Ibaraki/茨城

Ibaraki Travel Guide: Quiet Strength and Natural Grace in Eastern Japan

Often overlooked in favor of its flashier neighbors, Ibaraki is a hidden sanctuary of gentle beauty and historical depth. From sacred mountains and tranquil gardens to crashing waterfalls and open coastline, Ibaraki invites you to step off the beaten path and into the quiet folds of wabi-sabi.

Natural Beauty & Landscapes

  • Fukuroda Falls: One of Japan’s three most famous waterfalls — especially powerful in winter when partially frozen in silence.
  • Mt. Tsukuba: A twin-peaked sacred mountain with panoramic views and a long history of worship and folklore.
  • Hitachi Seaside Park: Rolling flower fields that shift with the seasons — from blue nemophila in spring to fiery kochia in autumn.

Cultural & Historical Landmarks

  • Kairakuen Garden: One of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, famed for its plum blossoms and harmonious design.
  • Mito City & Tokugawa Legacy: Home of the Mito branch of the Tokugawa clan — walk the same paths once taken by scholars and samurai.
  • Ushiku Daibutsu: One of the world’s tallest Buddha statues — a symbol of peace rising above the rice fields.

Local Cuisine

  • Ankō Nabe (Monkfish Hotpot): A hearty winter dish from the coast — rich in flavor and warmth.
  • Hitachi Aki Soba: Made from locally grown buckwheat — earthy, aromatic, and served simply.
  • Mito Natto: Fermented soybeans with a strong scent and strong history — healthy, humble, and divisive in the best way.

Wabi-Sabi Moments in Ibaraki

  • Standing before Fukuroda Falls as mist rises from frozen cliffs
  • Walking alone through quiet plum groves in Kairakuen at dusk
  • Watching the horizon from Mt. Tsukuba as morning fog rolls in
  • Eating natto and rice in silence while sun filters through a countryside window

Ibaraki won’t shout for your attention — and that’s its gift. Here, subtlety is strength, and stillness is beauty. For those who seek the sacred in the simple, Ibaraki opens its quiet heart.

How to Get There

  • From Tokyo: Take the JR Joban Line to Mito or Tsuchiura (approx. 70–90 minutes).
  • To Fukuroda Falls: Transfer to the Suigun Line from Mito to Fukuroda Station, then a short bus ride.
Home