Kairakuen Garden

Mito City

Central Ibaraki

Parks/Nature

Castles/Historical Sites

Kairakuen Garden is ranked among Japan’s top three most beautiful gardens, alongside Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama. The garden was established in 1842 by Nariaki Tokugawa, the ninth feudal lord of the Mito Domain. It has since served as a place of relaxation and recreation for the public.
Kairakuen is famous for its Plum Blossom Festival (Ume Matsuri) held from late February to early March. It is home to around 3,000 plum trees from 100 different varieties. Cherry blossoms and azalea in the spring and Japanese bush clovers in autumn keep Kairakuen looking beautiful year-round.
Website: https://ibaraki-kairakuen.jp/en/language/

Information

Address: 1-1251 Migawa, Mito
Access: By public transport: 20 to 25-minute walk or 15-minute bus ride from Mito Station. During the Plum Blossom Festival (mid-February to early March), a limited number of express trains from Tokyo stop at a temporary station. For more information, please check the train timetables.
Business Hours: Hours
February 20 to September 30
6:00-19:00
October 1 to February 19
7:00-18:00
Closed
Open year-round
Website: https://ibaraki-kairakuen.jp/en/language/
Prices: Kairakuen Garden
Adults: 300 yen
Children: 150 yen
Group Discount Price (20 people or more)
Adults: 230 yen
Children: 120 yen
Kobuntei Villa
Adults: 200 yen
Children: 100 yen
Group Discount Price (20 people or more)
Adults: 150 yen
Children: 80 yen

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Oarai Town

Central Ibaraki

Oarai Town Tourist Information Center Umimachi Terrace

Umimachi Terrace, the Oarai Town Tourist Information Center, is next to Oarai Station and serves as the town's central hub for sightseeing.

Bicycle rentals are available here with no reservations required. Two kinds of bikes are available: a sports e-bike and a power-assisted Mini Velo bicycle. So choose the one that best suits your sightseeing style.

You can also rent a tuk-tuk, an unusual method of transportation in Japan. It's possible to have a guide on board to provide sightseeing information and driving support. This will ensure that you have a worry-free experience (A valid Japanese driver's license is required for a tuk-tuk rental).

The tourist center also offers unique souvenirs and original products exclusive to Oarai.

Shopping Spots

Other

Hitachinaka City

Central Ibaraki

Hoshiimo Shrine / Horide Shrine

Horide Shrine and Hoshiimo Shrine are on a hill with a beautiful view of Ajigaura Beach. The name Horide comes from "horidasu," or the Japanese verb for "to dig out." In 1663, locals unearthed armor, spears, and katana swords in the surrounding area and built a small shrine to enshrine these items. Several years later, an ancient mirror was dedicated to the shrine by Tokugawa Mitsukuni, a historical figure who governed over the local Mito Domain (a domain encompassing modern-day central and northern Ibaraki). It soon became the shrine's object of worship. The shrine is called "Horide" because both the first items found here and the mirror were dug up. Hachiman, the deity of academics and warding against evil spirits, is worshipped here.

In 2019, Hoshiimo Shrine was newly built on the grounds of Horide Shrine. Ibaraki Prefecture ranks the highest in production volume for hoshi-imo (dried sweet potatoes) in Japan. Moreover, Hitachinaka, where the shrine is located, is th…

Temples/Shrines

Mito City

Central Ibaraki

Meiri Shurui Brewing

The yeast used in the brewery process at Meiri Shurui gives their sake a light, fruity aroma without added acidity. The Besshunkan Visitor Brewery explains how sake is made, including complimentary tastings. There's also a shop selling refined sake and plum wine.

Traditional Crafts/Sake Breweries

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