2-Day Autumn Road Trip to Daigo Town, Ibaraki: Fall Colors Galore and True Local Delights!

Daigo Town is located in the northwesternmost part of Ibaraki Prefecture, bordering Fukushima and Tochigi Prefectures. It takes approximately one hour by car from Hitachi Seaside Park to Hitachi-Daigo Station, and about 25 minutes from the Ryujin Suspension Bridge to Hitachi-Daigo Station.

Daigo Town is a coveted destination for fun tourism and agricultural excursions, drawing in some 900,000 visitors each year. There’s plenty to see with picture-perfect backdrops including Mt. Nantai, Mt. Yamizo, Kuji River, and Oku-Kuji Onsen Village.
If you’re craving a deep dive, try bites like Oku-Kuji Shamo chicken, Oku-Kuji apples, ayu sweetfish, soba noodles, and konjac.

Hitachi Seaside Park is a travel star, put on the map for its jaw-dropping seasonal flowers, greenery, and an unshakably refreshing ocean breeze.
The fall months change this famed property into a vibrant tapestry of color thanks to the rolling landscape of blooms like kochia, cosmos, and roses.

Sprawling at an estimated 237 hectares, many flock here for the seasonal blooms and on-site attractions like a larger-than-life giant Ferris wheel offering views from 100 meters above sea level, and a forested athletic playground area.

About an hour’s drive from Hitachi Seaside Park is the impressive Ryujin Suspension Bridge, one of Japan’s longest pedestrian-only suspension bridges at 375 meters in length. Once atop you’ll find a spectacular 360-degree panoramic views from the bridge, surrounded by mountains vividly colored in shades of red, yellow, and green.

After about a 20-minute drive from Ryujin Suspension Bridge, you'll arrive at Fukuroda Falls, considered one of Japan’s three greatest waterfalls along with Kegon Falls in Tochigi Prefecture and Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture.
There are two observation decks—First Observation Deck and Second Observation Deck—for viewing the waterfall. As you walk through the tunnel toward the First Observation Deck, the roaring sound of cascading water is powerful enough to drown out conversations, making it all the more clear that you’re on to something big.

The falls are always sure to impress, measuring 120 meters high and 73 meters wide, cascading dramatically down a massive cliff face in four distinct stages—earning them the nickname "Yodo no Taki" (Four-Step Falls).

Take the elevator at the end of the tunnel up to the Second Observation Deck.
This spot opens to a view of the waterfall's multiple tiers, fully appreciating its impressive height and width.
The cascading water flows smoothly, resembling a beautifully woven silk ribbon.

Driving along the national road, you’ll spot the charming Café-Restaurant Framboise, easily recognizable by its beautifully tended garden. Established in July 2005, it’s been a beloved spot among locals for nearly two decades.
The garden, lovingly maintained by the owner’s mother who has a passion for gardening, is filled with roses, perennials, hostas, and culinary herbs such as juneberries, mint, rosemary, and bay leaves used in the café’s dishes and desserts.
Once inside you’ll find the café keeps a warm and cozy feel from days of old, using antique-inspired furniture and interior pieces that pull it all together.

The lunch menu offers a choice of four dishes: pasta, pizza, hamburger steak, and sautéed meat.
This time, we selected the Japanese-style hamburger steak. Served with a mild soy sauce-based dressing, it perfectly complements the dish’s natural, meaty flavor. This comes with a seasonal salad on the side, complete with a house-made dressing and subtle onion kick that pairs perfectly with fresh veggies.

The crowd favorite in autumn can’t be missed: the Earl Grey and Apple Tart, made with locally grown apples from Daigo Town.
Bite in for a time gazing at the garden as it gently sways and enhances any conversation with an autumn breeze.

Established in 1976, Daigo Onsen Yamizo Hotel is renowned for hosting the Showa Emperor and Empress during the National Tree Planting Festival held in Daigo Town.
Guest rooms, both Western and Japanese styles, are spacious and equipped with large windows, allowing visitors to enjoy stunning autumn views of the Kuji River and colorful foliage from every room.

Dinner at Daigo Onsen Yamizo Hotel is a true feast and tablescape of joy featuring Ibaraki’s coveted fare: Oku-Kuji Shamo chicken grilled on hot stones and Hitachi Beef Sukiyaki.
The Oku-Kuji Shamo chicken is flash seared atop hot stones for a perfect chew and savory flavor. Next to it, the Hitachi beef beams in a beautifully marbled yet lean bite that works perfectly in sukiyaki. Dredged into beaten raw egg, each bite melts with the smooth and profound richness of delicious meaty flavor.

After dinner, take a dip and unwind in one spot that keeps this hotel in the headlines—the Apple Bath, available from autumn through winter at Daigo Onsen Yamizo Hotel.
Fresh, locally grown Oku-Kuji apples bob gently on the surface, filling the bath with a pleasant, sweet aroma that refreshes both body and mind.

Begin your second day with a delicious, hearty Japanese breakfast, complete with morning favorites like rolled omelette (tamagoyaki), grilled salmon, fermented soybeans (natto), fried eggs, sautéed burdock root (kinpira gobo), and simmered hijiki seaweed.
Charge your morning batteries with a taste of pure satisfaction before heading out for the day!

Check out of the hotel and head over to Kijian, a lacquerware gallery and workshop located in a beautifully renovated building that once served as a traditional kimono storehouse, built over 120 years ago.
Daigo Town is well-known for its rare lacquer tree sap. Kijian was established in 2010 to give visitors the opportunity to engage with local natural materials and traditional lacquerware crafts firsthand.

At Kijian you’re booked for three hours and a chance to try old-world lacquerware techniques, including extracting lacquer sap, applying lacquer coatings, and polishing vessels.
In this workshop we curated a chance to try a polishing experience, the most crucial step before applying lacquer. Polishing is comparable to preparing a smooth foundation before applying makeup—if done carelessly, the final lacquer finish will be uneven.
To polish, you gently place your fingertips on the inside surface of a spinning vessel and slowly lift them upwards, carefully smoothing the surface. Even if you're nervous and unsure of your technique, the friendly owner will patiently guide you through the process, ensuring an enjoyable experience.

Lacquerware develops a natural shine with repeated use, as the lacquer's inherent properties gradually emerge over time.
Consider purchasing one as a personal souvenir, and enjoy watching it transform beautifully as you use it daily at your table.

Former Uwaoka Elementary School was established in 1911 and closed in 2001. Originally attended by children from the Uwaoka and Yamada districts, it was preserved after closure to maintain the community bonds that could have been lost due to district reassignments.
Inside the school building, you'll find heaps of old-world charm thanks to relics like rotary dial telephones and lockers, as well as original portraits of students drawn by the principal, still displayed along the hallways.
Take your time exploring this peaceful school, preserved as if frozen in time.

The former Uwaoka Elementary School was used as a filming location for the anime film Girls und Panzer der Film, set in Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture. The anime depicts the daily lives of high school girls in a world where "Senshado," a martial art using tanks, is widely practiced.
Visitors can explore nearly every area inside the school building, while key rooms from the anime—such as the staff room, principal's office, and broadcasting room—can be viewed from outside. Fans will recognize numerous familiar spots throughout the school, perfect for recreating iconic scenes in their own commemorative photos.
The site is open to visitors on weekends and public holidays, and admission is free.

A meal at Tsukimachi-no-Taki Momiji-en in fall promises a time of scrumptious soba noodles while gazing upon the beautiful Tsukimachi Falls, surrounded by autumn-colored leaves. The restaurant offers seating both indoors and outdoors, with scenic outdoor seats providing direct views of the waterfall.
Their specialty, Mori Soba, is made with an "8:2 blend" (10 parts buckwheat flour to 2 parts wheat flour), known as Sotoni, resulting in soba noodles with an intense buckwheat aroma and a satisfyingly firm texture.

Treat yourself to a time of picking juicy Oku-Kuji apples at Kuroda Apple Orchard, known as the birthplace of this celebrated local apple variety. Here, apples ripen fully on the tree (tree-ripened method), ensuring maximum sweetness and flavor.
The orchard cultivates 50 apple varieties without chemical fertilizers. Their “Fuji” apples, famous for freshness and sweetness, have won gold medals at the Ibaraki Prefecture Fruit Exhibition for four consecutive years.

Apple picking typically runs from late September through early December. Depending on the timing, you can enjoy standard varieties such as Fuji, Yoko, and Jonagold, as well as rare Ibaraki-specific apples like Oku-Kuji Houbéni, Aika-no-kaori, and Koutoku.
Oku-Kuji apples are notable for being perfectly ripe, offering distinct flavors, textures, and aromas according to each variety. If there’s a particular type you'd like to taste, be sure to time your visit accordingly!

The YAMIZO Barrel Sauna, located on the relaxing wooden deck space of Daigo Onsen Yamizo Hotel, is crafted from cedar sourced locally from Daigo Town, with hinoki (Japanese cypress) lining the interior. Each sauna accommodates up to six people (mixed gender).
Reservations are required, with three available time slots: 10:00am–12:00pm, 12:30pm–2:30pm, and 3:00pm–5:00pm.
Complete with a cold-water bath and open-air relaxation area, guests can fully unwind in a private setting. Sauna ponchos and hats are available for rental, so you can conveniently visit empty-handed.