12 Things to Do in Ibaraki in Spring
North Kanto
Makabe Hina Doll Festival
Hina dolls are decorated at nearly 180 houses on a charming street with storefronts.
Access: 25 min. by bus from JR Iwase Station or 50 min. by bus from Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express Line.
Kairakuen
One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Established by the Tokugawa family, it is well known for its plum blossoms.
Access: 20 min. by bus from JR Mito Station.
Koga Park (Peach Blossom Festival)
A park with different flowers in each season. Five different varieties of peach blossoms bloom during the Peach Blossom Festival.
Access: 10 min. by taxi from JR Koga Station.
Kodokan
A Han school from the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Origin of the historical studies known as Mitogaku, which impacted many high-minded patriots.
Access: 8 min. walk from JR Mito Station.
Kashimajingu-Shrine
The head shrine for around 600 Kashima shrines across the country, with an exceptionally long history.
Access: 10 min. walk from JR Kashima-Jingu Station.
Kasama Inari Shrine
One of the three leading Inari shrines in Japan, enshrining the deity commonly known as O-inari-sama.
Access: 8 min. by bus from JR Kasama Station.
Hitachi Fudoki no Oka
Well known for Japan's largest lion head and as a good spot for viewing cherry blossoms.
Access: Take a bus for 10 min. from JR Ishioka Station and walk for 15 min.
Art Tower Mito
A cultural complex with a concert hall, theater and modern art gallery, with a symbolic 100-meter-tall tower.
Access: Take a bus for 10 min. from JR Mito Station and walk for 2 min.
Cherry Blossoms along Fukuoka-zeki
One of the three largest weirs (floodgates) in the Kanto region. There are around 600 cherry trees along the approximately 1.8-kilometer walking trail.
Access: 10 min. by taxi from Midorino Station on the Tsukuba Express Line.
Hitachi Seaside Park (Nemophila)
The view of the blue hill blends beautifully with the sky and sea.
Access: 20 min. by bus from JR Katsuta Station.
Itako Riverside Iris Park
Enjoy the riverside atmosphere along with the view of a million irises in approximately 500 different varieties.
Access: 1 min. walk from JR Itako Station.
Howaen
A purely Japanese-style garden with a pond and a small hill. In early summer, 6 ,000 hydrangeas of around 100 different varieties are in full bloom.
Access: 14 min. by bus from JR Mito Station.
