Ibaraki may not be the first destination that comes to mind for a Japanese girls' trip, but it delivers three things that make for an exceptional group itinerary: photogenic flower landscapes, hands-on creative experiences, and fresh Pacific seafood you will not find at the same quality anywhere closer to Tokyo. The prefecture sits 90 minutes north of Ueno on the Joban Line, and a well-planned three days here combines the best of nature photography, craft culture, and coastal dining without the crowds of Kyoto or Hakone.
Hitachi Seaside Park — The Photo Moment
No location in Ibaraki generates more social media attention than Miharashi Hill inside Hitachi Seaside Park, and for good reason. In late April and early May, the entire hillside turns a saturated blue as roughly 4.5 million nemophila flowers bloom simultaneously. The effect is a seamless horizon of colour between the flower carpet and the sky on a clear day.
Planning the perfect visit: For the best photographs without thousands of heads in the frame, aim for the park’s opening time of 9:30 a.m. on a weekday. The morning light before 11:00 a.m. is softer and more flattering than the harsh midday sun, and the hill is significantly less crowded. The park covers 190 hectares, so even on busy weekend days it is possible to find angles away from the main walking paths.
The flower season peaks in roughly the last week of April and first week of May. The park publishes a daily bloom percentage on its website, which is worth checking the evening before your visit. Entry is ¥450 per person.
What to wear: The coastal location means a persistent breeze even on warm spring days. A light jacket or cardigan that photographs well in blue tones will complement the flower backdrop. White and soft lavender also work beautifully against the nemophila.
October alternative: If your trip falls in autumn, return for the kochia season in mid-October. The same Miharashi Hill fills with burning-bush plants that turn from bright green to vivid crimson and orange over two weeks. Entry fee and hours remain the same.
From Katsuta Station (10 minutes from Mito by train), seasonal shuttle buses run directly to the park during nemophila and kochia seasons (around ¥300 round trip). Taxis are also available from the station for groups who want the flexibility.
Kasama Pottery Workshop
An hour south of Mito, the small city of Kasama has been a pottery centre for over 300 years. Today the area around Kasama Inari Shrine is lined with kilns, independent galleries, and workshop spaces where visitors can try their hand at ceramics with experienced potters guiding the process.
Most workshops offer a 60 to 90 minute introductory throwing session on the wheel, where you shape a bowl or cup from a lump of clay. After the session, the workshop fires your piece and mails it to your hotel or home address, typically within two to three weeks. Workshop fees run from ¥2,500 to ¥4,500 per person depending on the studio and what you make. Booking in advance is essential — spaces fill quickly on weekends and during the November pottery fair.
For groups, some studios offer private or semi-private sessions where you can take your time, compare results, and have a second attempt if your first piece collapses (a common and universally funny experience). Bring a change of clothes or an apron; clay is enthusiastic about finding fabric.
After the workshop: Walk fifteen minutes from the pottery district to Kasama Inari Shrine, one of Japan’s three great Inari shrines. The forested approach and rows of stone foxes make it an atmospheric afternoon stroll, and the shrine grounds are free to enter. The town centre has small cafes and restaurants for a late lunch.
November pottery fair: If your trip falls in early November, Kasama holds the Togei Autumn Festival, one of the largest pottery markets in Japan, where hundreds of potters sell work directly from outdoor stalls. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is festive.
Kairakuen Plum Blossom Season
Kairakuen in Mito is ranked alongside Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Korakuen in Okayama as one of Japan’s three great landscape gardens. Its speciality is plum blossoms: around 3,000 trees representing over 100 varieties cover the hillside above the Senba Lake waterfront. The best viewing season runs from late February to late March.
During the Mito Plum Festival, the garden is open until 9:00 p.m. on certain evenings for illuminated plum viewing — lanterns and spotlights among the white and pink branches are particularly photogenic after dark. Festival entry is ¥300; the garden is free outside the festival period.
Inside the garden, the Kobuntei pavilion — a reconstructed Edo-period rest house — looks out over the flower-covered hillside and is one of the most painted views in the prefecture. Matcha and traditional wagashi sweets are served in the pavilion’s tea room (around ¥700 per set), making for a natural pause mid-walk.
After the garden, the Mito station area has a pedestrian shopping arcade with local food shops selling Ibaraki specialties: natto products, chestnut sweets, and local sake. The walk from Kairakuen back toward Mito Station passes Kodokan, the historic domain school, which adds another interesting 30-minute stop to the afternoon.
Oarai Seafood Lunch and Pacific Coast
Oarai sits on the Pacific coast east of Mito and has the relaxed character of a working fishing town that has also developed a strong day-trip culture. The combination of fresh seafood, an unusual ocean-view shrine, and dried fish souvenir shops makes it a satisfying half-day from Mito.
Seafood restaurants along the port and behind the Oarai Aqua World aquarium specialize in Pacific catches: flounder, sea bass, crab, and the restaurant variety of anko (monkfish). A seafood set lunch featuring grilled or sashimi options runs from ¥1,500 to ¥3,000 per person. From November through March, anko nabe (monkfish hot pot) is the signature dish — a deeply savoury broth with generous cuts of monkfish, liver, and vegetables. Per person cost is ¥3,000 to ¥6,000, and the experience of sharing a hot pot over a long table is well suited to groups.
Isosaki Shrine sits at the northern edge of Oarai’s coastline where a pair of torii gates stand directly in the sea. At low tide, the approach rocks become walkable. The ocean-set gates are one of the most photographed spots on the entire Ibaraki coast, best captured in the early morning or at golden hour when the light comes from the east.
Shopping: The Oarai marina district and the side streets behind the main beach have small shops selling dried fish, shrimp crackers, seasoned seaweed, and pressed crab products. Prices are lower than at Tokyo import shops, and the packaging tends to be charmingly retro.
Strawberry Picking
Ibaraki is Japan’s second largest strawberry producer, and the farms near Mito and in central Ibaraki open for ichigo-gari (strawberry picking) from December through May. This makes it a practical addition to almost any season’s itinerary.
The dominant varieties are Tochiotome (firm, sweet-tart, bright red) and Skyberry (a Tochigi-Ibaraki hybrid with a tall, conical shape and honeyed sweetness). Many farms have converted portions of their operation into farm-cafe hybrids where freshly picked strawberries come with cream, condensed milk, or incorporated into shortcakes and tarts made on-site.
Pick-your-own sessions run for 30 to 60 minutes and cost ¥1,200 to ¥2,000 per person depending on the farm, the season, and the variety. Most farms are accessible by car from Mito in 20 to 40 minutes, and several are close enough to the Joban Line corridor to reach by local bus or taxi. Booking in advance on weekends and during Golden Week (late April to early May) is strongly recommended.
Shopping and Souvenirs
Ibaraki produces a surprising range of regional gifts worth bringing home:
Natto products: Mito’s department stores and food halls near the station stock Tengu Natto and Mito Kanmuri brand products in shelf-stable forms: freeze-dried natto snacks, natto crackers, and natto rice seasoning mixes.
Kasama pottery: A handmade bowl or sake cup from a Kasama kiln is a durable and beautiful memento. Most galleries in the pottery district ship domestically and, for smaller items, internationally.
Hitachi Seaside Park goods: The park shop near the main gate sells nemophila-themed merchandise — tote bags, phone cases, confectionery, and botanical prints. Quality varies, but the botanical prints and ceramic mugs are genuinely attractive.
Oarai seafood snacks: Shrimp crackers, seasoned dried squid, and oyster soy sauce are practical, lightweight, and shelf-stable gifts widely available in the port area shops.
Ibaraki chestnut sweets: The prefecture is a leading chestnut producer. Mont blanc cakes, yokan (sweet bean jelly with chestnut), and whole-chestnut confections are available at department stores in Mito and specialty shops in Kasama.
Suggested 3-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Hitachi Seaside Park and Nakaminato Coast Morning: Joban Line limited express from Ueno to Katsuta (1h30m, ¥3,200). Seasonal shuttle bus to Hitachi Seaside Park (¥300 round trip). Spend 3–4 hours in the park: cycle the nemophila fields, visit the western forest area, lunch at the park cafe. Afternoon: Return to Katsuta, then bus or taxi to Nakaminato fishing port. Walk the port area and browse the Minato Market (fresh and dried seafood). Check in at Oarai coastal hotel (dinner included; ¥15,000–¥25,000 per person).
Day 2 — Kasama Pottery and Mito Gardens Morning: Drive or taxi from Oarai to Kasama (45 min). Pottery workshop session (pre-booked, ¥2,500–¥4,500). Lunch at a cafe in the pottery district. Afternoon: Walk to Kasama Inari Shrine. Drive or train to Mito (50 min). Visit Kairakuen garden and Kobuntei pavilion. Matcha set in the tea room. Check in at Dormy Inn Mito. Evening: Dinner at a natto specialist restaurant near the station.
Day 3 — Oarai Seafood and Departure Morning: Bus from Mito to Oarai (45 min). Isosaki Shrine torii photos at low tide. Aqua World aquarium if the group includes marine life enthusiasts (¥2,200 adult entry). Anko nabe lunch at a port restaurant (November–March) or grilled fish set (year-round). Afternoon: Souvenir shopping in the Oarai port area. Bus back to Mito. Joban Line limited express back to Ueno.
Practical Tips
Car rental for groups: Renting a car from Mito Station is the most flexible option for a group of three or four. Nippon Rent-A-Car and Toyota Rent-a-Car both have branches at the station. An international driving permit is required for visitors from most countries. A medium-sized car costs around ¥8,000 to ¥12,000 per day before fuel, making it cheaper per person than multiple individual train journeys for group travel.
Best seasons:
- Plum blossoms at Kairakuen: late February to late March
- Nemophila at Hitachi Seaside Park: late April to early May
- Strawberry picking: December to May
- Anko nabe at Oarai: November to March
- Kochia at Hitachi Seaside Park: mid-October
Booking workshops in advance: Kasama pottery workshops should be reserved at least two weeks ahead during October and November (pottery fair season) and during Golden Week. Most studios accept bookings by email and have basic English communication available.
Accommodations: Oarai coastal hotels with dinner-included plans are well worth the slightly higher price during the anko season. Booking two to three months in advance for February–March (Kairakuen peak) and late April–early May (nemophila peak) is strongly recommended.