SIGHTSEEING
See the magnificent beauty of more than 68.000 marine creatures at the Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium. With more than 60 water tanks and an underwater tunnel, exploring this place will be such a delight. Visitors can also see the 25 minutes live performances of dolphins and sea lions. There's also an Aqua viewing and Humboldt Penguins Walk Time. Or stop by the Ushiku Buddha, where there's a giant statue of Amitabha Buddha. The 120m-tall bronze statue is divided into four levels that function as a museum exhibiting Buddha statues, scriptural studies, and etc. There's also an observation deck where visitors can see the beautiful view of the surrounding garden.
Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium
Ushiku Buddha
DOWNTOWN
Visit the Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki located by the Lake Seba to see the incredible collection the museum has. There are more than 3.7000 artwork pieces from great artists all around the world such as Monet, Renoir, Camille Pissarro, as well as Japanese artists like Tsuguharu Foujita, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Kokei Kobayashi, and etc. Visitors can visit the museum from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Kairakuen is a historical and traditional Japanese Garden that is very popular for its more than three thousand plum trees. During the plum blossom season, people are flocking here to see the breathtaking beauty of the blossoming tree. Kairakuen is also the place where the annual Mito Plum Festival takes place from February to March every year. Besides plum trees, there are other kinds of plants that visitors can see here, such as bamboo grove and cedar woods. There's even a Kobuntei, which is a traditional Japanese building that is standing in the park.
The Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki
Kairakuen
SHOPPING
Shop at Aeon Town Mito-Minami where you can find various items such as clothing, shoes, and accessories. Several fast foods and full-service restaurants are also available at the food court of the mall, such as McDonald's, Marugame Udon, Mister Donut, and Big Boy Restaurant. And if you crave for some seafood, then Nakaminatoosakana Market is the perfect place to go in Ibaraki. This seafood market is abundant in fresh seafood at a great price.
At the market, several seafood restaurants are also available such as Nakaminato Seafood Round, Seafood Gate Kaimon, Seafood Sushi Kaikatei, and Restaurant Kobune.
Aeon Town Mito-Minami
Nakaminatoosakana Market
FOOD & DRINK
Ibaraki has many local specialties that will be a shame not to try. Some of those specialties that you must try while in Ibaraki are Okukuji Shamo, which is a high-quality breed of chicken that is raised locally, Natto or fermented soybeans, and Inarizushi of Kasama which is a famous food that can be found in the Kasama Inari Shrine. And for the drink, Umeshu or plum wine is definitely the one drink that can't be missed.
CULTURE
Ibaraki has some amazing culture that can't be found in other places, like the Yūki-tsumugi, which is a Japanese craft of silk cloth. This tradition has been existing for hundreds of years and is listed as a UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Another craft that is typical of Ibaraki is the Kasama-ware, which is a style of pottery created in Kasama, Ibaraki.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
Peak season: Spring is the best time to visit Ibaraki, especially April. Ibaraki is blessed with many beautiful parks and gardens, during this time the flowers and cherry blossoms are starting to bloom that makes the city looks very magical. And the weather and temperature during this time allowed people to explore Ibaraki comfortably.
HOTEL
Stay at the Shoya Yamaguchi to have the experience of staying in a traditional Japanese Inn or Ryokan. The inn is the perfect place to stay if you want to have a relaxing time in Ibaraki because of the calm atmosphere the inn has. Rooms with Japanese futon and delicious Japanese food are also available to make your stay more comfortable. And if you want to stay in a more modern setting accommodation, then Mito Plaza Hotel is a great option. The hotel features various types of rooms and facilities such as a spa and a courtyard with a glass roof.
Shoya Yamaguchi
Mito Plaza Hotel
RESTAURANT
Taste the authentic Japanese cuisines at Janome, a restaurant that serves various tasty Japanese dishes in Ibaraki. Foods like sashimi, sushi, dishes made of Hitachi beef, other seafood, and desserts are available to order at the restaurant. If you want to taste great tonkatsu, you can come to Tonkatsu Restaurant Cook Fan. Besides tonkatsu, the restaurant also offers other delicious Japanese dishes like curry, miso soup, and beef cutlet.
Janome
Tonkatsu Restaurant Cook Fan
CAFE
Kona’s Coffee & Hawaiian Pancakes is a perfect breakfast spot in Ibaraki. The cafe also has a great Hawaiian atmosphere that makes your experience of eating here more enjoyable. Breakfast and brunch menus such as pancakes, egg benedict, burgers, desserts, as well as Hawaiian cuisines like Loco Moco and Mochiko Chicken Rice are available at the restaurant. You can also stop by Komeda's Coffee which is another great breakfast spot. Here, you can get great coffee as well as breakfast like sandwiches, toasts, and pancakes.
Kona’s Coffee & Hawaiian Pancakes
Komeda's Coffee
BAR AND NIGHTLIFE
Girl Talk is a great destination for a night out in Ibaraki because you can find fun things like live jazz music performance and great drinks such as whiskey, cocktails, and wine as well. The bar is also often used as a venue for live events and performances. Make sure to check out their website to find out the schedule of the events that will be held here. And if you want to spend a night in a chill environment, then you should come to Laf Craft Republic House. The bar offers great drinks in a small but cozy atmosphere with the wooden-dominated interior.
Girl Talk
Laf Craft Republic House
INTERESTING PLACE
Hitachi Seaside Park is one of the most popular destinations in Ibaraki. The public park is home to various kinds of flowers that bloom all around the year. Many people are coming here to see the incredible beauty of the park, especially during the Baby Blue Eyes blooming season in April. Some other kinds of flowers that can be found at the park are tulips, daffodils, poppies, and roses. Sakatsura Isozaki Shrine is a Shinto shrine that features a beautiful tunnel formed by 300 years-old trees. One of the reasons that make this shrine interesting is the traditional looking building of the shrine that looks stunning. There's also a lucky turtle that is believed to give good fortune to the people who visit the shrine.
Hitachi Seaside Park
Sakatsura Isozaki Shrine
INSTAGRAMMABLE SPOT
Oarai Isosaki Shrine is a Shinto shrine located by the sea. There's a gate called Kamiiso-no-Torii that means the gate at the beach of the gods. This place is a perfect spot to watch the sunrise. Ryujin Otsuri Bridge or Ryujin Suspension Bridge is one of the largest pedestrian suspension bridges in Japan. The 375 meters bridge offers the incredible beauty of the surrounding nature. Besides walking through the bridge, visitors can also pump their adrenaline by bungee jumping from the bridge.
Oarai Isosaki Shrine
Ryujinotsuri Bridge
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