Regulars to Hidden Gems! The 10 Must-visit Sightseeing spots in Ibaraki prefecture!

Ibaraki prefecture is situated in the north-east of Kanto Plain and its south edge is in the distance of about 40 km from Tokyo. Once you cross the Tone River flowing on the border with Chiba prefecture, a city-like atmosphere shades away and you go into the low tableland, open rice fields and the rural landscape. Let’s walk through the 10 must-visit sightseeing spots in Ibaraki.

Historical Sightseeing spot built in the Edo period, “Kodokan Park”

In Mito city, Ibaraki prefecture. “Kodokan Park” is located in Mito city, after an old black gate crossing Otebashi Bridge of the historic sightseeing site “Mito Castle Remains”. This park holds 100 old plum trees to create a Japanese atmosphere, which is different from plum trees in the Japanese garden “Kairakuen” in Mito city.

In the park, there is the remains of Japan’s largest Domain school, Kodokan, in the Edo period. The main gate has been nationally designated important cultural properties, which you can tell from its significant appearance. Worth visiting to see it on the trip to Mito city, Ibaraki.

Historical Sightseeing spot in Ibaraki, “Satakedera Temple”

“Satakedera Temple” is a temple of Shingo sect Buzan school named Myofukuzan Myouoin, located in the west of Hitachi-ota station in Ibaraki prefecture. It is regards has the 22nd temple of “the Bando Sanjusankasho (33 holy places of Kannon in the Bando region)” scattered around 7 prefectures in the Kanto region. In the Medieval Ages, it was protected by the master of Hitachi-ota Castle, the Ota family, and succeeded in generations.

This temple with a long history has many sightseeing spots. You can enjoy viewing the historical buildings such as the main temple, the mountain gate, the pair of Nio Guardians statues, Inari-do hall. There are also mortuary tablets of the Satake family remained in the site of the temple. How about visiting a historical sightseeing spot?

Space of Relaxation for the Ibaraki residents. Recommended for Sightseeing at “Ibaraki Botanical Garden”!

10 minutes drive from Urizura station in Ibaraki prefecture. “Ibaraki Botanical Garden” is the sightseeing spot where you can enjoy rich nature in Ibaraki. It is situated in the hilly area connected to the west of National Route 118, with the size of about 600,000 square kilometer.

This facility is divided into various attractions such as the relaxation yard, commemorative planting area, sample garden of foreign species trees, wild birds center. It is familiar especially with family visitors for walking around in Ibaraki. Highly recommended!

One of Japan’s Three Famous Waterfalls, “Fukuroda Falls” in Ibaraki.

There are Japan’s Three Famous Waterfalls, which is “Kegon Falls” in Nikko, Tochigi prefecture, “Nachi Falls” in Wakayama, Wakayama prefecture, and this “Fukuroda Falls” in Ibaraki prefecture. These three falls has been regarded as the most beautiful among the countless number of waterfalls situated in the island country, Japan. “Fukuroda Falls” is located in about 1.2 km distance from the east of Fukuroda Onsen. The beautiful waterfalls come from Takigawa River, Onogawa River and Kuji River flowing among Namase Basin, with 120 meter height and 73 meter width, municipally designated as the scenic spot.

It is called as “Yondo no Taki (four times waterfalls)” since it has 4 drops. There is another story that ; Saigyo the monk said that you won’t know the genuine beauty of the falls at least you come this place once in each season, which means 4 times. Must-visit spot!

Spend a Relaxing time in Ibaraki. Cherry Blossoms Viewing point locally loved, “Joseki Hitoraical Park”.

“Joseki Historical Park” is the remains of the castle on the top of hill with 10 meter height, located in the distance of 1 km northeast from Yuki station in Ibaraki prefecture.This spot has the remains of a dry moat and earthen walls partially, which has been preserved in this Joseki Park. It holds beautiful cherry blossoms, which is familiar with the residents of Yuki city as a relaxation space.

You can enjoy its wonderful nature in many areas of the park. Above all, cherry blossoms viewing is one of popular features in spring. In spring, about 150 Yoshino Cherry are in bloom in the park, which amuses the visitors. It is said that Yuki Yorimitsu built the castle in this place after gaining the land through the battle with Heike following Minamoto no Yoritomo at the beginning of the Kamakura period.

Sightseeing spot built in the Heian period. Feel the long history of Ibaraki at “Kokuo Shrine”.

“Kokuo Shrine” is a historical sightseeing site, located in the west of prefectural road for Shimozuma and Ishige, and in about 1.5 km north of the center of Iwai city. It is said that, in 972, in the middle of the Heian period, the 3rd daughter of the famous warrior, Taira no Masakado, Nyozoi built the shrine.

The object enshrined in Kokuo Shrine is the seated statue of Taira no Masakado in a traditional formal court dress, which is the formal wear of the Imperial family, sculptured with Yosegi-zukuri style. It is said that Nyozoi built the hermitage here after the father’s death, and sculptured to pray for the repose of his father on the 33rd anniversary. It has been designated as the cultural properties in Ibaraki prefecture. This is one of the must-visit sightseeing sites in Ibaraki.

Experience State-of-the-art Scientific Technoloties at “Tsukuba EXPO Center”!

Tsukuba city, Ibaraki prefecture is called as “a science city”. This is because there are many universities and research facilities in the vast land of Tsukuba. At the center of Tsukuba science city, near University of Library and Information Science, there is “Tsukuba EXPO Center”.

You can experience and learn about state-of-the-art science technologies and science closely related to our daily lives. In fact, it uses the building exhibited by Japanese government on the science EXPO. In the center, there are the world’s largest scale of planetarium and science museum, which has been very popular. Experience something unknown!

Elegant time with Delicious Wine at “Chateau Kamiya”

“Chateau Kamiya” is a popular sightseeing spot in Ibaraki, located in 8 minutes walk from Ushiku station. It is built for wine making in 1903. It is an Western Europe style building made with red bricks. It was one of the great pioneers of western liquor production in Japan, and still now it functions as a general brewery.

There are the wine storages, brewery factories, a BBQ garden with reused wine barrels, restaurants built in the former wine storage. At 3 restaurants in Chateau Kamiya, you can enjoy outstanding wine with a beautiful scenery to spend a elengant time.

The 2nd Largest Lake in Japan. Must-visit Sightseeing spot in Ibaraki, “Lake Kasumigaura”!

“Lake Kasumigaura” is a freshwater lake situated in the southeast of Ibaraki prefecture. You can easily find it on the Japan national map. The size of the lake is about 178 square kilometer with the circumference of 138 km, which is the second largest in Japan following Lake Biwa in Shiga prefecture, the largest. The lake is not that deep, with 3 – 6 meter depth mainly, and 8 meter deep at the deepest. It has been selected to Japan’s 100 Great Sceneries, which collects 100 outstanding natural sceneries representing Japan.

There are pleasure cruise service and a yacht harbor. You can enjoy water activities like water craft, fishing. Highly recommended!

One of Japan’s Three Great Sand Dunes. Must see its scenery at “Hasaki Sand Dunes”

The most well-known sand dunes must be “Tottori Sakyu Sand Dunes” in Tottori prefecture, in the Chugoku region. Ibaraki also has sand dunes to visit for sightseeing, which is “Hasaki Sand Dunes”. It is sand dunes spread across the Kashima coast from Hasaki to Kashima.

You can see beautiful wind patterns on sand dunes by the directions of winds, with sand prevention pine forests behind. The contrast of sand dunes and rich green pine forests is too spectacular to miss. It is also the popular spot for tourists enjoying swimming in summer.

Travel around the Sightseeing spots in Ibaraki!

Here is the 10 must-visit sightseeing spots in Ibaraki prefecture. Ibaraki has not been recognised as a sightseeing site despite the great access from Tokyo. It is actually full of too attractive sightseeing spots to be missed. You next destination is now set to Ibaraki prefecture!