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Oda Castle Ruins

Oda Castle was the residence of the Oda clan, an incredibly influential family in the area from the 12th to 17th centuries. Currently, only the ruins of the castle remain.

At the time, the Imperial Court was divided into the Northern Court in present-day Kyoto and the Southern Court in present-day Nara Prefecture. The castle was the regional headquarters for the Southern Court during the Nanbokucho period (1336-1392), a time of conflict between the two courts, and is a designated national historic site.

During the 20th century, the center of the castle was bisected by the tracks of the Tsukuba Railway.

After Tsukuba Railway became defunct in 1987, almost the entire line was redeveloped into Tsukuba Ring Ring Road. The section of the tracks that bisected Oda Castle was modified to go around outside the ruins. However, the railway tracks remain a passage cut and feature a cross-section view of the castle earthwork.

The earthwo…

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.

Urazato Brewery

Urazato Brewery was founded in 1877. By removing as much of the fat and protein from rice in the brewing process, Urazato produces ultra-high quality sake. Urazato aims to make sake that pairs well with meals while being a local institution. The sake is sold throughout Ibaraki, particularly in the brewery's hometown of Tsukuba City.