A 3-Day, 2-Night Road Trip: Explore Stunning Autumn Scenery and Local Cuisine

From mid to late October, the kochia at Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture turn bright red, attracting many visitors. During this time, Japan's oldest chrysanthemum festival at Kasama Inari Shrine and the autumn roses at Ibaraki Flower Park can also be enjoyed. In addition, at Lake Kasumigaura, the second-largest lake in Japan, visitors can observe the traditional fishing boats, Hobikisen—a seasonal spectacle from summer to autumn—viewed from a sightseeing boat running alongside them.
For meals, savor fresh seafood and dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. In the evenings, relax surrounded by nature, with glamping at Ibaraki Flower Park and staying in a traditional Japanese-style house by the Kasumigaura lakeshore.
This 3-day, 2-night road trip itinerary, starting from Narita Airport, offers a perfect opportunity to enjoy the middle of Japanese autumn.

2 night, 3 days

Day 1

Rent a car

Narita Airport

train(Car) 1 hour 30 minutes
Hitachi Seaside Park

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 …

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train(Car) 20 minutes
Nakaminato Fish Market

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…

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train(Car) 45 minutes
Kasama Inari Shrine

Kasama Inari Shrine

First established in 651, Kasama Inari Shrine is one of Japan's famous Inari shrines, attracting around 3.5 million pilgrims and visitors annually. The sacred site enshrines Ukanomitama-no-Mikoto, kn…

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train(Car) 20 minutes
Kuri no Ie

Kuri no Ie

This cafe serves an original Mont Blanc cake crafted by a pastry chef with years of experience at three-star Michelin restaurants in Paris and luxury hotels in Macau. While Mont Blanc is typically ma…

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train(Car) 30 minutes
Camping & Resort Hanayasatoyama

Overnight stay

Camping & Resort Hanayasatoyama

Hanayasatoyama is a glamping facility located on a hill in the Ibaraki Flower Park, famous for its roses. Surrounded by the serene nature of the mountains, the accommodation includes the wooden circu…

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Day 2

stay

Camping & Resort Hanayasatoyama

train(On foot) Right nearby
Ibaraki Flower Park

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…

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train(Car) About 50 minutes
Lake Kasumigaura Sightseeing Boat

Lake Kasumigaura Sightseeing Boat

A sightseeing boat trip is a perfect way to experience the enormous scale of Japan's second-largest lake. There are two sightseeing boats to board: The White Iris and Jet Wheel The Tsukuba The Whi…

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While sightseeing boats for viewing the traditional fishing boats, Hobikisen, operate in multiple locations, this itinerary is based at the Namegata City Tourist Product Center.

train(Car) 10 minutes
Fujimizuka Kofun Park

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…

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train(Car) 10 minutes
Guesthouse Kominka Eguchiya

Overnight stay

Guesthouse Kominka Eguchiya

Eguchiya Guesthouse is located on the shores of Kasumigaura, Japan's second-largest lake. Guests have the opportunity to stay in a beautifully renovated 150-year-old wooden house, offering stunning l…

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Day 3

stay

Guesthouse Kominka Eguchiya

train(Car) 1 hour
Ushiku Daibutsu Buddha Statue

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 B…

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train(Car) 5 minutes
Ami Premium Outlets

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…

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train(Car) 20 minutes
Ushiku Chateau

Lunch

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…

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train(Car) 1 hour 30 minutes
station

Return the rental car

Tokyo Station

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