Departing From Ibaraki Airport! A Classic 4-Day Ibaraki Itinerary by Car!

This is a four-day travel plan that allows you to fully enjoy Ibaraki Prefecture's stunning scenery, gourmet cuisine, and famous sightseeing spots.
This itinerary is packed with useful information so you can have a worry-free trip even if it's your first time here.

*This itinerary is based on flights in operation at the time of writing (October 2024).

3 night, 4 days

Day 1

Upon arrival, rent a car

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 (Shin Chitose Airport)…

(Car) 40 minutes

Ume Cafe WAON

Ume Cafe WAON is managed by Yoshidaya, a well-established Japanese pickle shop founded in 1830. It is the first plum (ume) specialty cafe in Japan and is a popular spot to enjoy food, sweets, and dri…

(Car) 5 minutes

Check in

Oarai Hotel

(Car) 5 minutes

Dinner

Nakamura Restaurant

This seafood restaurant serves dishes made with fresh ingredients from local markets. Anglerfish hotpot, a regional specialty, is particularly popular during the winter months.

(Car) 5 minutes

Overnight stay

Oarai Hotel

Located on the Oarai Coast, this hotel boasts stunning views of the Pacific Ocean from the guest rooms. The meals also feature freshly-caught seafood. There are plenty of attractions to visit year-…

Oarai Hotel

Leave the car at the hotel and go for a walk

(On foot) 5 minutes

Oarai Isosaki Shrine

This shrine was founded in 856 when two deities are said to have descended upon the coast of Oarai. The two enshrined at Oarai Isosaki Shrine are Daikoku-sama, the god of nation-building and national…

(Car) 5 minutes

Aqua World Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium

This world-class aquarium is home to over 580 species of marine life, including penguins, dolphins, sharks, sunfish, and sea lions. In fact, Aqua World houses the largest number of shark species in J…

(Car) 5 minutes

Lunch

Nakaminato Fish Market

Popular among locals and visitors alike, this fish market is known for its affordable prices and restaurants serving up local seafood. Take in the market scenes before sitting down at one of the mark…

(Car) 5 minutes

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. On the shop premi…

(Car) 15 minutes

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,…

(Car) 10 minutes

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park is perhaps Ibaraki's most famous tourist destination for its Instagram-friendly fields of flowers. This vast park is best known for the stunning blue nemophila flowers in spring …

(Car) 20 minutes

SAZA COFFEE Main Store

SAZA COFFEE, launched in 1969, is an Ibaraki coffee brand comprised of 17 shop locations, two factories, and two farms. The staff travels to production areas in Brazil, Panama, and Kenya to personall…

(Car) 25 minutes

Check in

Hotel Terrace the Garden Mito

(On foot) 10 minutes

Dinner

SyuSyu

At SyuSyu, they offer a wide variety of dishes made with ingredients from Ibaraki Prefecture, including Wagyu beef (Hitachi beef), sashimi, and local vegetables. There is also an extensive selection…

(On foot) 10 minutes

Overnight stay

Hotel Terrace the Garden Mito

This simple yet stylishly designed hotel is directly connected to Mito Station. It is only a minute walk from the expressway bus stop departing for Narita International Airport and Tokyo Station. T…

Hotel Terrace the Garden Mito

(Car) 10 minutes

Kairakuen Garden

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 f…

(Car) 1 hour and 10 minutes

Lunch

Unagi Yasukawa

Unagi Yasukawa is located in Ushiku City, which is considered the birthplace of unadon (eel rice bowl). This long-established eel specialty shop was founded in 1978 with a history exceeding some 45 …

(Car) 5 minutes

Ushiku Chateau

The winery was established in 1903, and the buildings were designed in a mixture of European and Japanese architectural styles. Ushiku Chateau is a pioneer of Japanese wineries. It is listed as a cul…

(Car) 15 minutes

Ushiku Daibutsu Buddha Statue

This giant Buddhist statue towers above the Ibaraki countryside. At 120 meters tall, it holds the Guinness World Record as the tallest standing bronze statue worldwide. Visitors can go inside the Bu…

(Car) 10 minutes

Ami Premium Outlets

This outlet mall opened in 2009 and houses exceptional brands from Japan and overseas. There are over 100 shops, so it's guaranteed you'll find something for everyone! There are also a variety of co…

(Car) 1 hour

Overnight stay

Mount Tsukuba Edoya Inn

Located in front of Mount Tsukuba Shrine, Edoya is a ryokan or traditional Japanese-style inn. The inn is popular with shrine visitors and hikers due to its convenient location. The open-air hot spri…

Leave the car at the hotel and go for a walk

Mount Tsukuba Edoya Inn

(On foot) Right nearby

Tsukubasan Shrine

Tsukuba Shrine is a venerable and historic shrine, believed to have approximately 3,000 years of history, dedicated to the sacred Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki. It is one of Japan's most prestigious and his…

(Car) 25 minutes

Lunch in the park

Ibaraki Flower Park

This vast flower park in Ishioka City is well-known for its large and comprehensive rose garden. However, throughout the year, there are many other seasonal flowers, such as hydrangeas, sunflowers, w…

(Car) 50 minutes

Return a rental car, proceed with check-in

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 (Shin Chitose Airport)…

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Mito Historical Tour Day Trip

a day trip in Mito After a history trip, enjoy shopping at the Keisei Department store.

History / Traditional Crafts

1day

Traveling around sightseeing spots by train and bike

2 days (an overnight stay in Mito) Enjoy Nature in central Ibaraki and Rokko area

Nature

1 night, 2 days

Explore Kasama City by Bike (daytrip from Tokyo/Ueno)

If you're looking to get out of the city and explore during your trip to Japan, look no further than this daytrip to Kasama, Ibaraki, just an hour and a half from Tokyo by train! After arriving, borrow bikes from the Tourist Information Office at the station and start exploring! First off, visit Kasama Inari Shrine. With a history of over 1360 years, this shrine is one of Japan's 3 Great Inari Shrines and attracts 3.5 million pilgrims every year. On the street outside the shrine, make sure to grab some local speciality foods like Inari Sushi (deep-fried tofu skin stuffed with rice and other local ingredients like walnuts) or manju steamed buns. Explore the local shopping streets with their traditional architecture as you enjoy your snack. Then, get back on your bike and head to Kasama Crafthills to relax while surrounded by expansive nature. Finally, pick up some Kasama-yaki Pottery at Kirara Gallery - each piece of pottery is unique so make sure to look for the item that's just …

History / Traditional Crafts

1day

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