Visit

Mentai Park

Mentai Park merges a mini-museum, souvenir shop, and cafe with the Kanefuku Mentai Factory site in Oarai. "Mentai" or "mentaiko" refers to marinated cod roe, a popular food in Japan featured in everything from pasta sauce, mayonnaise, and onigiri rice balls!
At Mentai Park, visitors can observe the production process and sample food made with mentaiko, including snacks like onigiri and ice cream! In the souvenir shop, purchase some mentaiko to take home or snag a giant mentaiko plushy of Tarapiyo, the company's mascot.

Kasama Azalea Festival

The Kasama Azalea Festival dates back to 1967 when locals launched a movement to plant as many azalea plants as the number of Kasama residents. The festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2022. The festival venue, Kasama Azalea Park, is located on the side of a small mountain across seven hectares. During the azalea season, around 8500 azalea plants cover the hillside in a sea of red from late April to early May. Various events are held around the area to coincide with the festivities.

Lake Senba

Located in the heart of Mito City, Lake Senba is a great place to relax for locals and visitors alike.
The lake is encircled by a 3-kilometer-long walking and jogging route near Kairakuen Garden and the Ibaraki Museum of Modern Art. It is the ideal route for a relaxing day of sightseeing. Bicycles and swan-shaped pedal boats are also available to rent. Moreover, there are several cafes on the lakeshore for a coffee or ice cream after your stroll.
Plenty of wildlife can be found around Lake Senba. Koi carp and terrapins inhabit the lake, while swans and other birds are seen swimming along the banks. Around 30 whooper swans make their nests at the lake between mid-October and March each year. Be sure to observe these swans from afar.