In the south of Ibaraki Prefecture sits Itako city, a city located between Lake Kasumigaura and Lake Kitaura. The Tone River also flows through the city. Because Itako City is surrounded by different bodies of water, the city has a convenient network of canals. During the Edo period, these canals were of great importance, since…

Despite being located close to Tokyo, many Japanese people consider Ibaraki Prefecture to be nothing but farmland. While residents of Ibaraki take pride in producing most of the country’s lotus root, there are also several places of interest to visit and things to do throughout the year. Here are five of them! 1. View the…

The first time I heard about a burning bush was back when I was a child reading an Old Testament Bible, the Book of Exodus (if you are a Christian or familiar with the bible, I am sure you know about this, too). The book says that the bush was on fire but wasn’t really…

Do you love Japanese pottery? Would you like to buy some beautiful and artistic souvenirs from Japan? How about flowers? Would you like to go flower viewing during the remaining springtime? If so, here are two events in Kasama City (笠間市), Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県) that you must not miss this Golden Week 2017! 1. Kasama…

At the mention of art exhibitions, most people would imagine doing it in the confines of a nicely designed museum with high ceilings, big spaces, and in air-conditioned comfort. However, have you ever wanted to do the same while being surrounded by nature? If so, Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県) has the perfect event for you this…

Kairakuen in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture ranks as one of the top three gardens in Japan along with Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama. Being the nearest to the Tokyo Metropolitan area as compared to its peers, Kairakuen is also the second largest city park in terms of area space, just behind New York’s…

Tsukuba is a city in Japan which is famous for pilgrimages and in line with this, is also surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges. One of the most popular mountains in the area, as well as the whole of Japan, is Mount Tsukuba which is situated almost at the center of Ibaraki prefecture. It is known…

Are you looking for a romantic getaway in Ibaraki prefecture? Sometimes it can be difficult to decide which hotel to stay at, as there are so many options. How about the Mito Plaza Hotel? Let’s discover everything this hotel has to offer. jguide.net/ A Glowing History ikyu.com/ The Mito Plaza Hotel and the city of…

Located in Mito, Ibaraki prefecture, the Tokiwa Shrine is dedicated to Tokugawa Mitsukuni and Tokugawa Nariaki, important Daimyo (Lords) in Japan from the Edo period. Once you get to this beautiful shrine, you will see a concrete Torii gate with sake containers nearby as often seen at important Shinto shrines. Don’t you want to be…

Did you know that Fukuroda Falls, located in Daigo, Ibaraki Prefecture, is known to be one of the most beautiful destinations in the autumn season in Japan? It involves a combination of water coming from Taki River, just above the falls and joins the Kuji River below. Due to its foliage of flowers in spring…