Ibaraki
A hillside that turns entirely blue in May, a forest shrine older than Tokyo, and the birthplace of natto — Ibaraki quietly holds some of Japan’s most underrated splendours.
5月の空色のネモフィラの丘、鹿島神宮の千年杉、那珂湊の新鮮な魚介。茨城は首都圏最大の隠れた観光県です。
Ibaraki Prefecture lies just north of Tokyo, often overlooked yet holding extraordinary natural and cultural riches. Hitachi Seaside Park bursts into a sea of blue nemophila flowers every May — 4.5 million blooms covering an entire hillside. The ancient Kashima Jingu shrine, one of Japan’s most sacred, rises from a forest of 650-year-old cedar. Mito’s Kairakuen is ranked one of Japan’s three great gardens, famed for 3,000 plum trees that bloom in early March.
4月・5月のネモフィラの青い丘、偕楽園の梅、鹿島神宮の杉並木、那珂湊の新鮮な魚介、そして日本一の納豆産地——茨城は東京から1時間の多彩な観光地です。
Recommended Omiyage
おすすめおみやげ 5選
Mito Natto
Fermented soybeans — Ibaraki produces 60% of Japan’s natto, with Mito’s brand the most famous
全国生産量の60%を占める茨城の納豆。水戸納豆は粒が大きく旨みが格別。
Ibaraki Sweet Potato
Crispy caramelised sweet-potato strips — Ibaraki’s satsumaimo (sweet potato) are Japan’s finest
日本一の産地・茨城のさつまいもを使ったカリカリのいもけんぴ。
Plum Wine
Smooth ume wine from the plums of Kairakuen’s 3,000 trees — perfectly balanced sweet-tart
偕楽園の梅を使った芳醇な梅酒。甘酸っぱさのバランスが絶品。
Ankimo
Monkfish liver — steamed, silky and intensely rich — Ibaraki’s most prized winter delicacy
世界の珍味に数えられるアンコウのキモ。茨城沿岸のあんこう鍋は冬の定番。
Kasama Pottery
Free-spirited folk ceramics from Kasama — Japan’s most approachable active pottery town
個性豊かな作家陶芸が盛んな笠間焼。春・秋の陶炎祭で200軒以上が出展。
Must-Visit Spots
おすすめスポット 5選
Hitachi Seaside Park
4.5 million nemophila blooms turn the hills electric blue every May — one of Japan’s great flower events
5月に450万本のネモフィラが丘一面を青く染める。コキアの紅葉も10月に絶景。
Kairakuen
One of Japan’s three great gardens — 3,000 plum trees bloom in February–March
日本三名園のひとつ。2月〜3月に3,000本の梅が咲き誇る偕楽園。
Kashima Jingu
One of Japan’s oldest and most powerful shrines — approached through a 650-year-old cedar avenue
日本最古の神社のひとつ。650年の杉並木が続く参道が壮厳な雰囲気を醸す。
Nakaminato Fish Market
Bustling seaside fish market with fresh Ibaraki seafood including ankou and flounder
新鮮なあんこう・ヒラメ・海産物が揃う茨城随一の魚介市場。
Tsukuba Space Center
JAXA’s main space research facility — free tours of rocket engines and astronaut training equipment
JAXAの主要施設。ロケットエンジンや宇宙服を無料で見学できる。
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly does the nemophila bloom at Hitachi Seaside Park?
Mid-April to early May, peaking around Golden Week (late April–early May). The park also has red kochia (kochia) in October. Check the official park website for bloom forecasts.
例年4月中旬〜5月上旬、GW前後が見頃。10月のコキアの紅葉も人気。公園の公式サイトで開花情報を確認できます。
What is natto and how do you eat it?
Natto is fermented soybeans with sticky strings and a pungent smell. Stir vigorously before eating, add the sauce packet and mustard, and serve over rice. Mito’s brands (Tennei, Yamada) are considered Japan’s best.
納豆はよくかき混ぜてからタレと辛子を加えてご飯にのせて食べます。水戸の天竹・やまだ屋が有名。
Can I do pottery at Kasama?
Yes — Kasama has over 100 pottery studios, many offering hand-building or wheel-throwing workshops for ¥1,500–3,000 per session. The Kasama Ceramics Museum also has workshops.
笠間には100以上の工房があり、手びねり・ろくろ体験が1,500〜3,000円で楽しめます。笠間芸術の森公園内でも体験可能。
Travel Tip
Take the ‘Hitachi Seaside Park Express Bus’ from Katsuta Station (25 min, ¥300) during nemophila season — private car parking fills by 8 am on weekends. Combine with a fish lunch at Nakaminato for a perfect Ibaraki day.
