8 Picturesque Places That Should be on Your List When You Visit Ibaraki

Have you ever heard about Ibaraki? It is the most colorful place located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is Japan’s no. 1 consumer and producer of fermented soybeans. But fermentation of soybeans is not the only tourist attraction; it also has amazing Fukuroda falls. Do you know, Ibaraki is also the birthplace of Aikido? It is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba. 

Ibaraki Prefecture covers a geographic area of over 2300sq mi and has a population of over 2,800,199 as of 2019. Mito is the largest city here with a measure of 217 km sq. Ibaraki borders Fukushima Prefecture to the north and Saitama Prefecture to the southwest. It has Lake Kasumigaura, which is the second-largest lake in Japan and famous mountain Mount Tsukuba. 

Things to Do & Places to Visit in Ibaraki 

If you are planning to explore Ibaraki, then here are a few amazing things that you could do when you visit Ibaraki.

1. Mito

Source = Japan-guide

Mito is the capital of Ibaraki. Established in 1841, the Kodokan Mito Han School is a must visiting place here. The school not only teaches fighting techniques but also about medicine. You could see the classrooms where lords studied and also their family quarters. It has a huge plum garden that shows an array of colors and fragrances.

2. The Amazing Garden KAIRAKUEN

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Located in Mito, Kairakuen is one of the famous gardens in Japan that was built in 1841. If you ever plan to visit Mito, then book your tickets for January to March. These months are plum blossom season and welcome thousands of visitors. Apart from Plum, you could see varieties of pink, red, white blossoms, cedar woods, and bamboo grove. 

Another site that attracts the visitors most is Sakura-Yama, a small hill at the park, beyond the JR Joban line. Today, Kairakuen has over 3000 plum trees and over 80 other tree varieties. It is believed that Kairakuen is the second-largest city park in the world after Central Park in New York City. 

3. Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park covers an area of 190 hectares and has blooming flowers around the year. It is well-known for its baby blue-eyes flowers, daffodils, varieties of tulips, and other flowers. 

It also features cycling traits and an amusement park with a Ferris Wheel. It hosts the Rock in Japan Festival in August every year. Hitachi Seaside Park is around two hours journey from Tokyo and features hiking trails throughout the park. You can take the Ibaraki Kotsu bus or taxi to reach Seaside Park.

4. KA-CHAN NO MISE - The Best Shop to Taste Japanese Cuisines

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KA-CHAN NO MISE translates to Mama’s shop. It is located near the fish market. The chefs here are the wives of fishermen and cook the freshest seafood that is rarely found. The place is popular among locals and welcomes tourists from around the world. 

If you visit this place, then don’t forget to order miso soup, rice topped with baby sardines.

5. Ushiku Daibutsu

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Ushiku Daibutsu is a 120m tall statue of the Buddha Amitabha. It was built in 1995, and since then, it has been a favorite location of the tourists. The statue held the record of the tallest statue from 1993-2018. Inside, there is an exhibition of Buddha that features his history and other achievements. 

The statue is made of Bronze and is also known as Amida’s Radiance and Compassion Actually Developing and Illuminating Area (ARCADIA). You could also capture seasonal flowers and a small rabbit zoo around the Buddha statue. The Ushiku Daibutsu also holds a Guinness Book of World as the world’s largest bronze statue. 

6. Fukuroda Waterfall

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It is one of the three most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. It is 120m high and has a width of 73m. It is nearly two hours drive from Mito and welcomes visitors throughout the year. In winter, the falls might freeze, and during summers, it is framed with green foliage. 

It highlights red leaves in spring; this increases its popularity in spring break. There is an elevator that takes you to the top of the area and allows you to see the countryside. 

The railings of the platform are surrounded by photographers and couples. There is also a short suspension bridge that shares exotic views of the area and provides patios of small snack houses. You could enjoy the stunning views of the waterfall throughout the winter season. 

7. Lake Kasumigaura

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Located around 60km to the north-east of Tokyo, Lake Kasumigaura is the biggest lake in the Tokyo area and also the second largest lake in Japan. It covers an area of around 173 km sq & was originally a brackish-water lagoon. Lake Kasumigaura is used for several purposes.

For instance, it is the best place for tourism, irrigation, fishing, and is surrounded by local and other industries. After visiting the lake, you could head towards the Ibaraki flower park that highlights 30,000 roses from around the world. Here are other beautiful lakes that unfold the breathtaking views on earth.

8. Oarai Coast

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The Oarai beach is one of the most amazing and spectacular beaches in the Kanto area. It is popular amongst surfers, sunbathers, and is a perfect place during summer days. Oarai is also a town in Japan with a population of 17,000. It is bordered on one side by Lake Hinuma and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Oarai beach is a favorite spot for volleyball and seafood lovers. It is well known for giant oysters.

The Oarai coast could be reached by train and car. It is a part of the Oarai Prefectural Seaside Park and underwent improvements so that the elderly and differently-abled people could also enjoy it. It also has The Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium or Aquaworld and features the largest shark exhibition in Japan. The exhibition also showcases sea otters, dolphins, and sea lions. 

Check out more beach travel destinations that you could explore with your folks. 

How to Reach Ibaraki?

The best way to reach Ibaraki is via the JR Joban Line from Ueno station. The JR Joban Line passes through Ibaraki in the north to Tohoku. 

Final Words

If you are visiting Japan for the first time, then these Japanese facts could surprise you. After exploring these amazing places, if you have savings left, then you could spend them ludicrously in several ways. 

For instance, the Yunessun Spa Resort in Japan offers pools filled with colorful liquids like red wine. You could dive into a wine-filled spa. 

Do you know other things about Ibaraki? If yes, then share your views.