Ibaraki Prefecture occupies the northeastern corner of the Kanto region, stretching from the Pacific coastline inland to volcanic highlands and forested river valleys. It is home to Kairakuen, one of Japan's three great landscape gardens and an annual pilgrimage for plum-blossom season, and to Hitachi Seaside Park, whose hillsides turn electric blue with nemophila each spring. The world-class research city of Tsukuba, the colossal Ushiku Daibutsu statue, and ancient Kashima Jingu shrine round out a destination that balances rural tradition with scientific modernity.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Ibaraki.
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1
Kairakuen Garden
Kairakuen is one of Japan's three great landscape gardens, laid out in the 1840s by the Mito domain lord Tokugawa Nariaki. It is best known for its plum grove of roughly 3,000 trees, which draws crowds for the Mito Plum Festival in late February and March, alongside bamboo groves, cedar woods and a pond-side path down to Senba-ko.
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2
Hitachi Seaside Park
This coastal park on the Pacific side of Ibaraki is famous for Miharashi Hill, where hundreds of thousands of blue nemophila flowers cover the slopes in late April to early May, and kochia bushes turn a deep red in mid-autumn. Outside those bloom windows it functions as a large, walkable park with cycling paths, a cycling course through pine forest, and a big-wheel and amusement area for families.
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3
Ushiku Daibutsu
At around 120 meters including its base and lotus platform, this bronze standing statue of Amida Buddha was one of the tallest statues in the world when completed in 1995 by the Pure Land Buddhist sect Jodo Shinshu. Visitors can go inside the statue and ride an elevator partway up to an enclosed observation deck at 85 meters, from which small windows near the statue's chest look out over the surrounding farmland.
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4
Mount Tsukuba
At 877 meters, Mount Tsukuba is one of Japan's noted mountains despite its modest height, valued historically because its twin peaks (Nyotai-san and Nantai-san) are visible across the flat Kanto Plain and have been treated as sacred since ancient times. A shrine, Tsukuba-san Jinja, sits at the base, with a ropeway and separate cable car offering two different routes toward the peaks for those who don't want to hike.
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5
Kashima Jingu Shrine
Kashima Jingu is among Japan's oldest shrines, traditionally dated to the 7th century BC, and is dedicated to Takemikazuchi, a deity associated with martial arts and considered a guardian against earthquakes. The approach runs through a large forest of old-growth trees to a vermilion main gate and a shrine hall rebuilt in the early 17th century, with a sacred deer park near the grounds referencing the shrine's historic ties to Nara's Kasuga Taisha.
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6
Fukuroda Falls
Fukuroda Falls drops about 120 meters in four separate stages down a rock face, which is why it's traditionally called Yonotaki, or 'four-times falls,' in reference to needing four viewings across the seasons to fully appreciate it. A tunnel cut into the rock leads to an observation platform facing the falls directly, and an elevator gives access to a second, higher viewing deck.
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7
Aqua World Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium
This prefectural aquarium on the Oarai coast is known for keeping a particularly large number of shark species, including a dedicated shark tank, alongside sunfish, tuna and a dolphin and sea lion show arena. It's set up as a straightforward large-format aquarium with a walkthrough tunnel tank near the entrance.
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8
Kasama Inari Shrine
Kasama Inari is counted among Japan's three major Inari shrines alongside Fushimi Inari in Kyoto and Yutoku Inari in Saga, and has been a center of worship for business prosperity and safe harvests since the 7th century by tradition. The shrine grounds feature a large carved wooden relief above the main hall and rows of fox statues, the messenger animal associated with the Inari deity.
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9
Ryujin Suspension Bridge
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10
Art Tower Mito
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Items
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
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- Most major attractions have at least partial English signage; Tsukuba Space Center has excellent English materials., Ibaraki Tourist Information Center is located in Mito Station (north exit); staff can assist with maps and transport passes., A rental car (from ~4,000 JPY/~$27 USD per day at Mito Station) is strongly recommended for visiting Fukuroda Falls, Ryujin Bridge, and rural Daigo., The Ibaraki Welcome Card (ask at Mito tourist center) offers discounts at 60+ attractions for foreign visitors.
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Purchase combination tickets at Mito Station tourist office to save 15–20% on Kairakuen, Kodokan, and Ibaraki History Museum combined entry.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Kairakuen Garden?
Late February to mid-March for plum blossoms; the Mito Plum Festival runs concurrently with food stalls and performances.
How do I get to Hitachi Seaside Park?
Take the JR Joban Line to Katsuta Station, then a Ibaraki Kotsu bus bound for Hitachi Seaside Park (25 min, 430 JPY one-way).