Visit

Mito Daishi Rokujizoji Temple

Founded in 807, Mito Daishi Rokujizoji Temple has long been known as a sacred place for safe childbirth and child-rearing. It is especially popular during the Japanese tradition of omiyamairi, a ceremony held around 30 days after a child’s birth to pray for lifelong health and good fortune, drawing parents and children from across the Kanto region.
It is the family temple of the Shogunate and the Mito Tokugawa family and is one of the best spots in Ibaraki Prefecture to see the cherry blossoms that bloom from mid-March to early April. Approximately 50 weeping cherry trees are in full bloom, including a 200-year-old weeping cherry tree that is said to be a descendant of a tree admired by Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the second Daimyo (feudal lord) of the Mito Domain. There are also other ancient trees on the temple grounds, such as a giant cedar and ginkgo estimated to be around 1,000 years old. Seasonal flowers and foliage adorn the temple throughout the year, creating a stunningly bea…

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.

Shunpu Banriso

Shunpu Banriso is a 300-square-meter thatched-roof private house that was the residence of Kitaoji Rosanjin, a famous Japanese artist active from the late 19th to mid-20th century in many fields including pottery, calligraphy, and cooking, and was moved from Kita-Kamakura.

Some rooms inside the house were personally designed by Rosanjin. The facility also displays furniture handmade by Rosanjin and his favorite items. The vast garden around is lush with cherry blossoms, azaleas, maples, irises, and many other plants and trees, offering scenery that changes with the seasons.

In addition, a private lunch is served in the Nagayamon (one of the traditional Japanese gates) by reservation only. It is available for one group per day, with a maximum of 7 people. Please call to make a reservation at least two days in advance.

Coworking & Café Yuinowa

Coworking & Café Yuinowa is a coworking space and café renovated from a 90-year-old former kimono store, and it also offers activities such as walking around town in a Yuki-tsumugi Haori (traditional Japanese jacket).

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.

Atago Forest House (in Atago Tengu no Mori Park)

Atago Forest House, located near the summit of Mt. Atago at an altitude of 306 meters, was renovated and reopened in April 2024 within Atago Tengu no Mori Park as a base for hiking trails to Mt. Nandai / Mt. Wagakuni. In addition to a café with an observation deck, the design of which incorporates local Kasama pottery and Inada stone for the countertop walls and tabletops, it also has shower facilities.The park also offers various attractions for children, such as "Maruta log steppers" made of logs of different heights, a 100-meter roller slide, and more.
Mt. Atago, where Atago Forest House is located, is ideal for drives, hikes, and picnics with the family. In late March to early April, magnificent cherry blossoms bloom from the hillside to the top of the mountain.

Kujiragaoka Shopping Street

The nostalgic atmosphere of "Kujiragaoka Shopping Street" spreads across an area centered around a 600-meter shopping street located on hills in Hitachiota City. Among the quaint scenery of storehouses from the Meiji (1868-1912) and Showa (1926-1989) eras, some stores have been rearranged in a modern style.
The street, characterized by alleys and slopes, is lined with stores popular among young people, such as variety shops, traditional Japanese sweet shops, and dagashi stores (selling nostalgic, inexpensive sweets for children). Visitors can enjoy walking around and sampling different snacks. Also recommended is the specialty of Kujiraya, located in the central area, which serves "kujirayaki" (kujira means "whale")—a whale-shaped variation of taiyaki (a traditional Japanese snack made by sandwiching various fillings, such as cream, between flour dough and baking it in the shape of a sea bream).

Tsukuba Botanical Garden

Tsukuba Botanical Garden is a unique and fascinating botanical garden in Tsukuba City, one of Japan's leading research hubs.

The expansive grounds showcase plants that are representative of Japan, as well as rare species from all over the world. Visitors can learn about plant variety and evolution, with approximately 3,000 species from diverse climate zones such as tropical, arid, and temperate regions. It provides a chance to experience the rich diversity of nature and feel the mystery of the natural world.

The garden also has special exhibitions and workshops, providing a range of events that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The gift shop offers guidebooks, botanical postcards, bookmarks, notepapers, plant-related books, and the original products.
Tsukuba Botanical Garden is highly recommended as a place where visitors can enjoy both educational experiences and relaxation.

Fukasaku Farm

Fukasaku Farm in Ibaraki is a popular destination for visitors looking to enjoy fresh fruit.

The farm is well-known for its seasonal fruit-picking experiences, such as sweet melons and strawberries, grown using the farm's unique agricultural methods. In the fall, visitors can also enjoy sweet potato digging, a local specialty of Ibaraki, and indulge in the region's delicious flavors.

In addition to a direct sales shop, there is a Baumkuchen specialty store that uses the farm's vegetables and fruits, a patisserie café, and a gelato shop on the premises. These facilities are extremely popular, often resulting in queues.

Fukasaku's farming methods, crops, and food products have been highly praised in various domestic and international competitions, winning numerous awards.

Hoshiimo Specialty Shop Daimaruya

Daimaruya was established in 1897. To fully bring out the natural flavor of the ingredients, they have been making additive-free products for over 120 years since their founding.

The shop offers a variety of sweet potato-based products, including dried sweet potatoes. Additionally, they have a selection of additive-free gelato made without artificial flavors or preservatives, featuring unique flavors like several types of sweet potato and Ibaraki's famous melon. There are also find pickled shallots, honey, original sweet potato shochu, and plum wine, making this an ideal spot for picking up souvenirs.

Daimaruya also offers workshops on making dried sweet potatoes. Reservations are required; please check the official website for more details.

Ibaraki Airport

Ibaraki Airport is a convenient regional airport.

The airport offers international flights to Taipei City, Taiwan. In addition to its four direct domestic flights to Sapporo (New Chitose Airport), Kobe, Fukuoka, and Naha, there are also domestic connecting flights to Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Miyako (Shimoji Island).

The airport is small, so there is less need to move around, resulting in a seamless experience. It also offers great access, with only about 100 minutes required by bus from Tokyo Station. This makes it perfect for sightseeing or business. Additionally, there are bus routes connecting the prefecture's main stations, Mito Station and Ishioka Station.
Another recommended option for getting around is renting a car at the airport. If visitors to the prefecture stay in an accommodation facility in Ibaraki for more than one night, they can rent a car starting from 1,000 yen (a special rent-a-car campaign). Ibaraki is a large prefecture, so e…

Himegataki Apple Orchards

Daigo, located in northwestern Ibaraki Prefecture, thrives in apple cultivation that takes advantage of the area's climate. The apples grown in this region are called Okukuji apples and are packed with juicy sweetness.

Himegataki Apple Orchards, located between the Kuji River and Tsukimachi Falls, is one of the orchards that grows Okukuji apples. The orchards carefully grow multiple apple varieties without the use of chemical fertilizers.

In the autumn, you can enjoy all-you-can-eat apple-picking experiences and savor freshly picked apples filled with sweetness right on the spot. You also have the option to take home your freshly picked apples.

*Please check their website for information on opening times

Former Uwaoka Elementary School

The Former Uwaoka Elementary School was founded in 1879 and is located in a quaint wooden schoolhouse with a retro ambiance.

The school closed in 2001 but has been beautifully preserved, and you can tour inside the building. The old desks, chairs, and chalkboards that fill the classrooms and hallways will make you feel as if you've traveled back in time.

This particular schoolhouse is famous as a filming location for many television series, such as "Hanako and Anne" and "Ohisama." It's especially recommended to visit in the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom or in the fall when the surrounding mountains are adorned with vibrant autumn leaves. The school is typically open to the public only on weekends and holidays but is open daily during these two seasons.