Everyone should take a trip to Ibaraki

Preparation

- Visa: Prepare personal documents, employment certificates, asset proofs, and other materials to apply for a Japanese tourist visa.
- Air tickets: Book round-trip tickets in advance, choosing to fly into Narita or Haneda Airport in Tokyo, then proceed to Ibaraki.
- Others: Prepare Japanese yen cash, exchange for an international data SIM card or rent a mobile Wi-Fi device, and download useful apps like Google Maps.

Recommended Attractions

- Natural Scenery
- Hitachi Seaside Park: Features vast fields of nemophila, tulips, and rapeseed flowers, along with magnificent sea views, perfect for walking and picnics.
- Mount Tsukuba: Standing at 877 meters, you can hike or take the cable car to enjoy natural scenery and surrounding views, experiencing the joy of mountain climbing.
- Okukuji Park: Rich in vegetation, with waterfalls and gorges, suitable for camping, hiking, and fishing, allowing you to appreciate the beauty of nature.
- History and Culture
- Kairakuen Garden: One of Japan’s three most beautiful landscape gardens, home to over 3,000 plum trees. During the Mito Plum Blossom Festival, the blooming plums are breathtaking.
- Mito Castle: Built in the 13th century, it was an important military fortress. Some buildings have been restored, offering insight into Edo period history.
- Kasama Inari Shrine: Dating back to the mid-7th century, dedicated to the deity Ina, with exquisite architecture and carvings of dragons and peonies on the walls.
- Science and Education
- Tsukuba Space Center: The location of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, featuring space exhibitions, real spacecraft displays, and simulation activities.
- Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of History: Exhibits art and crafts from prehistoric times to the modern era in the Ibaraki region, providing an understanding of local history and culture.

Food Recommendations

- Monkfish Hot Pot: A representative winter delicacy, monkfish has fresh, delicious meat rich in collagen, paired with vegetables and tofu in a rich broth.
- Hitachi Beef: A top-grade Wagyu brand with delicate meat and evenly distributed fat, delicious grilled, in hot pot, or as steak.
- Mito Natto: A specialty of Mito City, fermented for a long time with a strong bean aroma, sticky texture, and rich nutrition.
- Kasama-yaki: A traditional snack from Kasama City, similar to a pancake, crispy outside and soft inside, sweet but not greasy.
- Mount Tsukuba Soba: Made from high-quality buckwheat flour, hand-kneaded and stone-ground, served with a special sauce, refreshing and tasty.

Accommodation Options

- Mito City: Offers many lodging choices with convenient transportation, close to Kairakuen Garden, Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, and other attractions, such as Sannomaru Hotel and Mito Plaza Hotel.
- Hitachinaka City: Near the seaside and attractions like Oarai Isosaki Shrine, with options like the Route-Inn Hitachinaka Hotel.
- Tsukuba City: Suitable for travelers visiting Mount Tsukuba and the Tsukuba Space Center, with options like Tsukuba Grand Hotel.

Transportation Guide

- External Transport: From Tokyo Ueno Station, take the JR Joban Line or the Hitachi Limited Express to Mito. You can also take the Tsukuba Express between Tokyo Akihabara Station and Tsukuba.
- Internal Transport: In Mito City, most attractions are accessible by walking or bus; for farther destinations, choose JR trains or rent a car for self-driving.