OaraiOarai Isosaki Jinja
Known for the Kamiiso torii standing on a reef in the sea, said to be the rock where its deity came down.
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Ibaraki
Flowers, ocean, and open skies.
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HitachiOiwa Jinja
It enshrines 188 deities, and is known for an astronaut's account of seeing a pillar of light here.
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ItakoOu Jinja
It carries a tradition of being the original shrine from which Kashima Jingu grew.
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TsukubaExperiences, Shrines & Temples · 20 entries
KasamaArt & Crafts, Shrines & Temples · 14 entries
MitoShrines & Temples, Architecture · 14 entries
HitachiExperiences, Culture & History · 12 entries
HitachinakaExperiences, Shrines & Temples · 10 entries
OaraiShrines & Temples, Architecture · 9 entries
FEATUREIbaraki now (autumn)Kochia-covered hills and Fukuroda Falls glow in red and gold.See the feature Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0
View Fukuroda FallsSee the massive four-tiered waterfall up close from dedicated viewing platforms.
Visit Oarai Isosaki ShrineView the sacred torii standing on Pacific rocks, especially striking at sunrise.View Kairakuen PlumsEnjoy numerous plum varieties and their early-spring fragrance in a historic garden.Recommended information
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Official and local Instagram photos
Local governments, tourism accounts and local posts are shown with official embeds. Photos are not stored on Value Village; they link to the original posts.
THINGS TO DO / 6
Things to do in this prefecture
Choose from what you can only do here.
01See Blue NemophilaWalk across a blue flowered hill that seems to merge with the sky.See related entries →Kiku-zou · CC BY-SA 3.002View Kairakuen PlumsEnjoy numerous plum varieties and their early-spring fragrance in a historic garden.See related entries →Kanohara · Public domain03View Fukuroda FallsSee the massive four-tiered waterfall up close from dedicated viewing platforms.See related entries →Rsa · CC BY-SA 3.0
04Hike Mount TsukubaPass unusual rock formations and an ancient shrine before viewing the Kanto Plain.See related entries →麒麟坊 · CC BY-SA 3.005Visit Oarai Isosaki ShrineView the sacred torii standing on Pacific rocks, especially striking at sunrise.See related entries →Kiku-zou · CC BY-SA 3.0
06Make Kasama PotteryShape clay in this pottery town and create a personal piece of Kasama ware.See related entries →Miyuki Meinaka · Public domainNEED TO KNOW
At a glance
- AirportIbaraki Airport
- ShinkansenNone (nearest: Oyama Station)
- From TokyoAbout 1 hr 15 min by limited express train
- Best seasonApril–May and September–November
- Local specialtiesHitachi beef · Monkfish hot pot · Natto
- Typical temperatureSummer: around 26°C / Winter: around 3°C
BEST TIME TO TRAVEL
What each season brings
Σ64 · CC BY 4.0Spring
MAR–MAYNemophila carpets the hills of Hitachi Seaside Park in blue.
See recommendations for this season →
小石川人晃 · CC BY-SA 4.0Summer
JUN–AUGEnjoy the Oarai coast, the greenery of Mount Tsukuba, and lively summer festivals.
See recommendations for this season →_in_Mito,_Ibaraki.jpg){kind=link}
Raita Futo · CC BY 2.0Autumn
SEP–NOVKochia-covered hills and Fukuroda Falls glow in red and gold.
See recommendations for this season →.jpg){kind=link}
Σ64 · CC BY 3.0Winter
DEC–FEBFragrant plum blossoms usher in early spring at Kairakuen Garden.
See recommendations for this season →
LOCAL FOOD / 13
Local food
What people have long eaten in this place. We collect the dishes themselves, not restaurants.
Tsuke Kenchin
Taro, daikon, carrot, konjac and shiitake are stir-fried in oil and simmered in dashi, then red miso and tofu are added; soba chilled in cold water is dipped into this warm soup.
Area：Throughout the prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Niai
Lotus root, burdock, carrot, shirataki konjac, dried shiitake and fried tofu are cut into strips and stir-fried in oil, simmered with dashi and seasonings, and vinegar is added at the end.
Area：Central area of the prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Soboro Natto/Shoboro Natto
Split dried daikon is rehydrated in water and cut, mixed with salted natto, seasoned with soy sauce, mirin and sake and left to steep.
Area：Central area of the prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Hoshiimo
Sweet potatoes are steamed and peeled, cut into one-centimeter slices and dried in the sun for about a week.
Area：Throughout the prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Tagane mochi
Glutinous rice and non-glutinous rice are combined, steamed and pounded, mixed with salt, green laver and white sesame and shaped into a bar, then cut and grilled to eat.
Area：Southern area, Rokko region
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Komo dofu
Tofu is blanched and crumbled, packed into a wrapper woven from straw and boiled in salted water, then seasoned with soy sauce and mirin so the flavor soaks in, and cut into pieces.
Area：Throughout the prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Shimi Konjac
Konjac is laid out in fields in the depth of winter and frozen at night and thawed by day, repeated for about twenty days to draw out the moisture. It is rehydrated for simmered dishes and the like.
Area：Northern area
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Ankou no Tomo-zu
Monkfish is broken down into seven parts and boiled, then eaten with a vinegared miso made by roasting and grinding the liver and mixing it with miso, sugar and vinegar.
Area：Northern area
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Kaiso Yose
Seaweed is washed and soaked in water overnight, then heated and cooked down until thick, poured into a mold to cool and set, and cut into pieces. It is eaten with soy sauce or wasabi.
Area：Kashima, Namegata
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Clam Rice
Clam meat with shredded shiitake and carrot is stir-fried in oil and seasoned; the resulting broth is added and rice is cooked in it, then the ingredients are mixed in.
Area：Throughout the prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Peanut-Miso/Rakkasei-Miso
Peanuts are stir-fried in sesame oil, sugar, mirin and sake are added, red miso is mixed in and worked until smooth, and white sesame is added.
Area：Throughout the prefecture
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Ogura Renkon
The holes of sliced lotus root are filled with adzuki beans, simmered over low heat for two or three hours until soft, and seasoned with sugar and salt.
Area：Throughout the prefecture, including around Lake Kasumigaura
Source：Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), "Our Regional Cuisines"
Anko Nabe
The flesh, skin and liver of monkfish are simmered with vegetables in a miso-based broth. The season is November to March, when the liver is plump.
Area：Coastal areas including Kitaibaraki, Hitachinaka and Oarai
Source：Ibaraki Prefectural Tourism and Local Products Association "Kanko Ibaraki"
MICHI-NO-EKI / 16
Michi-no-Eki roadside stations
RestInformationLocal links
Rest facilities registered by Japan's national government. Each has parking and toilets open 24 hours, and by definition includes a facility that sells local products. This is where the making and the food of this prefecture can actually be bought.
- KatsuraShirosato, Higashiibaraki DistrictRegistered April 1993Official site
- MiwaHitachiomiyaRegistered January 1995Official site
- SatomiHitachiotaRegistered April 1995Official site
- SakaiSakai, Sashima DistrictRegistered April 1996Official site
- Okukuji DaigoDaigo, Kuji DistrictRegistered April 1998Official site
- ShimotsumaShimotsumaRegistered August 1999Official site
- TamatsukuriNamegataRegistered August 2000Official site
- ItakoItakoRegistered August 2001Official site
- GokaGoka, Sashima DistrictRegistered August 2004Official site
- Makuraga-no-Sato KogaKogaRegistered March 2013Official site
- Hitachi Osakana CenterHitachiRegistered April 2014Official site
- Grand Terrace ChikuseiChikuseiRegistered June 2019Official site
There are 16 stations in this prefecture in all (national registry).
LOCAL ACCOUNTS / 3
People posting this area
Japanese-language accounts that post about this area.
- @ibaraki_yossy165K followersOpen on Instagram
- @ibaraki_select63K followersOpen on Instagram
- @ibaraki_odekake42K followersOpen on Instagram
These are third-party accounts. They are not affiliated with Value Village and this is not an endorsement.
CITIES & TOWNS / 40
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INTERESTS / 16
Find by interest
Only the interests found in this prefecture.
Kashima Jingu · Kiku-zou · CC BY-SA 3.0Shrines & Temples27 entries
Kashima Jingu ／ Ikisu Jinja
To the listFukuroda Falls · Rsa · CC BY-SA 3.0Nature & Scenery15 entries
Fukuroda Falls ／ Ajigaura Beach (Ajigaura Coast)
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Natural Hot Spring Kinu-no-Yu · Yosemite · CC BY-SA 3.0Hot Springs6 entries
Natural Hot Spring Kinu-no-Yu ／ Tsukubasan Onsen Tsukuba-no-Yu (Mount Tsukuba)
To the listOarai · katorisi · CC BY-SA 3.0Historic Districts1 entries
Oarai
To the listKairakuen · Kanohara · Public domainCastles & History1 entries
Kairakuen
To the list
Hitachi Seaside Park · katorisi · CC BY-SA 3.0Gardens2 entries
Hitachi Seaside Park ／ Koga Peach
To the listKobuntei · Kanohara · Public domainArchitecture16 entries
Seizanso ／ Ushiku Chateau
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JAXA Tsukuba · M. Takaku · CC BY-SA 2.5Museums24 entries
JAXA Tsukuba ／ Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of History
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Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki · Abasaa · Public domainArt & Crafts31 entries
Museum of Modern Art, Ibaraki ／ Art Tower Mito
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Tokyo University of the Arts, Toride · 663highland · CC BY 2.5Contemporary Art5 entries
Plum Groves of Mito ／ Sailing Fishing Boats of Kasumigaura
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Yuki Tsumugi · タバコはマーダー · CC BY-SA 4.0Craft Experiences41 entries
Yuki Tsumugi ／ National Institute for Materials Science NIMS
To the listAqua World Ibaraki Prefecture Oarai Aquarium · M. Takaku · CC BY-SA 2.5Culture & History15 entries
Ibaraki Airport ／ Osugi Shrine
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Himatsuri · Σ64 · CC BY 4.0Festivals3 entries
Himatsuri ／ Hitachi Furyumono
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Kewpie Goka Plant Open Kitchen · Hayford Peirce at the English-language… · CC BY-SA 3.0Food & Markets31 entries
Kiuchi Brewery ／ Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences JIRCAS
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Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge · Kanohara · Public domainExperiences52 entries
Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge ／ Yokaren Peace Memorial Museum
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Kokumin Shukusha Unomisaki · Sui-setz · Public domainStays1 entries
Kokumin Shukusha Unomisaki
To the listHIGHLIGHTS
Highlights of this prefecture
From entries with clearly licensed photos.
Shrines & TemplesKashima
Kashima Jingu
In Heian-period records, only three shrines could call themselves jingu: Ise, Kashima and Katori. That rank was granted to a place this far from the capital. The kaname-ishi in its grounds is said to pin down the catfish that causes earthquakes.
ArchitectureHitachiota
Seizanso
Where Tokugawa Mitsukuni spent his last years and carried on compiling the Dai Nihonshi.
Castles & HistoryMito
Kairakuen
One of the three great gardens of Japan. It was open to the people of the domain from the start.
GardensHitachinaka
Hitachi Seaside Park
Four and a half million nemophila turn Miharashi Hill blue.
Nature & SceneryDaigo
Fukuroda Falls
One of the three great waterfalls of Japan. It falls in four stages, hence its other name.
FestivalsKasama
Himatsuri
Kasama potters set up their own stalls. One of the largest pottery markets in eastern Japan.
SMILE NEWS / 136
Smile news from Japan and the world
Stories that lift your spirits a little, collected with their sources.
Aquaworld Oarai unveils a red tank inspired by autumn kochia
Aquaworld Oarai has opened a special "kochia tank" on its 5th floor, modeled on the reddened kochia bushes of Hitachi Seaside Park. Red sea creatures such as sea goldies and shrimp color the display, which runs until November 8.
source: Aqua World Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai AquariumCharter flights linking Ibaraki and Busan start October 3
South Korean carrier Air Busan will operate four round-trip charter flights between Ibaraki Airport and Busan from October 3 to 12. On the first day, Ibaraki Airport will hold a commemorative event with souvenir giveaways and a bouquet presentation.
source: IbarakiWomen rangers return Darwin's rheas to the wild in Chile
In Chile's Patagonia National Park, a women-led ranger team returned 13 Darwin's rheas to the wild in April 2026. Working with the Rewilding Chile Foundation, they care for the birds around the clock; surveys once estimated only about 11 to 15 remained.
source: MongabayExplore on Instagram
Hashtags often used for this area. Each opens the tag page on Instagram.
SEASONS & EVENTS
Seasons & events
Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival
2026-10-24 ～ 2026-11-23
The 48th Suigo Itako Fireworks Festival
2026-10-31 ～ 2026-10-31
Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition
2026-11-07 ～ 2026-11-07
Itako Ayame
Itako
Hitachi Furyumono
Hitachi
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