Visit

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

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.

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.