Kokai River Park & Poppy Fields

Shimotsuma City

Western Ibaraki

Parks/Nature

This riverside is split into fours zones: the Nature Observation Zone, Sports Zone, Nature Center, and Flower Zone.
The Kokai River is famous for fields of poppies that bloom from mid-May onwards. Over two million poppies fill the park with color. This striking sight is paired with the stunning backdrop of Mount Tsukuba.
There is also a range of activities, such as golfing and cycling, available around the park.

Information

Address: 1650-1 Horigome, Shimotsuma City
Access: By public transport: From Shimotsuma Station on the Kanto Railway Joso Line, take a Kanto Tetsudo bus bound for Tsuchiura Station or Tsukuba Center. Get off at Hike bus stop.
By car: 30 minutes via the Tsuchiura-Kita IC on the Joban Expressway
Business Hours: April to October: 9:00-16:30
November to March: 9:00-16:00
Closed: Mondays (open Monday and closed Tuesday if Monday is a national holiday), over the New Year Holiday period
Website: https://www.shimotsuma-kankou.jp/section.php?type=0&mode=detail&code=201
Contact: 0296-45-0200

Map

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Moka Railway

Japan is famous for its trains, and the Moka Railway is no exception. This historical steam railway is a great way to experience the bygone days of Japan while taking in sweeping views of Ibaraki and Tochigi's countryside.
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Coworking & Café Yuinowa

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Yuki-tsumugi is the oldest silk fabric in Japan with a history of over 2,000 years, produced mainly in Yuki City, and is registered as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

You can experience Japanese culture on a deeper level by renting a Haori made from precious materials and strolling through the nostalgic streets lined with shops selling local products, stylish cafés, and sake breweries. Please inquire about rentals in advance via the facility's website.

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Aoki Sake Brewery

Founded in 1831, Aoki Sake Brewery is currently the only sake brewer in Koga City that performs all of the operations from brewing the sake to selling and also continues to preserve the local flavor. The building, a merchant-style structure with a doma (earthen-floor entrance), is over 100 years old, and the red brick walls, common in Koga—a region historically known for brick production—create a nostalgic atmosphere, as if stepping back in time. Sake made from local rice such as Nipponbare and Hitachi-Nishiki, grown in the rich soil of Ibaraki Prefecture, all have a crisp taste and have won them numerous awards in Japan.
There is also a store, and you can visit the brewery and taste the sake, so please inquire in advance.

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