[11 Popular Date Spots in Ibaraki] Enjoy Beautiful Natural Scenery on a Day Trip from Tokyo

A large park with an area of Approx. 215 hectares.
In spring, you can see daffodils, tulips, and nemophila. In early summer, roses. In summer, zinnias and sunflowers. In autumn, kochia and cosmos.
In winter, ice tulips, allowing visitors to enjoy seasonal flowers throughout the year.
In particular, the nemophila that bloom from mid-April to early May are highly praised for creating a spectacular all-blue view with flowers, sky, and sea.

One of Japan’s leading aquariums, exhibiting Approx. 580 species of marine and freshwater life.
As its shark symbol suggests, it boasts the largest number of shark species kept in Japan.
It also features one of Japan’s largest dedicated sunfish tanks and is known for the rare effort of displaying multiple sunfish, something uncommon even nationwide.

Ushiku Daibutsu is a giant statue of Amitabha Tathagata completed in 1992, and its formal name is Ushiku Amida Daibutsu.
Standing 120 meters tall, including a 20-meter pedestal, it is registered in Guinness World Records as the world’s tallest bronze Buddha statue.
Its overwhelming scale includes a total weight of 4,000 tons, a left palm measuring 18 meters, a face 20 meters long, eyes 2.5 meters long, a mouth 4 meters long, a nose 1.2 meters high, ears 10 meters long, and an index finger 7 meters long.

This historic garden was created by Tokugawa Nariaki, the ninth lord of the Mito Domain.
It is counted among Japan’s Three Great Gardens alongside Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama.
The grounds cover Approx. 13 hectares and are filled with highlights throughout. Beyond the East Gate stands Kobuntei, a wooden structure with two tiers and three floors.
Built as Lord Nariaki’s villa, its two buildings with shingle and thatched roofs have a simple yet elegant atmosphere.

Fukuroda Falls, one of Ibaraki Prefecture’s leading sightseeing spots, is located on the Taki River, a tributary of the Kuji River flowing through the Okukuji area.
This great waterfall, measuring 120 meters high and 73 meters wide, is counted among Japan’s Three Great Waterfalls alongside Kegon Falls in Tochigi Prefecture and Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture, and it has also been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Waterfalls.

Kasama Kogei no Oka is a complex facility in Kasama Geijutsu no Mori Park, with hands-on Kasama ware pottery workshops, a gallery displaying and selling works, and a cafe serving sweets made with local ingredients.
At the Fureai Workshop inside the facility, visitors can enjoy a pottery-making experience under the guidance of an instructor and create plates and tableware.
There are three courses: wheel throwing, where clay is shaped on a potter’s wheel, hand-building, which creates warmer, more handmade pieces, and painting, where you decorate bisque-fired pottery. Each experience takes around 1 hour 10 minutes.

A relaxing public space developed around Senba Lake in central Mito City.
Adjacent to Kairakuen, this Approx. 78.4-hectare park offers a variety of facilities and activities, including a wooden waterside deck that makes you feel as if you are standing on the lake, Shonen no Mori with field athletics, a children’s plaza with playground equipment and swings, and Seseragi Plaza, where visitors can play in a stream fed by spring water.

This outlet mall is popular for its convenient location, with direct access from the Ken-O Expressway’s Ami-Higashi Interchange.
Nearby stands the 120-meter-tall Ushiku Daibutsu, considered a guardian of the area, and many visitors stop by after paying their respects there.
The spacious, green grounds, inspired by the American West Coast, are lined with Approx. 160 shops.
The lineup includes international brands, sports makers, and select shops.

Oarai Marine Tower, a triangular tower inspired by ocean waves, is beloved as a symbol of Oarai Town.
Standing 60 meters above ground, it is a popular viewpoint with sweeping views of the town and port.
From the observation room on the third floor, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the vast Pacific Ocean, and on clear days, even the Nikko mountain range and Mt. Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture.
On clear winter days, you may even be able to see Mt. Fuji, which is another highlight.
The tower also includes a souvenir corner on the first floor and a cafe on the second floor where you can enjoy views from 50 meters above ground.
Nearby, there is also a giant 7-meter marlin monument symbolizing the waters off Oarai, known as a prime spot for marlin fishing.

Ibaraki Prefectural Flower Park, located in the lush Yasato area of Ishioka City, reopened in April 2021 as Ibaraki Flower Park after a renewal.
Its concept is shifting from simply “seeing” flowers to truly “feeling” them. Centered on roses, the prefectural flower, the park offers many ways to experience the beauty, colors, and fragrance of 900 varieties of roses from different perspectives. (Best season: from mid-May to late June and from October to mid-November)

Located in Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki Prefecture, this is Japan’s first and only theme park dedicated to mentaiko, operated by the long-established mentaiko company Kanefuku.
Inside the grounds is a factory that produces more than 5 tons of mentaiko in a single day on busy days, and amazingly, tours are free.
After learning how the products are made, enjoy mentaiko dishes in the food court, have fun in the mentaiko gallery, and fully experience mentaiko by seeing it, eating it, and playing with it.

Mount Tsukuba in Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is also known as an excellent night view spot overlooking the Kanto Plain.
It has two peaks, Nantai-san at an elevation of 871 meters and Nyotai-san at 877 meters, and the cable car or ropeway makes it easy to reach near the summit from the foot of the mountain.
The ropeway operates until 8:00pm on weekends and holidays from October to February of the following year, and the cable car also runs until 8:00pm on weekends and holidays in November, allowing visitors to enjoy an aerial stroll with night views.
The view from the summit is exceptional and has even been recognized as a Japan Night View Heritage site.
The lights of Tsukuba City and Tsuchiura City seen from Mount Tsukuba are as beautiful as jewels scattered across the landscape.
On especially clear days, you may even spot the lights of Tokyo Skytree in the distance.

On the 25th floor of the Ibaraki Prefectural Government Office in Mito City, there is an observation lobby open to the public free of charge.
From a height of 108 meters above ground, this hidden gem offers a 360-degree panoramic night view centered on downtown Mito.
The government office grounds can accommodate more than 500 cars, and on weekdays only, it is also accessible by direct shuttle bus from JR Mito Station, which is another plus.
Looking north from the calm, relaxed lobby, you can see the gentle and beautiful lights created by the symbolic tower of Art Tower Mito.
It is an ideal way to end a romantic date.

Kamine Park in Hitachi City is a large leisure park with a zoo, amusement park, and other attractions.
From the observatory at the top of the park, visitors can enjoy a sweeping night view of Hitachi’s urban area and industrial zone.
The unique scene created by the factory lights is both dreamy and beautiful.
The area around the observatory is quiet and calm, making it perfect for couples who want to take in the view at a relaxed pace.
Kamine Park is also selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots, so during cherry blossom season, you can enjoy hanami during the day and night views after sunset.

COLK is a hidden-gem restaurant in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
In a refined modern space, it serves creative French cuisine made with an abundance of local ingredients.
The calm interior makes it perfect for couples who want to enjoy a leisurely meal and conversation.
The menu consists of reservation-only chef’s choice courses, with two options at lunch and four at dinner.
Especially popular are the carefully crafted course meals that reflect the chef’s dedication.
The menu changes four times a year to match Japan’s seasons, so each visit brings new flavors to discover.
Unique original drinks, such as homemade ginger ale and sparkling tea made with Ibaraki specialty sashima tea, are another attraction.
It is an excellent choice for a special dinner on an anniversary or birthday.

Planetarium Yakiniku 72&BarB is located Approx. 5 minutes by taxi from Tsukuba Station.
The dimly lit interior, complete with a bar counter, creates a sophisticated adults-only atmosphere.
A planetarium show projecting Approx. 1 million stars onto the ceiling is screened every 90 to 120 minutes.
The 2- to 3-minute planetarium time makes the atmosphere even more dreamy and romantic.
Of course, it is not just about the mood, as the yakiniku is also authentic. The most popular menu item is the Chateaubriand Steak Course, which includes yaki-suki and chateaubriand made exclusively with Japanese black wagyu beef.
Exceptional yakiniku enjoyed in this extraordinary setting is sure to make your date even more memorable.

A Japanese restaurant quietly tucked away in a residential area near the ruins of Tsuchiura Castle.
It is located Approx. 12 minutes on foot from Tsuchiura Station West Exit, or Approx. 5 minutes by taxi.
One of its charms is the chance to enjoy dishes that make the most of ingredients sourced from Ibaraki’s sea, mountains, rivers, and lakes.
You can also try somewhat unusual dishes such as meals made with wild soft-shelled turtle and carp from Lake Kasumigaura.
The most popular option is the Ibaraki Terroir Course, a kappo-style meal made with an abundance of seasonal ingredients. Its presentation is also visually stunning.
Private rooms are available, so couples can enjoy a relaxed time together in a Japanese-style setting.

A resort hotel praised for offering a soothing stay surrounded by the blue sea and blue sky.
The guest rooms are impressively coordinated with stylish modern interiors, and beyond the windows stretches the vast Pacific Ocean.
You can enjoy different spectacular views depending on the time of day, including a moving sunrise, a calm evening sea, and moonlight reflected on the water, promising an extraordinary and open-feeling stay.

A hotel located in a lush forested area along the bypass.
Inside the five-story building designed by John David Edison, a descendant of inventor Thomas Edison, the interiors are coordinated in a European classic style while Japanese touches such as lattice patterns are incorporated throughout.

Hotel Bestland in Tsukuba City is a highly convenient hotel located Approx. 1 minute on foot from Kenkyu-gakuen Station.
The clean, sophisticated guest rooms provide a comfortable space to relax after a day of travel.
One of the hotel’s highlights is the large public bath, Mahoroba no Yu Tanikaku, on the second floor.
Enjoy a relaxing bath in a calm atmosphere, then refresh both body and mind in the sauna made entirely of Japanese cypress.
With its convenient location for sightseeing, it is recommended for couples who want to stay active.