Traveling in Ibaraki
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Ibaraki
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Ibaraki
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2020 February Best Events in Japan
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- While the temperatures are still quite cold, February is an appealing season in Japan as the winter chill slowly releases with the onset of spring’s warmth. To help you plan a travel itinerary during February, we’ve put together a short guide to the unique events that will be taking place across the country. Setsubun and Ehomaki (節分と恵方巻) Setsubun and Ehomaki The day before spring arrives is marked throughout Japan by Setsubun, which translates as “seasonal division”. This festival originated as a time to cleanse from the previous year and drive away evil spirits for the year ahead. A highlight of the festival is a ritual known as mamemaki or “bean scattering” when roasted soybeans are thrown out the door of a house or temple while saying “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” (Demons out! Luck in!”) If you want to participate in this purification practice, head to Sensoji (Asakusa), Zojoji (Tokyo) or Naritasan Shinshoji (Chiba). Setsubun is also marked by the eating of Ehomaki sushi rolls, which are sold at convenience and department stores across the country. These long sushi rolls are filled with seven different ingredients to represent the seven gods of happiness (Shichifukujin) and should be eaten facing the year’s lucky direction. Zojoji Temple Ehomaki Hokkaido: Sapporo Snow Festival (さっぽろ雪まつり) Sapporo Snow Festival Held every year in February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is the largest of its kind in Japan and attracts more than two million visitors. The heart of all the action is Odori Park, which extends through the heart of Sapporo, with live music and gi-gantic ice sculptures that are beautifully illuminated at night. If you want to see the stunning ice and snow sculptures that have been entered into the festival’s official contest, head to the Susukino area, or enjoy the family-friendly snow slides and attractions set up in Tsudome. In 2020, the Sapporo Snow Festival will take place from February 4-11. Sapporo Snow Festival Sapporo Snow Festival Akita and Tochigi: Kamakura Festival (かまくら祭り) Yokote Kamakura Festival Famed for its igloo-like snow houses (known as “kamakura”), the Kamakura Festival dates back more than 400 years and in 2020 will be held in two locations. The Yokote Kamakura Festival (横手かまくら祭り) will be held in the southeast of Akita Prefecture while the Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival (湯西川温泉かまくら祭り) will ignite this charming onsen town in the mountains of Tochigi Prefecture. Countless small and large kamakura will be set up and illuminated by candles at night, transforming both locations into a magical winter wonderland. Aside from the kamakura, the event features a range of other activities, including snow rafting, kamakura making experiences and delicious local foods. The Yokote Kamakura Festival 2020 will take place on February 15 and 16 in the city of Yokote while the Yunishigawa Onsen Kamakura Festival 2020 will take place from 31 January to 1 March 2020. Yokote Kamakura Festival Yunishikawa Kamakura Festival Niigata: Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2020 Winter SNOW ART (「大地の芸術祭」の里 越後妻有2020冬 SNOWART) Kyota Takahashi 「Gift for Frozen Village2018」Photo by Osamu Nakamura As the heavy snows descend in Niigata prefecture during winter, the Echigo-Tsumari region celebrates with their Snow Art festival. The main event is the Snow Fireworks / Gift for Frozen Village, which will illuminate the skies on February 29. Don’t miss a visit to the Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Museum of Contemporary Art where a collection of snow-themed works will be displayed. The opportunity to try the unique festival meal of yukimigozen in village. Image of Snow Art Image of EXPO's Snow Play Plum season (梅の季節) Mito Plum Blossom Festival As Japan’s plum trees break out in blossoms, gardens across the country celebrate this explosion of color. But the most famous celebration is the Mito Plum Blossom Festival (水戸の梅まつり) of Kairaku-en in the city of Ibaraki Prefecture, Mito. Considered one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan, Kairaku-en was created during the Edo period and features around 100 different varieties of plum blossoms. During the festival, you can see around 3,000 trees in various hues of light pink while enjoying the fragrant perfumes. Aside from enjoying the plum blossoms and drinking powdered green tea, the festival will hold outdoor koto performances, guided nighttime walks and fireworks shows. The Mito Plum Blossom Festival 2020 will take place from late February to March 31.Read more:Mito Plum Blossom Festival 2020 Mito Plum Blossom Festival Rape Flower Blossoms Season Rape Flower Blossoms Season February is also marked by the blossoming of bright yellow rape flowers, which occur in various locations across Japan. One of the most famous spots is along the Isumi Railway in Chiba, forested landscapes and fields of rape flowers. Soak up the rural landscapes of the Boso Peninsula on a 26-kilometer-long journey between Ohara Station and Kazusa-Nakano, passing historic stations that date back to 1912. The scenery is a stark contrast to the high-tech streets and bustle of Tokyo and made only more beautiful by the yellow blanket of the season’s rape flower blossoms. Rape Flower Blossoms Season ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Japan
- 23. January. 2020
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Mito Overview
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- Riding JR East's Joban Line out from a central Tokyo station like Ueno, it can feel as if one is gliding through one seemingly endless grey conurbation. As Greater Tokyo has oozed across the Kanto Plain, disembarking in Mito City, the capital Ibaraki Prefecture, the immediate vibe of the city is not much different from other exurban outposts. Stepping out from Mito Station, the unique history and culture of the city quickly becomes apparent.Mito was the former capital of the Mito Domain, one of the daimyo ruled by a branch of the Tokugawa clan. One legacy of that feudal rulership is the gardens at Kairakuen, built for the pleasure of the local gentry but also to share some of that rarefied beauty with commoners. One of the finest of Japan’s public gardens, Kairakuen is also home to the Kobuntei, an Edo-period-style building that served as a getaway for the Mito Domain’s lords and ladies. The house was damaged by Allied air raids but has been restored and is now open to the public. Near the entrance to the gardens, Tokiwa Shrine honors Tokugawa Mitsukuni, following in the Shinto tradition of venerating worthy leaders. The gardens and the surrounding area are a must-visit during plum blossom season in the spring.A short walk north of Mito Station will bring you to the site of Mito Castle, what’s left of it now lying in Ozymandian repose in the center of town—even the ruins of Mito’s 12th century fortress are fairly old, as the castle was mostly destroyed by fire in 1764.Mito’s Tokugawa Museum is a storehouse of ancient treasures and is renowned for its modernist design. The angular lines of the modern structures provide an interesting contrast to the Tokugetsu-tei, a tea house in the traditional sukiya style. The Garden Terrace restaurant has a great broiled eel set menu when the slithery fish is in season. Art Tower Mito’s helix tower is a symbol of modern Mito. The complex includes a concert hall and gallery. Even if you’re not there to see a performance, make time to wander through the central plaza which is dominated by an avant-garde fountain: a massive rock suspended on steel cables is soaked by spray from below. If your appetite has been whetted for more bleeding edge art and architecture, the prefectural Museum of Modern Art is a short distance away. Mito has all the bells and whistles of a modern Japanese city but plenty of unique quirks, including its undisputed claim to being one of the capitals of natto, that slimy, aromatic marriage of soybeans and bacteria—start your natto tour at the Natto Pavilion or the Tengu Natto factory and finish up at the natto specialty shops at EXCEL Department Store South Building, right beside the station. ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Ibaraki
- 9. March. 2018
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Ibaraki Overview
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- For most of its history, Ibaraki Prefecture (formerly known as Hitachi Province) was a comparatively sleepy rural quarter of the country. In recent years, Ibaraki has become known as both a treasure house of traditional culture, home to countless shrines and temples, castle ruins and well-preserved gardens, as well as a center of high-tech industry: the prefecture birthed well-known firms like Hitachi and is now home to Tsukuba’s Science City, tech headquarters and universities. As the Tokyo megalopolis stretches down the coast, absorbing more and more of Ibaraki’s southern reaches, the prefecture has provided an exurban refuge for Tokyo residents willing to make the commute, and convenient transit links make its cities and towns attractive day-trip destinations.Tsukuba is perhaps the city with which Tokyoites are most familiar, especially since the inauguration of the mighty Tsukuba Express in 2005 which cuts travel time from Akihabara to Tsukuba to just under an hour. Tsukuba is sometimes known as Japan's Silicon Valley, and although that’s something of an understatement, it gives a picture of a well-developed and well-planned community with a surprisingly international character. Sites like the Tsukuba Space Center and Tsukuba Expo Center’s science center and planetarium are a good way to appreciate cutting-edge Tsukuba. Many also make the trip out to the city to hike Mount Tsukuba—although the hike is easy compared to other local routes, the Mount Tsukuba Cable Car (a funicular railway, despite the name) also takes visitors up the mountain. Mito, the prefectural capital, has a distinctly different vibe—still a modern Japanese city but home to many historical and culture destinations, ranging from the one of Japan’s finest old gardens at Kairakuen, Tokiwa Shrine, the ruins of Mito Castle, and Tokugawa Museum to the stunning Art Tower Mito and Ibaraki’s Museum of Modern Art. Mito also provides a convenient jumping-off point to other areas in the prefecture, as it sits on three JR East lines (Joban, Mito and Suigun Lines) and other local railways.Venturing out from Tsukuba or Mito, there are countless destinations to suit any taste or interest: beaches like Mizuki Beach around Hitachi City, the sacred mountain anchored by Oiwa Shrine, the lakeside town of Tsuchiura, the preserved buildings and cutting edge architecture at Makabe, or Oarai’s Isosaki Shrine with its oceanfront tori gate.Ibaraki is a microcosm of modern Japan: looking into the future but still reverential of its past. ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Ibaraki
- 9. March. 2018
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Where to Go in Ibaraki
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- Ibaraki Prefecture stretches from the commuter exurbs of Chiba in the south to Fukushima Prefecture in the north, with wooded mountains on the west and the Pacific Ocean to the east. The prefecture is home to the hi-tech industry and ancient cultural sites. Yuki and its Hina Matsuri Yuki and its Hina Matsuri Yuki City was, until recent times, a major supplier of woven fabrics, silk and paper. Industrial diversification and a reinvigorated old town has renewed Yuki’s prospects. City fathers have been careful to save the architecture of the old storehouse district. As Hina Matsuri approaches, the preserved buildings in the area are decked out for the festival sometimes called Doll's Day which runs from the end of February to the first week of March.Visiting Yuki is a wonderful opportunity to see a preserved townscape that has now mostly disappeared from Tokyo and Osaka, while still avoiding the tourist crush in Kyoto. Ichihachi-san Cafe is the perfect place to see how locals and transplants are remaking Yuki. The cafe—formerly a kimono shop—is on a street that’s home to sake breweries and artisanal miso and vinegar producers. After checking out the beautiful display of dolls at the cafe, and getting a cup of pourover, wander next door to Yuinowa Coworking Space, a great opportunity to connect with local creatives. Hitachi City Hitachi City Hitachi City, on the Pacific Coast of eastern Ibaraki is a thriving industrial center with a name forever connected to the conglomerate named after it. Public art and architecture in the city always draws one’s thoughts back to the industrial heritage of Hitachi. The city makes a great jumping-off point for nearby sites and expeditions deeper into the northern half of Ibaraki and beyond. Oiwa Shrine Oiwa Shrine Oiwa Shrine is the focal point of a power spot at the foot of Mount Oiwa, a sacred mountain home to Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples and the small shrines to local guardian spirits. The Oiwa Shrine is said to be home to over a hundred kami, the deities of Shintoism that roost in shrines and natural places. Beyond the shrine, a path begins that takes pilgrims and hikers upwards on a mountain trail that meanders through cedar groves and stands of ancient trees. Mizuki Beach Mizuki Beach The beaches of Ibaraki Prefecture offer easy access, and they’re usually a more tranquil affair than beaches closer to Tokyo. Mizuki is one of a string of beaches easily reached from stations on the Joban Line (Mizuki is easiest to reach from Omika Station). The great location and surf make Mizuki a perfect late summer escape. Oarai Oarai A short ride from the prefectural capital, Mito City, on a locally-owned railway line (Kashima Rinkai Railway's Oarai Kashima Line), Oarai draws suburban beach bums and Tokyoites on weekend getaways to see the penguins at Aqua World. If dinner in the Oarai Marine Tower’s restaurant doesn’t appeal, there are many seaside restaurants specializing in the local seafood. Isosaki Shrine Isosaki Shrine The three main tori of Isosaki Shrine in Oarai all have their charms but most photographers train their lenses on—or frame their selfies against—the dramatically-staged final gate, set on a cluster of rocks in the Pacific. Sunrise is the perfect time to visit. Nakaminato Cannon Foundry Nakaminato Cannon Foundry Beginning in the 19th century, the noose of Western imperialism was slightly tightening on East Asia. When Commodore Perry’s Black Ships rolled in, Tokugawa Nariaki of the Mito Domain decided that it wouldn’t hurt to have some cannons ready if things went sideways. The furnaces, built in 1857 only remained operational for a few years before being smashed up in the Mito Rebellion. The foundry, rebuilt in the ‘30s, is one of many points of historical interest in the port town of Nakaminato. ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Ibaraki
- 9. March. 2018
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Getting Around Ibaraki
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- Sitting on the northeastern corner of the Kanto Region, Ibaraki Prefecture is an easily accessible getaway located not too far from Tokyo. Whether you’re traveling by car or public transport, getting to Ibaraki and visiting its main points of interest is doable in a weekend. Well connected with a network of trains, buses and cycling paths, here are some of the best ways to get to and around Ibaraki Prefecture. Travel on the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Train Travel on the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Train When visiting Ibaraki, one of the main cities you’ll want to visit is Kashima, home to Kashima Shrine, one of the most important Shinto Shrines in the prefecture, and Kashima Soccer Stadium, which was used during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The best way to get to Kashima is via the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Train. Running through Ibaraki, the line connects Mito Station with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station. This train is accessible with a JR East Weekend Pass ticket (8,700 yen) so if you’re planning on getting away for the weekend and want to see the sights of the area, this train is definitely worth hopping aboard. Pick up a bike from Yuki Station rental cycle Pick up a bike from Yuki Station rental cycle Sitting on the eastern corner of Ibaraki is Yuki, a city with plenty of temples and shrines to explore, and a very interesting manufacturing history. One of the best ways to explore the area is by bicycle. Near Yuki Station you’ll find a rental cycle site where you can pick up a mamachari (town bike) for the day. Cruise through the streets lined with Edo style buildings and follow the flow of the Kinugawa River which weaves through the city. Making your way around Mito Making your way around Mito Mito is the capital city of Ibaraki and quite likely you main point of transport if you’re travelling to and around the prefecture. To get here via Tokyo Station, take the JR Hitachi-Tokiwa Limited Express Iwaki, the ride takes about an hour and 20 minutes and costs 3,820 yen each way. If you continue on the line you’ll head to Hitachi Station. Another way to get to Mito via Tokyo is to catch the JR Kanto bus which regularly travels between the two centers and costs a little over 2,000 yen each way. Head to Hitachi Station Head to Hitachi Station One of the most stunning pockets of Ibaraki is Hitachi Seaside Park located in the city of Hitachi. It’s home to a small amusement park and fields of colorful flowers that transform with the passing seasons. Visit in spring to see the iconic blue nemophila in all their photogenic glory. If you’re traveling from Tokyo Station, one of the most common and straightforward ways to get to Hitachi is via the JR Hitachi-Tokiwa Limited Express Iwaki. The trip takes around an hour and a half and costs 4,790 yen each way. Colorful Buses of Oarai Colorful Buses of Oarai Getting around the town of Oarai is half the fun of visiting. Positioned on the central coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, one of the best ways to see all the sights of the city is by hopping on one of Oarai’s colorful town buses. If you do find yourself in Oarai, you’ll want to pay a visit to Isosaki-jinja Shrine; sitting on the jagged coastline, it’s said to be one of the best places to watch the stunning Ibaraki sunrise. To get there from Oarai Station, you can catch the bus to Oarai Isosaki-jinja Shrine stop. You can also get the bus to the shrine from Mito Station. Driving through Ibaraki Driving through Ibaraki If you have the right license and not a lot of spare time, then getting around Ibaraki by car is easily the best option. Depending on where in Ibaraki you want to visit, you can get to Ibaraki from Tokyo by car in around two hours. The Joban Expressway connects the greater Tokyo area with Mito, the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture. Stretching along the Pacific Ocean, Ibaraki offers some incredible seaside driving. The prefecture’s major points of interest like Kairaku-en Park, Mount Tsukuba, and Kashima Shrine are all accessible within an hour and a half drive. ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Ibaraki
- 9. March. 2018
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Gods of Harvest and Pacific Sunrises in the Shrines of Ibarak
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- Ibaraki Prefecture’s hilly inland territory and Pacific coastline provide a stunning setting for its many Shinto shrines. Space has been left for the kami spirits and their shrines even as trains and golf courses and tidy exurban suburbs spread. Hitachinokuni Izumo Shrine is the perfect example of this, located a short distance from Fukuhara Station, between the bustling cities of Sakuragawa and Kasama; it still preserves a pastoral calm in the foothills of Mt. Wagakuni. Gods of Harvest and Pacific Sunrises in the Shrines of Ibarak The shrine is dedicated to the legendary ruler of the ancient Izumo Province. Locals come here to toss coins and ask for luck during the harvest, and it’s also become popular as a wedding venue for out-of-towners. Upon entering the complex one’s eye is drawn to the main hall’s shimenawa, or “enclosing rope,” seen at other shrines to indicate sacred space but rarely this massive in size. The masters of the shrine have proven to be savvy businessmen, and they have turned the complex into a day-trip-worthy destination: there is a restaurant offering a seasonal menu featuring local produce and soba and a glass-blowing gallery and workshop (a program is offered for 4,000 yen that allows you to blow your own glass piece). Gods of Harvest and Pacific Sunrises in the Shrines of Ibarak Goshokomagataki Shrine, near Sakuragawa, and also on the JR Mito Line (Iwase Station offers the easiest access but many elect to take a taxi from the station, as the walk will take up to an hour) offers a more rustic experience. The shrine is popular in the autumn and early winter as its forest setting turns crimson with the changing of the season, and also in mid-summer for the Gion Festival (July 23 to 26), a tradition borrowed from Kyoto’s Gion Matsuri but carried out with its own local flavor. Gods of Harvest and Pacific Sunrises in the Shrines of Ibarak ©NAVITIME JAPAN. Travel Info Check out our travel tips to make your trip better!
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- Ibaraki
- 9. March. 2018
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Recommended spots
335 results
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- Aqua World-Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium
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4.5328 Reviews - Aquarium
- Ibaraki Pref. Higashibarakigunoaraimachi Isohamachou 8252-3
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We spend 4hours here,after landing from Narita airport straight away drive through Oarai and managed to see the Dolphins shows at 12pm,nice late lunch after hanging around the aquarium with...
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- Ushiku Daibutsu
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4.0406 Reviews - Temple
- Ibaraki Pref. Ushikushi Kunochou 2083
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The serene face of this Buddha will put any individuals mind at rest. A very peculiar calming effect. Once a Guinness record holder at 390 feet still stands gracefully welcoming all. The carps...
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- Oarai Isosaki Jinja
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4.0195 Reviews - Shrine
- Ibaraki Pref. Higashibarakigunoaraimachi Isohamachou 6890
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Unlike most Toriis thats made out of wood, this is made out of concrete it seems. I wouldnt say this is a must-visit location but it is definitely worthwhile to drive by if youre doing a road trip...
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- Tsukubasan-jinja Shrine
- Shrine
- Ibaraki Pref. Tsukubashi Tsukuba 1-1
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- Kasama Inari Jinja
- Shrine
- Ibaraki Pref. Kasamashi Kasama 1
Ibaraki Main Areas
Just a stone’s throw from Tokyo, Ibaraki is a coastal prefecture that has mastered juxtapositions, where old shrines meet new scientific discoveries and traditional gardens are frequented by the inventors of some of the newest technology. Head to Mito City's Kairakuenーone of Japan's Three Great Gardensーin spring to experience the cellestial blooming of fantastic cherry blossoms at the annual sakura festival.
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