13 Recommended Family-Friendly Places to Visit in Ibaraki, from Parks and Animals to Science Museums

The highlights are spread across areas such as northern, central, and southern Ibaraki, so rather than trying to cover everything, it’s best to narrow down your stay area when planning.
It’s easier to get around if you choose a base that suits your interests, such as coastal Oarai, the Tsukuba area, or the Mito and Hitachi area.

Ibaraki has many vast parks and nature spots, while also offering plenty of indoor facilities such as aquariums and museums.
By combining time to play outside with time to relax indoors, you can enjoy a well-balanced stay from start to finish.

One of Ibaraki’s charms is the many places where kids can learn while having fun, from animal encounters and nature experiences to exhibits at science facilities.
By balancing active time with time that sparks intellectual curiosity, both parents and children can enjoy a satisfying trip.

This large park features vast grounds and seasonal flowers throughout the year. With an amusement park and cycling courses as well, it’s a great place to spend plenty of time enjoying the outdoors.
As you explore the flower fields and attractions, there are many ways for parents and kids to spend time together. Another highlight is being able to discover different scenery with each season as you walk through the spacious park. There are also plenty of restaurants and shops, making it easy to enjoy a full day here.

This large aquarium introduces sea and river creatures through a wide variety of exhibits. Fittingly for a facility that uses a shark as its symbol mark, it boasts the largest number of shark species kept in Japan.
Each zone has its own theme, and as you move through the aquarium, different marine worlds unfold before your eyes. In front of the dynamic displays, parents and kids can spend time observing closely together.
Comparing the shows and tanks naturally sparks conversation along the way.

This zoo lets you observe animals’ behavior and expressions up close. As you walk through the grounds, you’ll encounter many different kinds of animals.
Set in a dramatic location overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the zoo is home to about 540 animals from around 100 species. The spacious setting makes it easy for parents and kids to relax and enjoy their time together. Watching the animals’ movements and gestures also makes observation itself part of the fun.

This museum offers exhibits where you can learn about nature, living things, and how the Earth was formed. Inside, you can take your time exploring specimens and materials that explain the mechanisms and changes of the natural world.
Meanwhile, the outdoor facilities cover an area about 3.5 times the size of Tokyo Dome, with fieldwork spots and open spaces scattered throughout.
Move between the exhibits and the outdoor areas, and enjoy a time of discovery together as a family.

Known as a hub for space development, this facility features exhibits on rockets and satellites. Highlights include full-scale models and actual equipment on display, all impressive in scale.
The lush grounds, covering an area about the size of 12 Tokyo Domes, are lined with buildings used for research and development. It’s a great place for parents and kids to learn together while feeling closer to the world of space. Seeing facilities that are not part of everyday life may also spark children’s curiosity.

This theme park is home to more than 500 famous and rare dogs from around the world, letting visitors interact with many different breeds. From small dogs to large ones, there is a wide variety to meet up close.
Also popular is “Wanwan Rental,” where you can have your favorite dog all to yourself for 20 minutes. Taking a friendly walk together across the grassy open space with a leash in hand is sure to become a memorable experience. It may make family time feel even more special.

This tourist farm keeps about 200 ostriches, mainly the gentle African Black breed, which you can observe up close. It’s especially striking to see them running around the wide grounds.
Beyond the ostriches, the farm is home to more than 60 kinds of curious animals. You can also enjoy interacting with alpacas, capybaras, donkeys, sheep, and more, making the experience feel even more close-up and personal for families.

Built around the concept of a flower park you can “feel” rather than just “see,” this hands-on facility lets you enjoy flowers and nature with all five senses. As you walk through the grounds, you’ll be surrounded by beautiful scenery and fragrance.
The park is filled with ways to experience the beauty, colors, and scents of 900 varieties of roses, the prefectural flower, from many different angles.
At the park restaurant, you can also enjoy meals made with vegetables and fruit from Yasato, adding to a relaxing family outing.

This lake stretches across southeastern Ibaraki and is the second largest in Japan after Lake Biwa. It is called “ura” rather than “lake” because it was originally a sea inlet, a lagoon later separated from the sea by sediment deposits.
You can enjoy water sports such as fishing and yachting along the lakeshore, where open views spread out before you. Kasumigaura Comprehensive Park on the Tsuchiura lakeside also has a windmill and nature center, making it a lovely place for families to spend relaxing time by the water.

This theme park lets you experience the appeal of mentaiko and how it is made. In addition to touring the factory, you can enjoy mentaiko dishes at the food court and play in the Mentaiko Gallery.
On busy days, the factory on the grounds produces over 5 tons of mentaiko in a single day, and amazingly, you can tour it for free.
The direct sales shop also offers freshly made mentaiko and related products, so families can enjoy looking, eating, and shopping all in one place.

One of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains, Mount Tsukuba consists of two peaks: Nantai-san (871 m above sea level) and Nyotai-san (877 m above sea level). You can take a cable car or ropeway to get close to the summit and easily enjoy the mountain scenery.
On the southern mountainside at an elevation of Approx. 270 m is the worship hall of Tsukubasan Shrine. The route to the summit includes a little more walking, making it a great way for parents and kids to experience nature and changing views together.

This scenic waterfall, 120 m high and 73 m wide, is counted among Japan’s three most famous waterfalls. From the observation platform, you can experience its impressive scale up close, and it shows different expressions in each season.
From fall to winter, the illumination event “Daigo Light” is held here. It’s a place where families will want to take their time enjoying the scenery as it changes with the hour and the season.

This spot is home to a towering Buddhist statue of overwhelming size. Its formal name is Ushiku Amida Daibutsu, and the giant Amitabha Buddha stands out even from far away.
At 120 m tall, including its 20 m pedestal, it holds the Guinness World Record as the world’s tallest bronze Buddha statue. Seeing it from below is sure to inspire surprise and discovery for both parents and kids. You can also enter inside the statue, and from the 5th-floor Chest Observation Deck, look out across the Kanto Plain.

This resort hotel stands in a location surrounded by the coast and pine forest. Rooms include Japanese-Western style rooms and family types, making it easy for parents and kids to relax comfortably.
For dinner, the hotel serves Japanese and Western-style kaiseki meals featuring an abundance of local mountain and sea produce. With a large public bath and satisfying dining options, you can enjoy a calm and comfortable stay alongside sightseeing.

This resort hotel stands in a location overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and the views from the guest rooms are a major draw. You can relax and enjoy a special change of pace while gazing out at the sea.
Room types range widely, from Japanese-style rooms with the comforting scent of wood to Western-style rooms with ocean-view baths. Dining and on-site facilities are also well equipped, supporting a comfortable family stay.

This hot spring inn stands in a calm setting surrounded by nature. It also offers easy access to sightseeing spots, making for a relaxing stay.
Located a 3-minute drive from Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan’s three most famous waterfalls, it is well regarded for its quiet location surrounded by the great nature of Okukuji.
While enjoying the hot springs and meals, families can make the most of a leisurely and carefree stay.