Travel Plans

Discover the Ushiku Daibutsu, the World’s Tallest Bronze Buddha Statue, and Enjoy Delicious Food and Shopping in a Day Trip

The Ushiku Daibutsu in Ibaraki Prefecture is the tallest bronze statue of the Buddha worldwide. Standing 120 meters tall, this statue has a temple inside offering visitors a place of worship. Temple-goers can enjoy not only attractions of the statue, but also seasonal flowers in the surrounding garden and a small petting zoo opened on Sundays and holidays. A winery designated as a Japan Heritage, where visitors can dine, is located nearby. There is also an outlet mall in the area. The following is a recommended route for a day trip from Tokyo to enjoy the Daibutsu and its surroundings.

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 …

A 2-Day, 1-Night Historical Journey in Mito City: Exploring Landmarks from the Edo and Meiji Periods

There are many spots related to the Tokugawa shogunate family, who led the Japanese government during the Edo period (1603 - 1868) in Mito. The Tokugawa Gosanke, three branches that were allowed to carry the Tokugawa family name, existed during this time and held status that ranked next to the shogunate family. The Mito Tokugawa family, the lords of the Mito Domain (present-day central and north Ibaraki Prefecture), was one of those families. The Mito Tokugawa family emphasized education in Japanese history and the sciences with their retainers, which became famously known as Mitogaku. In addition to facilities related to Mitogaku, Mito has a museum where visitors can enjoy historical exhibits associated with the Tokugawa family, and historical buildings such as a former school established during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). Exploring these spots will deepen your understanding of Japan`s history during the Edo period and the beginning of modernization.