Ibaraki Prefecture

Region ·🇯🇵 Japan

Population 2,862,372

Area 6,097 km²

Time zone Asia/Tokyo

Official website www.pref.ibaraki.jp

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Explore Ibaraki Prefecture

Ibaraki Essentials

Ibaraki features diverse landmarks, from the 120-meter tall Ushiku Daibutsu bronze statue to the seasonal flower fields of Hitachi Seaside Park. The prefecture is home to Kairakuen, one of Japan’s top three landscape gardens, and the four-tiered Fukuroda Falls. Significant cultural sites include the Edo-period Kodokan school and the modern Art Tower Mito. Natural highlights range from the twin peaks of Mount Tsukuba to Lake Kasumigaura, Japan's second-largest lake, while Hitachi Station showcases contemporary glass architecture designed by Kazuyo Sejima overlooking the Pacific.

12 places

Castles & Historic Sites

Ibaraki Prefecture’s landscape is defined by its deep historical roots, ranging from 6th-century keyhole-shaped burial mounds to strategic Sengoku-period fortifications. This collection highlights significant archaeological sites like the Hirasawa Kanga Nara-period government offices and well-preserved castle ruins such as Tsuchiura and Sakasai. These locations offer a look into Japan's administrative and military evolution, featuring unique architectural elements like complex dry moats, reconstructed ancient granaries, and rare Kanto-region stone masonry.

12 places

Sacred Shrines and Temples

Ibaraki Prefecture preserves a diverse range of spiritual sites, from the coastal Kamiiso-no-Torii gate at Oarai Isosaki Shrine to the mountain-bound temples of the Bando Kannon Pilgrimage. This collection includes Kasama Inari Shrine, one of Japan's three major Inari shrines, and Mito Tōshō-gū, dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Visitors can explore architectural styles ranging from the Muromachi-period halls at Satake-ji to the Aiki-jinja, a shrine established by the founder of aikido.

15 places

Scenic Parks & Nature

Ibaraki Prefecture offers a diverse range of recreational landscapes, from the coastal flower fields of Hitachi Seaside Park to the historic Edo-period grounds of the Kōdōkan. This selection includes English-style gardens, the plum groves of Mount Tsukuba, and cherry blossom-lined paths at Shizumine Furusato Park. The list also features sites from the 1985 Science Expo, lakeside retreats along Lake Kasumigaura, and extensive botanical gardens specializing in roses and peach blossoms.

11 places