2025 Mito Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

1-1-1 Miyamachi, Mito City, Mito Station Building 029-297-7179 Business hours: 10:00-22:00 Ibaraki Prefecture is said to have many sake breweries in the Kanto region, and there is a local sake bar in the Mito Station building that has sake from all over Ibaraki Prefecture. You can drink one cup for just ¥300. The map of Ibaraki Prefecture has a map of the sake breweries and the manufacturing process, so it's easy to understand. I personally recommend Tsukinoi Sake Brewery. I recommend it before or after sightseeing. #Mito #Ibaraki #Sake #SakeBar

Decided to head to Kairakuen so we drove and parked next to the park. It was a lovely day, sunny and windy. Lovely swan posing elegantly next to the cherry blossom tree. During the season, all you need to do is just find a park and walk in, you will find yourself surrounded by lovely flowers. Anyway it was until the very end of the walk that we realized we have not entered the Kairakuen which requires entrance fee. We have thought the park that we walked was Kairakuen. 😅 Blur me who did not do the research well. Hoping I will get another chance to visit Japan in the cherry blossom season and go back to Kairakuen!#japan

Mito Plaza Hotel . . An antique hotel with a city feel, like a European guest house. Enjoy afternoon tea and a hotel stay at Mito Plaza Hotel 🍰☕️ . We had afternoon tea in a lovely courtyard filled with greenery ♡ It's a covered greenhouse, so it's great that you can enjoy it regardless of the weather or season. The space is just too comfortable...! . When we visited, it was just the beginning of spring, so the menu was centered around strawberries 🍓 We recommend visiting on an empty stomach 🤤◎ #luxuryhotel #hotelroyalpark

A trip to Ibaraki for gourmet food and scenic spots 🌱 Kairakuen, famous for its plum blossoms, and cafes 🌸☕️ . Kairakuen, the pride of Ibaraki Prefecture, is famous for its plum blossoms. It was a while ago, but it was in full bloom and it was so beautiful!! We went into the plum garden and took pictures and walked around surrounded by plum blossoms. 📸 . After getting tired from walking, we went to the cafe inside Kairakuen! The sweets served in mortars were so delicious 🤤 The classic tiramisu and something that gave us a Japanese and spring feeling. We enjoyed the look of it too ♡ #hotelroyalpark#photogenic spot

Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Staying at the Mito Plaza Hotel. Introducing a wonderful room!!! The bathroom was also very nice♡ A stylish space that makes you want to take a mirror selfie. There were plenty of amenities, which was helpful. I recommend taking a long soak in the bathtub. #hotelroyalpark #luxuryhotel

Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. I found a wonderful hotel! Mito Plaza Hotel. It's a place reminiscent of Taisho era romance, like a guest house in the forest. When you step inside, it's like a different world. It was a wonderful place with lots of photo spots. #luxuryhotel#hotelroyalpark

Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture. I stayed at the Mito Plaza Hotel. It was a wonderful hotel, so I'd like to introduce the room! The room had a calm atmosphere. It was Western-style and elegant!! The bed was fluffy and extremely comfortable!! For dinner, I had the hotel's special bento box. #luxuryhotel#hotelroyalpark

TeamLab has decorated Kairakuen Garden. It's a fantastical world that both adults and children can enjoy. I think you can view it all in about an hour.

I went to the Mito Plum Festival at Kairakuen, one of Japan's three most famous gardens. ✨ The Plum Festival is an early spring event held every year from mid-February to late March at Kairakuen and Kodokan. It was mid-March, so the plum blossoms were in full bloom, the weather was good, and it was crowded with tourists! There are about 100 kinds of 3,000 plum trees planted, and the plum blossoms in various colors were blooming, which was very beautiful. 💕 There were also many food stalls at the entrance to the garden, so I was able to enjoy a festival atmosphere for the first time in a while. ♫ 📍1-6-29 Sannomaru, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture #IbarakiTourism #PlumBlossoms #AmazingView

On a clear day, you can see Mount Tsukuba. You can also get a full view of Kairakuen. The view is great and it's free. There are students studying, so it's best to refrain from talking loudly. There are vending machines, chairs, and separate restrooms for men and women, so it's great that even people with bad legs won't have any trouble. #Amazing view

One of the "Three Great Gardens of Japan" along with Kanazawa's Kenrakuen and Okayama's Korakuen. It is a very large Japanese garden, about the size of 64 Tokyo Domes. The busiest time of the year is the "Mito Plum Festival" season from mid-February to late March. 🌸 About 100 kinds of 3,000 plum trees are planted, and the beauty of the pink is a must-see. ♪ Apart from the plum season, we also recommend the magnificent Japanese house "Kobuntei" and the place of literary and martial arts training "Kobunkan"! 📍1-1251 Mikawa, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture #flowerviewing #plumgarden #Ibarakitourism #girlstrip #trip2022

Address: 2-1-15 Midoricho, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0034 Atmosphere/Facilities: Early November was a little early for the autumn leaves, but the green and yellow ginkgo trees were beautiful! I'd like to go next year when they're even yellower☺️ It's located near Kairakuen and Tokiwa Shrine! It's a lovely row of ginkgo trees, so please be sure to stop by😸 #ginkgo #shrine #autumn leaves

Address: 2-1-15 Midoricho, Mito, Ibaraki 310-0034 Atmosphere/Facilities: The bamboo was lovely, like that of Arashiyama in Kyoto! It was a rare opportunity to take a walk while enjoying the calming atmosphere! From Kairakuen, you can see Senba Park and Senba Lake! This is a view that can only be seen here, so please come and visit 🦢 #Shrine #Autumn leaves

Address: 1-1251 Mikawa, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 310-0912 Atmosphere/Facilities: If you go to Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, this is a place you should definitely visit! The plum blossoms are not in bloom in autumn and winter, but the picturesque scenery is soothing! It is especially recommended during the plum and cherry blossom seasons! It is a great walking course! The entrance fee was 300 yen 🍁 Tokiwa Shrine is right next door!! The air was clear!! #Shrine #Autumn leaves

Address: 1-2-1 Mikawa, Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture Atmosphere/Facilities: This shrine is right next to Senba Park! The Chrysanthemum Festival was held at this time, so I was soothed by the many chrysanthemums! The autumn leaves were beautiful and it was the perfect place for a walk! You can also get a goshuin (stamp), so be sure to bring your goshuin book! If you go to Mito, be sure to stop by 🍁🍁 #Shrine #Autumn leaves

Address: 8-18 Kyoei-cho, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki 312-0043 Atmosphere/Facilities: The interior had a beautiful and stylish atmosphere with sunlight filtering through the trees! You could choose two types of bread from several available! I chose French bread and whole wheat bread! They were all delicious and I was very satisfied!! If you're visiting Ibaraki, be sure to stop by! #cafe#retro streetscape

Address: 2160-3 Horimachi, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 310-0903 Atmosphere/Facilities: The interior of the store is decorated with precious wood, creating a relaxing atmosphere! There is a wide variety of Japanese sweets, and they are just the right amount of sweet and delicious! They go perfectly with matcha!! If you visit Mito, please stop by! 😸 #cafe#retro streetscape

[Leisurely Japanese Stroll | Lake Mito Chiba] #I miss my leisurely days in Japan Mito City is not believed to be a popular tourist attraction, but sometimes go to these places. It is a good choice to feel the local atmosphere. There is a big shopping mall right outside Mito Station. After walking around the shopping mall, you can also visit the famous local attraction, Lake Chiba. Lake Chibo is about 3 kilometers long, the lake is in the shape of a gourd, and there are many different animals on the lake. You can also row a boat and ride a jet ski. Many people jogged around the lake. It is recommended to come in the afternoon. It's a good half-day trip to take photos while walking here and watch the carp #I miss #picnic spots

This time I went to Mito City in Ibaraki Prefecture! Mito is famous for Kairakuen Garden. Kairakuen Garden is one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, along with Kenrokuen Garden in Kanazawa and Korakuen Garden in Okayama. Kairakuen Garden was built by Tokugawa Nariaki, the ninth lord of the Mito Domain. Everyone knows Mito Komon. Kairakuen Garden is very famous for its plum blossoms, and since the best time to see them has passed, I recommend going next year when they are in their best condition. You can also enter Kobuntei. The view from Kobuntei was also very nice! It is a 30-minute walk from JR Joban Line Mito Station, and when there are events, the temporary Kairakuen Station is open, so it is about a 5-minute walk from Kairakuen Station. #Ibaraki #Mito

There are many wonderful places around Mito Station. Among them, Kairakuen, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, is well worth seeing. If you visit in the fall, the autumn leaves are spectacular!! Lake Senba is also lovely. #Couple trip #Historic site

📍Howaen 13-19 Matsumoto-cho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture 《Access》 Bus stop: Howaen Iriguchi/About 3 minutes on foot from Ibaraki Kotsu ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ A garden adjacent to Daihi-san Howain Keiganji Temple It is said that Tokugawa Mitsukuni loved the temple garden so much that he named it "Howaen." Nowadays, in early summer, about 6,000 plants of about 100 species bloom and compete with each other. Hydrangeas float on Myojogaike Pond, making it a great spot for taking photos with the fountain. It's a "pond-center strolling garden" that you can walk around in a circle, so it's recommended to enjoy it while taking a leisurely stroll. A photo contest and collaborative sweets were also held. #Ibaraki #Mito #Hydrangea Festival #Hydrangea #Walking Garden #Photo Spot #0 Yen Trip

📍Twenty-three Nights Keiganji Temple 13-19 Matsumoto-cho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture 《Access》 Bus stop: Howaen Iriguchi/About 3 minutes on foot from Ibaraki Kotsu ✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲✲ A shrine adjacent to Howaen This temple is affectionately known as "Mito Yanaka's Twenty-three Nights". As you pass through the large vermilion mountain gate, you will see the main hall with a flashy design of a gold dragon carving on a red background right in front of you. There is a stone statue of Tokugawa Mitsukuni in the temple grounds. It is said to bring good luck in love, money, and passing exams. After praying here, I went to see the hydrangeas. #Ibaraki #Howaen #Hydrangea Festival #Hydrangea #Mito #0 yen trip

#cherryblossom25 Kairakuen is one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, and yes — it absolutely lives up to the hype. While it’s more famous for plum blossoms, the cherry blossom season here is chef’s kiss. The garden sprawls out with wide lawns, bamboo groves, and serene pathways all lined with elegant sakura trees. I visited just after peak bloom, and the ground was blanketed in soft pink petals — like walking on clouds. There’s a spot near Kobuntei (the old samurai guesthouse) where I sat with tea and watched petals fall into the pond. So peaceful. Bonus: there’s even a little train that runs nearby, and if you time it right, you can snap it chugging through cherry trees. Kairakuen gives you that refined, traditional hanami vibe, and it’s definitely a must-add for your #cherryblossom25 list if you love calm, curated beauty.

#cherryblossom25 Senba Lake Park in Mito City is one of those relaxed, “live-like-a-local” kind of hanami spots. The cherry trees completely encircle the lake, so you get a near-constant view of blossoms reflected on the water as you walk or bike around. I caught the sunrise here — the sky turned golden and pink, and the mirror-like lake made it double the magic. Locals were out walking dogs, jogging, or just sitting quietly with thermoses of tea. I loved that vibe — no crowds, no rush, just the soft rustle of petals and the occasional swan floating by. There’s even a little zoo nearby if you want to make a day of it. My #cherryblossom25 post was super simple: “Sometimes stillness is the best view.” And honestly, that summed it up.

The azaleas will soon start blooming. You can take a train from Mito Station to Kairakuen Station. The parking lot for tourist buses was quite far, which made it a bit inconvenient. Around the pond in Senba Park, there is a row of cherry blossom trees, and you can still see some lovely flowers. Hydrangeas have also started budding and sprouting leaves. You can enjoy a variety of colorful flowers.

#Introducing the most beautiful scenery in Japan Kairakuen Garden is located in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, and was built during the Edo period by Tokugawa Nariaki, the ninth lord of the Mito domain. It is counted as one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, along with Korakuen Garden and Kenrokuen Garden. It is located on Mt. Shichimen, overlooking Lake Senba, and you can see beautiful Japanese gardens that change with the seasons, with plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, and autumn leaves. 🔸Kobuntei Front Gate This is the main gate of Korakuen Garden. 🔸Moso Bamboo Forest More than 1,000 Moso bamboo trees, the largest type of bamboo in Japan, were planted here, and were transplanted from Kyoto by Nariaki. 🔸Sugi no Oki District Surrounded by greenery all year round, it touches the hearts of passersby. It makes you feel calm. 🔸Kobuntei Chumon A thatched roof gate between the cedar grove and Kobuntei. 🔸Kobuntei Located within the main Kairakuen garden. It is said that Tokugawa Nariaki designed it himself as a villa. He invited his vassals and subjects to hold senior citizens' meetings and poetry gatherings. 🔸Kirishima Azalea A cluster of bright red Kirishima Azaleas at the Miharashi Square. 🔸Cafe "Raku" A cafe in the Nishinuri-en Hall of Kobuntei. You can relax with a cup of tea while looking out at Lake Senba and seasonal flowers. Access 📍1-3-3 Tokiwacho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 310-0033 #Ibaraki #Japan's Three Great Gardens #Kairakuen #Domestic Travel

#Seasonal event [Arts and Crafts and Design] From William Morris to Frank Lloyd Wright This exhibition introduces the history of Arts and Crafts, a design movement led by William Morris and others that arose in England in the late 19th century. Through a diverse collection of about 170 pieces, including textiles, crafts, furniture, and books, the exhibition introduces the appeal and development of the Arts and Crafts movement, which became the source of modern design. 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 Dates: Saturday, April 19, 2025 - Sunday, June 29, 2025 Opening hours: 9:30am to 5pm (last entry at 4:30pm) Closed: Mondays and Wednesday, May 7th *Open every day during Golden Week (Tuesday, April 29th - Tuesday, May 6th) Admission fee: Adults 1,360 (1,240) yen / 70 years and older 680 (620) yen / High school students 1,130 (980) yen / Elementary and junior high school students 550 (420) yen *( ) is the group rate for 20 or more people * Free for those who bring a disability certificate or designated intractable disease specific medical care fee recipient certificate, etc., and one accompanying person * Free for high school students and younger on Saturdays * Animal and plant pattern discount: Those who come wearing animal and plant pattern clothing (including accessories) and inform us of this can enter at the group rate 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙 ...𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 Highlights 1. Introducing designs and works by William Morris that are popular in Japan 2. The development of the Arts and Crafts movement in the UK 3. Arts and Crafts in America 4. Special exhibit of stained glass doors at the Martin House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 Related events 🔸Lecture "Arts and Crafts and Design" From William Morris to Frank Lloyd Wright" Lecturer: Haruhiko Fujita (Professor Emeritus at Osaka University, Catalogue Supervisor) Date and time: Saturday, May 10, 2025, 13:00-14:30 Venue: Basement Auditorium / Capacity: 250 people (no registration required, free to attend) 🔸 Museum of Art Academy 2025 "William Morris and the Ideal Book, the Garden of Famous Poems at the Kelmscott Press" Lecturer: Hidemi Kobayashi (Professor, Faculty of Education, Ibaraki University) Date and time: May 18, 2025 (Sun) 14:00-15:30 Venue: Auditorium on the basement floor / Capacity: 250 people (no registration required, free to participate) 🔸 Art appreciation lecture by a curator Lecturer: Kazuko Yamaguchi (curator in charge of special exhibitions) Date and time: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 14:00-15:30 Venue: Auditorium on the basement floor / Capacity: 250 people (no registration required, free to participate) *The content of each event may change or be canceled Please check the website for details 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁 Access 📍Higashikubo, Senba-cho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, 310-0851 666-1 📍Access from JR Mito Station Walk: 20 minutes from the south exit Taxi: 5 minutes from the south exit Bus: Bus stop 8 at the north exit or bus stop 2 at the south exit (weekdays only) Bus bound for "Hossawa" or "Hongo" Get off at the "Cultural Center Entrance" and walk for 5 minutes Fare is 190 yen 📍Approximately 20 minutes from the Mito IC on the Joban Expressway Approximately 17 minutes from the Mito Kita Smart IC Approximately 15 minutes from the Ibarakicho Higashi IC on the Kita-Kanto Expressway 📍Parking: P1 in front of the parking lot in front of The Hirosawa City Hall (Prefectural Cultural Center) #Domestic travel #Art museum #Ibaraki

I went to Mito Botanical Garden to see the jade vine. The jade color is a rare sight on plants, and it's a truly beautiful blue. There are many beautifully blooming plants both outside and in the greenhouse, and the best time to enjoy them is now. Until recently, the plum garden was wonderful, but the Yomeishu herb garden also seems to have a long way to go. If you plan on visiting the gardens, which change their appearance with each season, several times a year, I recommend purchasing an annual pass! #MitoCity #PlumKotatsu