Ibaraki Prefecture is about an hour's drive from Tokyo. Spring Airlines also has a direct flight from China to Ibaraki. Whether it is a day trip starting from Tokyo or a long trip by plane, you can follow this guide.

As one of Japan's three finest landscape gardens, it enjoys equal popularity as "Kenrokuen" in Kanazawa and "Korakuen" in Okayama. It is best known for its winter plums, of which, there are more than 3,000 plums and 100 species here. In addition, there are various festivals such as the Sakura Festival, the Rhododendron Festival, the Lespedeza Festival, and the Chrysanthemum Festival. Kobuntei in the center of the park and is a nice place where literati gather to taste tea and write poetry. On the 3rd floor of Kobuntei, you can overlook the beautiful scenery of the Senba Lake and the plum trees.

The glistening Senba Lake, formed by the flow of the Nakagawa River in Mito, has been merged with the neighboring Kairakuen to form Kairakuen Park. It is perfect for walking in and you can see swans on the lake. The walkway around the lake is about 3 km. Many locals come here for a walk or jog around the lake. In spring, from Sakurakawa to the shore of the lake, the white cherry blossoms are amazing.

The National Hitachi Seaside Park is filled with different flowers all year round. In spring, there are tulips, daffodils and nemophilas, all contending to be the most beautiful. In summer, there are zinnia, lavender and sunflowers in full bloom. In autumn, coreopsis and kochia can all be found. And in winter, ice tulips and plums bring vitality to the white world. Local residents also bring their families to enjoy the flowers and have picnics together. If you want to experience the local life, you can bring some simple food and a picnic cloth, and sit on the grass to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Fukuroda no Taki is a designated attraction in Ibaraki Prefecture, and is listed as one of the three famous waterfalls in Japan along with the Kegon no Taki and Nachi no Taki. The waterfall is 120 m high and 73 m wide. It plunges from the cracks in the four sections of rock wall, and its sheer power is incredible. The waterfall looks different in each of the four seasons, especially in winter when it becomes an icefall. The magnificent water freezes on the rocks, which looks incredible, and is a rare and spectacular sight in Japan.

Oarai Aquarium in Ibaraki Prefecture is divided into nine areas according to different themes, and you can view various marine creatures such as sharks there. In addition to local marine creatures, the aquarium has also opened sections for other seas, such as the Red Sea, the Caribbean Sea, the Tasman Sea, and the Okhotsk Sea, allowing you to observe all kinds of marine life.

Mount Tsukuba stands in the Kanto Plain and is one of the top 100 mountains in Japan. An old saying goes, "Fuji in the west and Tsukuba in the east". The top of the mountain is divided into two peaks, the Nantai-san and the Nyotai-san. On the two peaks, there is the Tsukuba Shrine Hall. The mountainside also has a mountain gate and a hall used for worshiping. Numerous worshipers are attracted here all year round. There are 30 varieties of 3,000 plum trees on the mountainside. From mid-February to mid-March, a large number of tourists come here to enjoy the plum blossom. The top of Mount Tsukuba is also a good place to enjoy the scenery. On a sunny day, you can even see the distant Mount Fuji and the skyscrapers of Tokyo which is very spectacular. By traveling via cable car you can easily enjoy the fun of mountaineering in a single day.

Ushiku Daibutsu is located in Ibaraki Prefecture. The Buddha is 120 m high (the body is 100 m high and the terrace is 20 m). It is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest bronze statue in the world. However, it's not as famous as the Buddha in Nara, Kamakura, or even Takaoka. The construction of the Buddha started in 1985, and it took about ten years to finish it. There is a pure earth courtyard at the foot of the Buddha, and there are flowers in full bloom during all four seasons. The most interesting thing is that you can enter the body of Ushiku Daibutsu, which has 5 floors. In addition to sermons and transcribing scriptures, you can also see oil paintings and models of the Buddha displaying the construction process. There is an observatory 85 m above the ground near the Buddha's chest. On sunny days you can even see the Tokyo Sky Tree.

The Ryujin Suspension Bridge is 100 m above the lake. On the bridge you can overlook the beautiful scenery during its four seasons. You can experience a thrilling bungee on the bridge and jump towards the lake.

Lake Kasumigaura is the second largest freshwater lake in Japan, and occupies about 1/3 of the area of Ibaraki Prefecture. The vast blue lake seems like the sea if you look at it in distance. During summer and autumn, you can take a sightseeing boat. In winter, there are a large number of migratory birds flying over it. Every summer, there are sightseeing boats with large white sails on the lake, which are very traditional and impressive to look at.

The Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition began in 1925, and ranks in the top three major fireworks displays together with Nagaoka Festival Grand Fireworks and the Oomagari Festival Grand Fireworks. Every year, countless people flock to Tsuchiura in Ibaraki Prefecture to see this magnificent display in summer. The fireworks display in Tsuchiura is slightly different from other fireworks displays. Because of its competitive nature, the fireworks are more innovative and professional. Over 60 fireworks manufacturers participate each year. The competition consists of three divisions: Creativity, Size 10 Shells, & Original Displays. The Prime Minister Award is given to the winners of each division. Date: October 7