled back in time.

This particular schoolhouse is famous as a filming location for many television series, such as "Hanako and Anne" and "Ohisama." It's especially recommended to visit in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom or in the fall when the surrounding mountains are adorned with vibrant autumn leaves. The school is typically open to the public only on weekends and holidays but is open daily during these two seasons.

Eigenji Temple (Momiji Temple)

Eigenji Temple was constructed in 1446 and enshrines Benzaiten, the goddess of performing arts and one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japan. It is also known as Momiji Temple due to the beautiful maple leaves (momiji) that can be seen on the temple grounds.

At Eigenji Temple, the leaves begin to change colors around late October, with early to mid-November being the best time to see them. The autumn leaves filling the temple grounds create a wonderful sight, making it a popular spot for tourists.

Eigenji Temple is situated on elevated ground, offering a stunning bird's eye view of Daigo's townscape.

Kijian

Ibaraki Prefecture is Japan's second-largest lacquer producer, and the center of production is the town of Daigo. Daigo lacquer is characterized by its high transparency and quality sheen, making it a very rare and high-quality product.

The Kijian brand was established to pass down the appeal of Daigo lacquer of the exceptional quality to future generations.
At Kijian, they meticulously carry out the entire process, from cultivating lacquer trees and refining lacquer to creating wooden bases, applying lacquer, and selling lacquerware. Some of their work can be found at their gallery shop, which is located in an old warehouse.

Daigo lacquer tableware makes great souvenirs. The lacquer develops a beautiful sheen that becomes more vivid and transparent with continued use.

Oarai Town Tourist Information Center Umimachi Terrace

Umimachi Terrace, the Oarai Town Tourist Information Center, is next to Oarai Station and serves as the town's central hub for sightseeing.

Bicycle rentals are available here with no reservations required. Two kinds of bikes are available: a sports e-bike and a power-assisted Mini Velo bicycle. So choose the one that best suits your sightseeing style.

You can also rent a tuk-tuk, an unusual method of transportation in Japan. It's possible to have a guide on board to provide sightseeing information and driving support. This will ensure that you have a worry-free experience (A valid Japanese driver's license is required for a tuk-tuk rental).

The tourist center also offers unique souvenirs and original products exclusive to Oarai.

Tsukubasan Shrine

Tsukuba Shrine is a venerable and historic shrine, believed to have approximately 3,000 years of history, dedicated to the sacred Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki. It is one of Japan's most prestigious and historically significant shrines.

Mt. Tsukuba features two peaks: Mount Nantai (Male Peak) and Mount Nyotai (Female Peak). It is believed that deities associated with Japan's creation myth, Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto, reside at each summit. For that reason, the shrine is believed to bring good luck in matchmaking, safety for one's family, pregnancy, and childrearing.

The shrine serves as the starting point for sightseeing on Mt. Tsukuba. Many visitors come here to pray for a safe hike up the mountain. Its location at the base of Mt. Nantai also offers convenient access to the cable car platform.

Fujimizuka Kofun Park

Fujimizuka Kofun Park is on a hill that overlooks Lake Kasumigaura. Within the park there are several tumuli (burial mounds) mainly constructed druing the Kofun period (mainly between the 3rd and 7th centuries) by packing earth over the top of the tombs. The largest keyhole-shaped tumulus at the center of the park is estimated to date back to the early 6th century. With a total length of 78 meters, it ranks among the largest in the prefecture.

As the name suggests, Mount Fuji can sometimes be seen from the top of the tumulus. The exhibition hall at the foot of the hill features haniwa (terracotta funerary figures) unearthed from the nearby tumuli, including house-shaped, cylindrical, and some shapes rare in Japan, as well as exhibit panels on excavations.

It is recommended that you stop by this place if you are interested in Japanese history. It is located near Ring Ring Road.

Ayumizaki Park

Ayumizaki Park is located next to the Tsukuba Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road, which is part of the national cycle route. It offers stunning views of Kasumigaura, the second-largest lake in Japan. The park features a local museum, an aquarium, a forest park, an Edo-period private garden, and an old private house named Ayumian. The aquarium displays 1,500 Kasumigaura fish of about 110 species, and outside, there is a small viewing platform and a combined deck with playground equipment. The Ayumian Tea House has a tea room and tatami room, where visitors can take a break and enjoy a cup of match tea. The Ayumizaki Observatory, located a short distance up the hill, has an attractive view and has been selected as one of the 100 best views in Ibaraki.