2026 Itako Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in July)

A warabimochi specialty shop I stumbled upon while driving back from the beach that just begs for a pit stop. After hanging out at Hirai Beach, my usual routine is to grab a bite in town before heading home. This time, I decided to pull over at "Warabimochi Specialty Store Kado-Fuji Ibaraki Itako Store" that I spotted on the way back. I dropped by right before evening, but the warabimochi was practically sold out, and I could only grab one flavor. Even so, the store was packed with customers waiting for their "WARABI-TA"—a totally new kind of warabimochi drink—proving just how popular this place is. I could've ordered a WARABI-TA too, but they told me it'd be a 10+ minute wait, so I took a rain check this time. The warabimochi I bought was good until the next day, so I dug into it after getting home. First, I took a bite of the warabimochi—generously dusted with kinako (roasted soybean flour)—just as it was. You get to enjoy that soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture along with the nutty kinako flavor. After that, I drizzled on the included aged kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup), which added an elegant sweetness and a totally different delicious vibe. The light syrup really brought out the best of the warabimochi and kinako. I only managed to snag one kind this time, but I was super satisfied with the melt-in-your-mouth texture and refined flavor. Next time, I’ll make sure I have plenty of time to finally taste that famous WARABI-TA. [ Warabimochi Specialty Store Kado-Fuji Ibaraki Itako Store ] 📍 2736-3 Magarimatsu, Itako, Ibaraki 🕚 Business Hours: 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM 🗓️ Closed: Open year-round

This one is truly beautiful! 🥹 The 44th edition of the Kashima Fireworks Festival in Ibaraki, very close to the Tokyo metropolitan area, is about to take place✨ A romantic large-scale fireworks display by the sea—if you happen to be in Tokyo, don’t miss it! 👏🏻 ㅤ 🎆 Kashima City Fireworks Festival 🎇 📆 Date & Time: 2024.10.12 19:00-20:00 📍 Fireworks Venue: Ofunatsu area, over Kitaura Lake, 25-minute walk from JR Kashima Jingu Station ⭐️ Fireworks Scale: 10,000 shots 🔍 Highlights: 108 consecutive large fireworks✅ Torii gate and sea fireworks photo opportunities✅ ㅤ ✨ The Kashima City Fireworks Festival features a variety of spectacular fireworks including large shaku-dama shells, underwater star thunder, and ultra-large star thunder💫 This fireworks event is held on Kitaura Lake, part of Kasumigaura, and the reflection of the fireworks on the lake adds a special charm🩷 Another great advantage is that the fireworks are launched in an open area, making it easy to find good viewing spots🙌🏻 ㅤ 🔭 Viewing Locations: 1️⃣ Near the first Torii gate west of Kashima Jingu Shrine: Enjoy fireworks in the shrine’s atmosphere 2️⃣ Kashima Shiroyama Park: Located on a hill, a great spot to overlook the fireworks 3️⃣ Michi-no-Eki Itako: Fewer people on the Itako city side, so you can enjoy the fireworks leisurely 4️⃣ Kamei Hotel near Itako Lake (Shiratori no Sato): A quiet place where you can stay overnight and watch the fireworks 5️⃣ Opposite shore of Ofunatsu (Itako side): For those wanting to avoid crowds, this spot offers views of fireworks reflected on the lake ㅤ If you arrive early, remember to bring a mat to reserve your spot 💘 Also, take a stroll around Kashima Jingu Shrine~ There will be various “yatai” stalls on site where you can try traditional Japanese snacks and sweets 🍡🍢

When it comes to flowers that paint Japan's early summer, the iris (Hanashobu) naturally comes to mind. Suigo Itako Iris Garden in Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture, is celebrated as one of Japan's top four iris gardens. It co-hosts the annual "Iris Festival" alongside the neighboring Suigo Sawara Iris Park in Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture. *All photos feature the Suigo Itako Iris Garden. The irises are typically in full bloom from late May to late June. During the festival, the gardens are bustling with energy, packed with various street food stalls and vendors. Dates: Late May – Late June Location: Suigo Itako Iris Garden (1-5 Ayame, Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture) Admission: Free Dates: Late May – Late June Location: Suigo Sawara Iris Park (1837-2 Ogishima, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture) Admission: Adults 800 yen, Children 400 yen The festival is famous for its traditional "Yomeiri-bune" (bridal boat), where a bride and her family glide along the garden's waterways, but even outside the festival season, visitors can enjoy boat rides on classic small wooden boats, known as Sappa-bune. Suigo Itako Iris Garden is highly recommended—not only is admission free, but features like the arched drum bridges and traditional Sappa-bune boats make it incredibly photogenic! As we move forward, the season of hydrangeas and fireflies is just around the corner!

This is a shuttle boat (limited time only) connecting Katori in Chiba Prefecture and the iris garden in Itako, Ibaraki Prefecture, across the bay. Along the way, we had the experience of passing through narrow waterways and sluice gates.

Traveling to Kitaboso and Minami-Ibaraki. Located in the crowded urban area of ​​Tokyo, the Boso Peninsula, located east of the city, stands out from the rest of the metropolitan area, boasting numerous old streets and shrines. This area, generally considered part of Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures, is also known as the Kitaboso region. Several major cities in the Kitaboso region are located within it: Sawara, Katori/Kashima, and Itako/Choshi. Another reason I chose to travel here is that for over a year, my phone wallpaper has been a picture of a torii gate in water, which is the wash basin at Kashima Jingu Shrine. The most striking characteristics of Sawara and Katori are that they were river towns during the Edo Period, and that they were located near shrines due to their significant religious beliefs. Similarly, Kashima and Itako are similar: both areas are a combination of a river town and a shrine town, fostering a mutually supportive relationship. Naturally, they belong to Chiba and Ibaraki, respectively, separated by the Tone River, a major Kanto river. Of these four locations, Kashima Jingu is undoubtedly the most famous: after all, it's the oldest shrine in the Kanto region. Only Ise Jingu, Katori Jingu, and Kashima Jingu have been called "jingu" since ancient Japan, demonstrating their rich history. The towering cedar forests and ancient trees on the grounds create a sense of tranquility and seclusion. Second place is Sawara, located in Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Known for its well-preserved Edo-period architecture and water transport history, it's known as "Little Edo." We were also fortunate to encounter a float festival this time, making the town particularly lively and festive on the holiday. As for Katori Jingu, because Katori holds a higher status than Sawara in the prefecture system, Sawara is called the Katori City Sawara District. Katori Jingu, along with Kashima Jingu, is a traditional shrine in the Kanto region. The Omotesando area near Katori Jingu offers numerous cafes and Japanese teahouses for relaxation. In Katori and Sawara, those not driving can use a bus tour pass. These can be purchased at the station's tourist counter or at the hotel counter, and two trips will pay for themselves. The least popular destination is probably Itako, located between the two cities. Itako in Ibaraki Prefecture is known as "Water Village Itako" due to the eastward relocation of the Tone River waterway during the Edo period, which boosted cargo transportation. Mid-June is the peak bloom season for shoyu (water urns), and the "Water Village Itako Shoyu Festival" is held at this time. The shoyu garden here boasts 500 varieties and a million shoyu plants, which bloom together in early summer, ushering in the arrival of summer. Since I happened to visit in mid-June this time, I was able to witness the first bloom of the shoyu. Finally, I highly recommend the Route Inn in front of Sawara Station and the Kashima Toyoimaru Jingu branch. They offer excellent accommodations and fresh seafood. Route Inn is currently my top choice for value-for-money business hotels in Japan. #Kashima #Sawara #Katori #Itako #Boso Peninsula

📍 Itinerary Overview Ibaraki- Nikko - lake kawaguchiko - Izu Peninsula - lake Shoji - Kamakura - Yokohama 🚩 Sightseeing Route 🏖️ Must-Visit Attractions Ibaraki suigo Iris festival bride procession Nikko shinkyo bridge Nikko toshogu shrine Mount omuro Kadowaki suspension bridge Shuzenji bamboo forest park Shuzenji Tokyo no yu( free foot bath) 🚇 Transportation Kamakura enoden train ride 📷 Photo Spots 🍜 Local Cuisine Nikko sakaeya ( fried Yuba buns with red bean paste. yummy!) street food at Kamakura Kamachi dori Kawatoyo unagi - must try in Narita

Transportation: Take the JR Kashima Line to Itako Station, then walk about 5 minutes from the station. Admission Fee: Free entry to the entire area. Recommended Visiting Time: Late April to early May (if you want to see wisteria). The Suigo Itako Iris Garden is a long strip of flower beds along the riverbank. From JR Itako Station, you can already see the arched bridges within the iris garden. I visited in late April, which is actually not the blooming season for irises. The iris beds were entirely green with leaves, and at most, you could spot a few tiny buds. However, there was an entire area of blooming wisteria! (Excitedly dancing with joy) The trellises above the riverside pathways were completely covered with wisteria flowers. Next to the boat waiting area, there was even a section of nearly fully bloomed wisteria. In many places, the wisteria trellises are not open for visitors to walk under, but here, the wisteria serves as the canopy for the pathways. Just look up, and you'll see clusters of deep and light purple flowers swaying in the wind. The wisteria here isn't just purple; there are also pink and white varieties. However, the white wisteria seems to bloom later, as most of it hadn't opened yet. The pink wisteria had partially bloomed. Here's my personal observation: · Purple wisteria: About 50-70% in bloom. · Pink wisteria: About 30-50% in bloom. · White wisteria: Almost none in bloom, with only a few flower clusters near the base showing a hint of white. If you want to see white wisteria, visiting in early May might be better. In addition to the wisteria, there were also Kanzan cherry blossoms. Near the Suigun Bridge, the trees were covered with clusters of soft pink blossoms, looking adorably round. When the wind blew, the falling petals created a light "sakura snow" effect. Although this isn't a famous spot for wisteria, it's very quiet, especially on weekdays. The transportation is quite convenient, so if you're passing by, you can plan to stop for an hour or two.

#springitinerary You will be overwhelmed by the huge number of waterfowl. I realized that Kitaura is very popular with waterfowl. This is a place where you can closely observe and feed several species of ducks, as well as mute swans, swans, whooper swans, and black-headed gulls. A black-bodied coot is also coming. There is a notice on the sign that says to feed the fish by throwing rice, bread, or rice husks into the water at a designated spot, so be sure to follow the rules when feeding.

#cherryblossom25 Inariyama offers cherry blossoms in their purest form, far from tourist crowds. Perfect for contemplative spring moments. 🌳 Park Highlights 1. Hilltop Sakura Trails - Meandering paths through cherry "clouds" on natural slopes 2. Panoramic Observatory - Frame Mt. Fuji + Tama River + cherry blossoms in one shot 3. Picnic Meadows - Spread a blanket under the trees like local families do

Roadside Station Itako, located in Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture, at the end of the Higashi-Kanto Expressway, is full of tourist information and local specialties. In particular, at "Shinsen Ichiba Itaro," you can purchase fresh vegetables picked that morning at reasonable prices, and it is a popular spot for both locals and tourists! One of Ibaraki Prefecture's specialties is the local dish "boiled carp," which you can also enjoy here✨ The facility also has a variety of restaurants and souvenir shops, and the dorayaki and gelato baked in-house are very popular❣️ If you come to Ibaraki Prefecture, be sure to stop by the roadside station where you can enjoy the bounty of nature☺️ 📍Address: 1326-1 Maekawa, Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture 311-2416 🕰️Business hours: 9:00-19:00 #0 yen trip February 2025

Swan Village in Itako, Ibaraki 90% of people don't know about this hidden spot, only locals know about it. It's a winter specialty where swans and ducks gather. Recently, seagulls have also been living there, so there were a lot of birds! The wild birds here are only allowed to eat bread, so I recommend bringing lots of bread crusts. And if you want to see whooper swans, I recommend going in the evening. #ItakoCityIbarakiPrefecture #IbarakiPrefecture #DomesticTravel #Swan #WhooperSwan #IbarakiPrefectureTourism #HiddenSpotRecommendedForTravelers 🏖️Lots of birds in the atmosphere/Facilities: Parking available. There are toilets, but I don't recommend it. 📍Location: ItakoCityIbarakiPrefecture💰Price per person: Free Spot💞Reason for recommendation: There are lots of birds

📍Address:kamenoi hotel itako Good for relaxing #hotelstay #onsenhotel

On the way from Tsukuba City to Kashima Jingu Shrine, we stopped by a small town called Itako. During this period, the Iris Festival was held in Itako. Not only can you enjoy the flowers, but there is also a real traditional wedding ceremony (Maru Rifune) every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at a specific time. In Chaolai, due to the limitation of transportation, there has been a traditional custom of using a small boat to send the bride to the groom since a long time ago. In recent years, through the open recruitment method, newlyweds have the opportunity to experience such a wedding ceremony. There are only about 29 couples a year, which is quite special. The beautiful bride took a small boat, surrounded by blooming irises, and accepted the full blessings from relatives and friends on both sides of the river. She came to the groom's side. The scene was so beautiful that it was intoxicating. #SpringDestinations2024 #IrisFestival

Hydrangea season is coming soon 💙💜 It's only an hour and 16 minutes by car from Tokyo!! Introducing the hydrangea temple "Nihonmatsuji" in Ibaraki Prefecture!! ͛.*🍃💠 𓂃𓈒𓏸︎︎︎︎⁡ ͛.*🍃💠 𓂃𓈒𓏸︎︎︎︎⁡ ͛.*🍃💠 𓂃𓈒𓏸︎︎︎︎⁡ Period: From the first Saturday of June to June 30th Time: 9:00-16:00 (last admission) ͛.*🍃💠 𓂃𓈒𓏸︎︎︎︎⁡ ͛.*🍃💠 𓂃𓈒𓏸︎︎︎︎⁡ ͛.*🍃💠 𓂃𓈒𓏸︎︎︎︎⁡ You can enjoy it even on rainy days☔️A hydrangea temple that you can only experience now❁⃘*.ﾟBehind the temple is the "Hydrangea Forest" There are about 10,000 hydrangeas in full bloom. To get to the temple, first go through the Hydrangea Forest. Route 1- Entrance to the Hydrangea Shrine 2- Walk along the rice paddy path 3- Climb the stone pavement from the small stone gate 4- Take a quick break 5- Follow the route 6- Start forest bathing 7- Take a break and look at the rice fields 8- Say hello to the Children's Jizo (Shataro) 9- You can write on the back of the postcard leaves 10- Next to the tree planted by Mito Mitsukuni 11- Pay respects to the principal image 12- Two pines, monument to Mitsukuni's poem 13- The sweet scent of bodhi flowers 14- Kyoho era Jisu Hanka statue 15- Nihonmatsu Temple To Hydrangea Temple❁⃘*.ﾟThere are many different kinds of hydrangeas in bloom, and you can see rare types of hydrangeas·͜·✌︎´------------------------------➸Tips︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎There is a set route to the temple, so follow the route︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Around 15:00 is recommended︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Hydrangea Forest is 400 yen︎︎︎︎︎︎☑︎Temple is free-----------------------------➸Outing plan📍Nihonmatsuji Hydrangea Forest・Address: 1230 Horinouchi, Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture・Opening hours: 9:00-16:00・Cost: Adults 400 yen, Junior high school students and younger free・Recommendation: Be sure to find the very rare hydrangea "Red Baron"- ̗̀ ☺︎☺︎☺︎ ̖́-・Photo tips: If you take a picture of the hydrangea from a close angle, it will look like it is taken from a close angle·͜·✌︎´-⚠Caution: The slope is steep, so comfortable shoes are good👍-Access information-🚗15 minutes from Itako IC🚎Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit → Suigo Itako 70 minutes by highway bus 15 minutes by taxi from Suigo Itako🚃15 minutes by taxi from JR Itako Station-----------------------------#hydrangea #temple stamp tour #trip #temple #shrines and temples #hydrangea temple #travel with me

This is beautiful movement , kitsunes” dance on top of boats that move while Taiko drums beat ecstatically in sync with the mystical shakuhachi flute.If you closely observe the older generation of Japan in the countryside, you will find that they are much more in tune with nature and their environment

1830-1 Mizuhara, Itako City, Ibaraki Prefecture This hotel is located in the Kitaura area, south of Lake Kasumigaura, just under two hours by car from Tokyo. The area is home to famous shrines like Kashima Shrine and Katori Shrine, as well as tourist attractions like the Kashima Antlers soccer stadium. The hotel is quietly located, and the hot spring bath, with its panoramic view on the top floor, offers a relaxing stay! #hotspring #hotspringhotel #kamenoihotel