Not Just Natural Scenery! A Travel Guide to Ibaraki’s Many Attractions

Day 1 of the model course begins at JR Mito Station.
From the station, it takes Approx. 10 minutes on foot to reach the first stop, Kodokan.

Kodokan was a domain school established in 1841 by Tokugawa Nariaki (1800–1860), the ninth lord of the Mito Domain, and was the largest educational institution of its kind in Japan.
The Seicho, the main building of Kodokan where literary and military examinations were held in the presence of the domain lord, the Shizendo behind it, and the front gate, which was opened only for the lord’s visits and special events, still remain today. All are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan.
The grounds also feature a plum grove with around 800 trees of Approx. 60 varieties, so depending on the season, you can also enjoy beautiful plum blossoms.

A walk of Approx. 5 minutes from Kodokan brings you to the next stop, the Mito Castle Ruins.
Mito Castle was a hirayama-style castle built on the tip of a horseback-shaped plateau between the Naka River and Senba Lake.
It was the castle of the Mito Domain, and today you can still see the Yakui-mon Gate in the former main enclosure, Kodokan in the former third enclosure, as well as dry moats and earthworks that skillfully make use of the terrain.
You can also enjoy the “Mito-gaku no Michi” walking route, which takes you around the Mito Castle Ruins and other historic sites connected to the Mito Domain.

Stroll along the Mito-gaku no Michi route as you make your way back on foot to JR Mito Station.
Take the train to JR Kasama Station, then catch a taxi to Kasama Inari Shrine.
Kasama Inari Shrine is said to have been founded in 651 during the Asuka period, in the reign of Emperor Kotoku.
It is known as one of Japan’s three great Inari shrines, along with Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto and Yutoku Inari Shrine in Saga.
Behind the worship hall stands the main sanctuary, a National Important Cultural Property rebuilt in the late Edo period.
The shrine buildings are adorned with remarkable carvings such as the “Dragon Watching in Eight Directions with Three Heads” and the “Peony Chinese Lion,” so take your time admiring the outstanding decorations created by master craftsmen of the time.

After your visit, head to the Monzen Street in front of Kasama Inari Shrine.
Souvenir shops and restaurants line the street, where you can try local specialties such as Kasama Inari Sushi, made with fried tofu, a favorite food of the fox, the messenger of the Inari deity, as well as walnut manju inspired by the shrine’s sacred walnut tree. Kasama Inari Sushi is especially recommended for lunch.
Take your time and enjoy Kasama Inari Sushi filled with a variety of ingredients such as walnuts and maitake mushrooms.

From the Monzen Street of Kasama Inari Shrine, take a taxi again to Kasama Craft Hills.
This complex facility in Kasama Geijutsu no Mori Park features hands-on Kasama ware workshops, galleries where works are displayed and sold, and a café serving sweets made with locally sourced ingredients.
At the “Fureai Kobo” workshop in the facility, you can try pottery making under the guidance of an instructor and create plates and tableware.
There is also a space where you can view and purchase Kasama ware, a popular souvenir.
Take a walk around the grounds and stop by any facilities that catch your interest.

After enjoying Kasama Craft Hills, take a taxi to JR Kasama Station.
From JR Kasama Station, take the train to JR Tsuchiura Station, then head to Hoshino Resorts BEB5 Tsuchiura, your accommodation for the first night.
Opened in October 2020, Hoshino Resorts BEB5 Tsuchiura is Hoshino Resorts’ first hotel designed for enjoying travel with bicycles.
It occupies the 3rd to 5th floors of the Play atre Tsuchiura station building at JR Tsuchiura Station, and the convenience is hard to beat, with the hotel entrance right in front of the station ticket gates.
The guest rooms are also creatively designed, including cycle rooms where you can bring your own bike into the room and stay with it, offering a range of unique experiences.
Even if you are not a cycling enthusiast, it may inspire an interest in traveling by bicycle.

Day 2 begins at JR Tsuchiura Station.
Since Hoshino Resorts BEB5 Tsuchiura is directly connected to the station, getting there takes almost no time or effort.
From JR Tsuchiura Station, take the Joban Line limited express to JR Katsuta Station, then transfer to a bus bound for Hitachi Seaside Park.

At Hitachi Seaside Park, you can see seasonal flowers throughout the year: daffodils, tulips, and nemophila in spring; roses in early summer; zinnias and sunflowers in summer; kochia and cosmos in fall; and ice tulips in winter.
That’s not all, though. With leisure activities, sports, nature observation, and hands-on learning, there are many ways to enjoy the park, so make the most of your time and explore as much as you can.

After making the most of Hitachi Seaside Park, head from the nearest bus stop to Hitachinaka Seaside Railway Katsuta Station.
Transfer to the train and get off at Nakaminato Station. From there, it is Approx. a 10-minute walk to Nakaminato Fish Market.
Located right next to Nakaminato Fishing Port, known for one of the highest catches in Ibaraki Prefecture, the area opens onto the vast Pacific Ocean.
As you would expect from a place near one of Japan’s leading bases for deep-sea fishing, the market offers everything from large fish such as bonito and tuna to white fish like flounder, sea bream, and gurnard.
The restaurants here offer a full lineup of dishes featuring local fish caught in nearby waters.
At “Nakaminato Hamagoya,” the popular “Mihama-don” is known for its generous toppings so large they spill over the bowl.
For a late lunch, enjoy a seafood bowl.

After lunch at Nakaminato Fish Market, walk Approx. 20 minutes to Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium.
Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium is one of Japan’s leading aquariums, exhibiting around 580 species of marine and river creatures.
As its shark symbol suggests, it boasts the largest number of shark species kept in Japan.
It also has one of Japan’s largest dedicated sunfish tanks and is known for its rare effort to exhibit multiple sunfish, something unusual even nationwide.
Since there is not much time before heading to the next spot, focus on the “Ocean Zone of the World,” where you can enjoy a wide variety of sharks as well as creatures such as sunfish swimming in seas from around the world.

It takes around 5 minutes by taxi to get from Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium to Oarai Isosaki Shrine.
Oarai Isosaki Shrine stands on a cape facing the Pacific Ocean and is said to bring blessings such as success in love and matchmaking.
It is also popular as a scenic spot, and the Kamiiso-no-Torii gate standing on wave-washed rocks is a must-see.
The rocky area where the Kamiiso-no-Torii stands is off-limits, so please offer prayers and take photos from the seawall or observatory in front.