Visit

Mount Tsukuba Plum Blossom Festival

In early spring, over 1000 plum trees blossom on the slopes of Mount Tsukuba. The plum groves are located at an altitude of around 250 meters, offering panoramic views over the Ibaraki countryside. Visitors can even see as far as Tokyo on clear days.

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. 

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!