Sakihama Oyster Fossil Bed

Kasumigaura City

Southern Ibaraki

Castles/Historical Sites

The Sakihama Oyster Fossil Bed and Tunnel Tombs formed approximately 120 to 130,000 years ago when this area was at the bottom of the ocean. This oyster shell bed was shaped by the exposure of geological formations deposited with fossil oyster shells. During the late Kofun period between the 6th and 7th century AD, this place was used as tunnel tombs dug into the slopes. A total of 17 tunnel tombs were discovered in various types, including tombs with only a main area for the coffin, while other tombs had three parts in the front and two sides.

Because it is near Ring Ring Road, it's a great place to visit while cycling if you're interested in Japanese history.

Information

Address: Kamo, Kasumigaura, Ibaraki
Access: By public transport: 25 minutes by taxi from Tsuchiura Station
By car: 15 minutes from the Tsuchiura-Kita IC on the Joban Expressway
Business Hours: 24 hours
Parking: Please park at a nearby parking lot.

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Tsukuba City

Southern Ibaraki

Mount Tsukuba Plum Blossom Festival

In early spring, over 1000 plum trees blossom on the slopes of Mount Tsukuba. The plum groves are located at an altitude of around 250 meters, offering panoramic views over the Ibaraki countryside. Visitors can even see as far as Tokyo on clear days.

Festivals/Events

Kasumigaura City

Southern Ibaraki

Fujimizuka Kofun Park

Fujimizuka Kofun Park is on a hill that overlooks Lake Kasumigaura. Within the park there are several tumuli (burial mounds) mainly constructed druing the Kofun period (mainly between the 3rd and 7th centuries) by packing earth over the top of the tombs. The largest keyhole-shaped tumulus at the center of the park is estimated to date back to the early 6th century. With a total length of 78 meters, it ranks among the largest in the prefecture.

As the name suggests, Mount Fuji can sometimes be seen from the top of the tumulus. The exhibition hall at the foot of the hill features haniwa (terracotta funerary figures) unearthed from the nearby tumuli, including house-shaped, cylindrical, and some shapes rare in Japan, as well as exhibit panels on excavations.

It is recommended that you stop by this place if you are interested in Japanese history. It is located near Ring Ring Road.

Castles/Historical Sites

Tsukuba City

Southern Ibaraki

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…

Castles/Historical Sites

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