in JAPANTRIPIBARAKI

Feel Japan in Ibaraki Prefec ture

Blue skies and nemophila flowers form a seemingly endless vista at Hitachi Seaside Park. (Hitachinaka City)

Home to the Paciﬁc Ocean, mountains, countless rivers andexpansive lakes, Ibaraki features an ever-changing array ofunique landscapes just waiting to be explored.

The rich natural environment means there's plenty of fresh,
local cuisine to sample wherever you go in Ibaraki.

As each area of the prefecture offers a different experience,
there's no telling what you'll discover.

With stunning scenic landscapes all-year round,what are you waiting for?

Welcome to Ibaraki

Introduction

in JAPANTRIPIBARAKIFlowers

Plum blossom

A Blossom for Every Season
From the fragrant plum blossoms that signal the beginningof Spring to delicate pink cherry blossoms in full bloom,

and endless blue nemophila ﬂowers to ﬁery red Autumn foliage,
Ibaraki is a ﬂower lover's paradise.

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a. Kochia bushes dye the hills green in Summer and fiery red in the Autumn at Hitachi Seaside Park. (Hitachinaka City)b. The world's largest bronze statue. (Ushiku Daibutsu Big Buddha, Ushiku City) c. Gingko trees form a dazzling
yellow avenue. (Ibaraki Prefectural Archives & Museum, Mito City) d. 100 different kinds of plum blossom burst in tolife at Kairakuen Garden. (Mito City) e. A 1.8km avenue of cherry blossom trees lines this canal. (Fukuokazeki Weir,Tsukubamirai City)

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TRIP
IBARAKI

NatureA Landscape of Water and EarthWith mountains, including the distinctive Mount Tsukuba,

miles of coastline, the vast Lake Kasumigaura and countless rivers,
Ibaraki is home to a diverse range of landscapes.

dLose yourself in nature in Ibaraki.

ea. Fukuroda Falls reveals new sides to its beauty as the seasons change. (Daigo Town)
b. Lake Kasumigaura, the only place in Japan to see hobikisen traditional fishing boats. (LakeKasumigaura) c. The slopes of Mount Tsukuba appear to change colour during the dawn
and twilight hours. (Mount Tsukuba, Tsukuba City) d. The must-see Ryujin Suspension Bridgein North Ibaraki Geopark. (Hitachiota City) e. Plateau Satomi is perfect place for stargazing.
(Hitachiota City) f. Fukuroda Falls freezes during Winter. (Daigo Town) g. Spacious sands
and gentle waves at Oarai Sunbeach. (Oarai Town).

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Photogragh by Chikako Yagi. Tokyo Camera Club, 10 Selected Photographs.

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Traditionef

A Spirit Passed Down for Generations
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From long ago, the natural environment and natural phenomena

have been regarded as deities in Japanese culture. Gods are present inadeverything, from ancient trees to the morning dew. Even today, this culture
and the traditions that grew from it remain present in everyday life.

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a. Kamiiso Shrine Gate. (Isosaki Shrine, Oarai Town) b. This building wasdesigned by Okakura Tenshin, one of the founding fathers of modern art inJapan. (Izura Rokkakudo, Kitaibaraki City) c. Kodokan, a university during
the Edo Period (1603 - 1868). (Mito City) d. The main shrine building at
Kashima Jingu Grand Shrine. (Kashima City) e. A purification ritual during
Gion Festival. (Chikusei City) f. Early May is the best time to see Wisteria
flowers. (Kasama Inari Shrine, Kasama City) g. During this festival, irises
fill the waterfront city of Itako. Visitors to the festival can also see a bride
dressed in a traditional wedding kimono travel to her new husband's family
by boat in a traditional ceremony. (Itako Iris Festival, Itako City)g

in JAPAN

TRIP
IBARAKIExperience

ade

Only in Ibaraki
Rich in both natural and cultural resources,
Ibaraki has something for everyone,

whether youʼre an outdoor or indoor person.

cWith a range of activities and experiences on offer,
you're sure to find something to suit you.

a. Japan's highest bungee jump. (Ryujin Suspension Bridge, Hitachiota City) b. 180km of dedicated cyclepaths make up Ibaraki's Ring Ring Road cycle network. (Tsukuba City, Tsuchiura City, Kasumigaura City,Namegata City) c. The Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition, one of Japan's three biggest fireworks
displays. (Tsuchiura City) d. One of Japan's biggest aquariums. (AQUAWORLD Ibaraki Prefectual Oarai
Aquarium,Oarai Town) e.Experiece local life with a minpaku homestay. (locations throughout Ibaraki)f. Pottery making. (Kasama City) g. Golf. (locations throughout Ibaraki)b1011fFor more
information:gTechnology

Food

Ready for the Future

The Heart ofJapanese Cuisine

Hitachi Wagyu Beef
Hitachi Wagyu Beef is made fromJapanese Black Cattle reared by
specially certiﬁed farmers. Don't
miss out on trying this ﬂavoursome,premium Wagyu beef.

Kashima Port
Nightview Cruise
Enter a futuristic world oflights and industry with thisnighttime cruise in Kashima
Port.

Photo: JAXA

Seafood

Photo: Prof. Sankai, University of Tsukuba /CYBERDYNE, INC

JAXA Tsukuba Space Center

Cyberdyne Studio

Tsukuba Expo Center

Hitachi Aki Soba Noodles

Hoshiimo Dried Sweet Potatoes

Learn about Japan's space
programme and the history of JAXA
at this center.

The studio offers visitors the chance
to get up close to cutting- edge
technologies, such as the worldʼs ﬁrst
Wearable Cyborg HAL.

Featuring a science museum andplanetarium, Tsukuba Expo Centerhas something for all ages to enjoy.

The Hitachi Aki Soba variety of
buckwheat is native to Ibaraki and ismuch-prized by soba noodle shops
around Japan for its superior ﬂavour.

Hoshiimo are made by steaming andthen drying sweet potatoes. Morethan 80% of Japan's dried sweetpotatoes are produced in Ibaraki!

Thanks to its many ﬁshingports, Ibaraki has plenty offresh seafood to enjoy allyear-round.

Tsukuba City is at the forefront of scientiﬁc research in Japan.
Specialising in space, science and engineering, the cutting-edge
research being conducted in Tsukuba turns humanity's dreams
into reality.
Set your curiosity alight with a visit to one of the many researchfacilities open to the public.

Sake
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information:

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Anglerﬁsh Hotpot

Natto fermented soy beans

Anglerﬁsh hotpot is a classic Winterdish in Ibaraki.

This traditional food is much loved
for its health properties.

Blessed with abundant fresh fruits and vegetables,
high quality meat and a wide variety of seafood,
Ibaraki is an agriculture and fisheries leader. With
resources like these, it's no wonder Ibaraki is theperfect place to experience Japan's rich food culture.

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There is a long history ofsake brewing in Ibaraki and it
remains one of the prefecture's
specialities today. Try one ofIbaraki's local brews for a true
sake experience.

Calendar
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information:

Fruit Picking & Flowers
WinterSpring

Avg.5.2℃Yuki Tsumugi Silk

Suifu Lanterns
Strawberry

Known for their durability,
Suifu lanterns can found in a rangeof designs, from the classic to themodern.

The Kasama-yaki style of pottery is characterised byartists who blend traditional techniques with uniqueand often playful design aesthetics.

Yamizo-nuri Lacquerware
Yamizo-nuri lacquerware is produced
using lacquer from Daigo Town,
known for its transparent, shiny ﬁnish.
Yamizo-nuri lacquerware's all-roundsuperior quality makes it an item tobe passed down the generations.

Winter

Avg.16.7℃123456789101112Jan.

Feb.

Mar.

Apr.

May.

Jun.

Jul.

Aug.

Sep.

Oct.

Nov.

Dec.

Jan.−May.
May.−Jun.

Sep.−Oct.
Jun.−Sep.

Grape/Muscat

Aug.−Oct.

Pear

Aug.−Oct.

Apple

Sep.−Nov.

Persimmon

Oct.−Nov.

Mandarin OrangeOct.−Dec.

Katsurabina Dolls

The Beauty in the Everyday

Arts&Crafts

Ibaraki's local crafts combine traditions and skills passed
down through the generations with craftmanship anddesign for today's lifestyles.
With the perfect balance of simplicity,
elegance and history, Ibaraki's local crafts
make the ideal addition to everyday life.

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These dolls are produced using
time-honoured colour combinations
and patterns taken from traditional
Japanese design. Each doll is
individually crafted to represent
particular meanings and sentiments.

Plum Blossom
Narcissus
Peach Blossom
Cherry Blossom
Tulip
FLOWER

This durable and long-lasting
washi paper is made in Hitachiota City
from the ﬁbres of the kozo or 'paper
mulberry' tree.

AutumnAvg.21.5℃

Blueberry

Kasama-yaki Pottery

Nishinouchi Washi
Japanese Paper

SummerAvg.13.3℃

MelonFRUIT

Ultra-ﬁne silk cloth, woven using
hand-spun silk thread.

Average temperatures for Mito City (2016)

This natural incense is produced
using Japanese cedar from thefoothills of Mount Tsukuba. Theincense is made using tradtional
production techniques, including
grinding the cedar with water-power.

Early Mar.−Mid-Apr.
Mid-Mar.−Early Apr.
Early Apr.−Mid-Apr.
Mid-Apr.−Late Apr.

AzaleaMid-Apr.−Mid-May.

Nemophila

Late Apr.−Mid-May.

RoseIris

Japanese Cedar Incense

Early Feb.−Late Mar.

Mid-May.−Early Jun.
Late May.−Mid-Jun.

Hydrangea

Mid-Jun.−Early Jul.

Sunﬂower
Kochia1415

Chrysanthemum

Late Oct.−Early Nov.

Mid-Aug.−Late Aug.
Green Leaves：
Mid-Jul.−Mid-Sep.

Colored Leaves：
Early Oct.−Mid-Oct.
Mid-Oct.−Late Nov.

Hitachi-Chuo IC
HitachiHitachi-Minami
Omiya
ota IC
Hitachi-Ota

Moka Tetsudo Line

Mibu ICMoka IC

UtsunomiyaKaminokawa IC

Shimodate

Mt. Tsukuba

Omiya

Tokyo Gaikan
Expressway

TsukubaChuo IC
Tsukuba JCT

JRJo

Yawara IC
MoriyaTOKYO

Misato IC
Ueno

TokyoTokyo
Monorail
Haneda-Kuko

Mito

TorideMukojima IC

Kashima-Jingu

Ushiku-Ami ICaJRKmhias

JR Sobu Main Line
KosokuWangan LineChiba SakuraneLi

Kashima Soccer
Stadium

Itako ICAccess■ Narita - Mito

Taiei JCT

75 min by car on an expressway

Narita-Kuko
Narita ICTOKYOThe Kashima Jingu
Grand Shrine

Itako

Inashiki IC

NaritaAbiko
Higashi-Kanto Expressway
Akihabara
Wangan-Ichikawa IC・・・・・・・・・

Shin-Kuko IC
Choshi

Narita International Airport(Between Shin-kuko IC and Mito IC)■ Tokyo - Mito

75 min by Limited Express train
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・(From Tokyo sta.)

70 min by car on an expressway
・・・・・・・・・

Hanaeda-Kuko IC

IBARAKI

Shin-HokotaTsuchiura

Kanto Tetsudo
Katori
Ryugasaki Line

Tokyo International Airport

JAPANHokota IC
Ishioka
Ibaraki Airport

Ushiku Daibutsu（Buddha）
Ryugasaki

JR Narita Line

Hitachinakako IC
Hitachi Seaside Park
Ajigaura

Kairakuen
Mito-Oarai IC
GardenOarai
MitoMinami IC
Ibarakimachi JCT
Kashima Rinkai
TetsudoHigashi-Kanto
Oarai Kashima
Expressway
Linen

Kawaguchi JCT

JRYamanote
Line

IbarakikukoKita IC

Katsuta

Tsukuba
Tsukuba Express

Goka IC

Ken-o-doExpressway

Tomobe JCT

Tomobe IC

ne

Joso IC

KasamaNishi IC

Kanto Tetsudo Joso Line

Tatebayashi IC

KasamaLi

Oyama

OmikaHitachinaka IC

Kasama Inari Naka IC
ShrineSakuragawaMito IC
Chikusei IC
TomobeJR Mito Line

Hitachi

Kita-Kanto Expressway

baIwafune JCTTakahagi(Between Mukojima IC and Mito IC)■ Narita - Tsukuba

45 min by car on an expressway

Ibaraki Prefectural
Tourism & Local Products Association
1-5-38 Sannomaru, Mito City, Ibaraki
TEL.+81-29-226-3800
FAX.+81-29-221-9791
HP https://english.ibarakiguide.jp/
Ibaraki Sightseeting
ibaraki.official(Between Shin-kuko IC and Tsukuba-chuo IC)■ Akihabara sta. - Tsukuba sta.

45 min by Rapid Tsukuba Express■ Tokyo sta. - Ibaraki Airport

About 100 min by bus■ Mito sta. - Ibaraki Airport

About 40 min by bus■ Ishioka sta. - Ibaraki Airport

About 35 min by bus

Copyright© 2020 Ibaraki Prefectural Tourism & Local Products Association All rights reserved.

Kita-Kanto
Expressway

IsoharaIBARAKI
Motegi

Tochigi IC

JR
Joban
Line

Fukuroda

Utsunomiya
Tochigi-Tsuga JCT

Kita-Ibaraki IC
Fukuroda
Falls

Joban Expressway

JRSuigunLine

JR Tohoku Main LineThe JR Tohoku Shinkansen

Tohoku Expressway
Utsunomiya IC

Hitachi-Daigo