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Kurosawa Soy Sauce

Kurosawa Soy Sauce has been making soy sauce while preserving traditional methods since its founding in 1905. The brewery creates various products utilizing wooden barrels passed down for over 100 years, the natural yeast and lactic acid bacteria that live in the brewery, and capitalizing on years of experience. The popular Hishiogura (double-brewed soy sauce) is ideal for sashimi (sliced raw fish) or dipping sauce. Awazuke, an ingredient in pickled vegetables, can easily turn any vegetable into pickles. Their flavorful ponzu (Japanese seasoning made with citrus juice), mentsuyu (traditional soup ingredient used in noodle dishes), and yakiniku tare (Japanese barbeque sauce) are also popular products! Brewery tours are also possible through advanced reservations.

The shop and KURA CAFE utilize the warehouse space on the brewery grounds with desserts served at the cafe, enhancing the flavors in malted rice and soy sauce. The amazake shoyu soft serve, a soy sauce soft ser…

Kasama Himatsuri Pottery Festival

This is the largest pottery and arts festival in Ibaraki, attracting nearly 550,000 visitors each year. More than 200 artists, craftspeople, and gallery owners exhibit their works at the festival. Even if pottery isn’t your thing, this festival is worth visiting to see the individuality and artistry that goes into each display.
Exploring the festival will work up an appetite, but plenty of food stalls will satiate the stomach. Many of these stalls are run by local artists who serve fusion dishes and fun twists on classic Japanese festival food.
Various events take place during the festivities, including a clay mask auction, musical performances, and special exhibitions by local children. Kids can also make their own clay models and use a potter’s wheel.

Tokiwa Shrine

Located next to Kairakuen Garden, Tokiwa Shrine is the largest shrine in Mito City. It is dedicated to Tokugawa Mitsukuni and Tokugawa Nariaki, the second and ninth feudal lords of the Mito Domain during the Edo Period (1603–1868).
Additionally, the Giretsukan building contains paintings, calligraphy, and artworks left by the two lords.