Hitachi Seaside Park is located on the Pacific coast in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, where different flowers bloom throughout the year. Depending on when you visit, the floral scenery offers a different impression. At Pleasure Garden, a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, forest obstacle course and barbecue area complement the flowers. The park brings together several different interests in one place, from seasonal plants to rides and activities.
Flowers and Landscapes
The Ibaraki Flower Park offers a different focus, with around 900 varieties of roses. Various workshops and hands-on experiences are offered in an atelier. As well as admiring the roses, visitors can take part in activities. If you are interested in flower parks, you can consider both the seasonal variety at Hitachi Seaside Park and the rose collection and atelier at Ibaraki Flower Park when planning your visit to Ibaraki.
The prefecture’s mountain and waterside landscapes offer a variety of experiences. Mount Tsukuba is in the center of Ibaraki. It has two peaks, Nantai and Nyotai, and stands 877 meters high. Fukuroda Falls is 120 meters high and 73 meters wide, with four tiers of cascades. In Ryujin Gorge, within Okukuji Prefectural Nature Park, visitors can enjoy landscapes that change with the seasons on hikes and canoeing excursions. Nature here ranges from a named twin-peaked mountain to waterfalls and a gorge, where various activities bring visitors closer to the landscape.
Crafts, Festivals and Culture
Kasama ware has been used in Japanese kitchens since the 18th century. The annual Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival is an opportunity to discover both Kasama and its chrysanthemums. It runs from late October to late November, with Kasama Inari Shrine as its main venue. Chrysanthemums bloom there in yellow, white and pink. The festival features yabusame, among other events. Check the dates before your trip, as individual program events may vary from year to year.
Another cultural attraction awaits at the Tsukuba Space Center: a real 50-meter-long H-II rocket is on display in Rocket Square. For cycling, Cycling Ibaraki offers more than 100 model routes, which you can choose by start and finish locations, distance, scenery and culinary destinations. The Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road was designated a National Cycle Route in November 2019. These details offer practical guidance for travelers interested in technology, culture or cycling.
Tea and Regional Cuisine
The Musubi Tour includes a visit to Yoshida Tea Farm, founded in 1839. The experience includes tastings of green and black tea, as well as sweets at the courtyard café Room’z Tea. Ankō dishes are another feature of the local cuisine: Anko-nabe and other ankō dishes, including ankō with vinegar-miso sauce, can be enjoyed in various parts of the prefecture from around November to March. Mito natto became known nationwide after it was sold in the forecourt of Mito Station when the station opened in 1889. In autumn, the Kasama New Chestnut Festival adds to the culinary offerings with chestnut sweets, tastings, chestnut sales and games with chestnut burrs. When planning your trip, consider seasonal dishes and festivals as interests in their own right, alongside landscapes and culture.
Getting There and Planning Your Trip
For travel by rail, the JR JĹŤban Line connects Ueno Station in Tokyo with Ibaraki; the Hitachi Limited Express runs from Ueno to Mito. Check the timetable for your specific trip. Whether you want to focus on flowers, mountains, cycling, tea or regional cuisine, Ibaraki Prefecture offers several distinct themes to help you plan your explorations and find suitable accommodation.
Discover more destinations: Kitasoma District, Mito, Tsuchiura, Hitachinaka, Moriya, Chikusei, Chuo, Shimotsuma, Toride, Tsukuba, BandĹŤ, Joko, JĹŤsĹŤ, Miho, Inashiki District, Kamisu, YĹ«ki, Naka, Yachiyo, Itako, Ryugasaki, Kasama, Oarai, Hokota, Koga, Omitama, Kashima and Kitaibaraki.
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