Food Conflagration Cafe Elysse Hurtado Hitachiota is home to an unusual, somewhat surreal restaurant. A five minute walk from the station, hidden in the midst of a ...
Culture Forest Sanctuary Elysse Hurtado Purportedly established around 600BC by Emperor Jimmu, Kashima Shrine is one of Japan’s most venerated Shinto places of worship.
Culture Ibaraki's Flower Hill Hanazono Sandra Isaka Hidden in the countryside of Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, is a lovely herb and flower garden, Flower Hill Hanazono.
Culture Asahi Brewery in Moriya Tom Roseveare Free brewery tour of Asahi's newest and largest brewery in Japan.
Food How to: Starbucks Wi-Fi Tom Roseveare Just like at major Starbucks branches across the world, visiting Starbucks in Japan is a great way to connect to the Internet...
Food Ibaraki's Daigo Cafe Sandra Isaka The Daigo Cafe serves tasty meals and homemade desserts in a lovely traditional Japanese building in Daigo-machi, Ibaraki Pre...
Activities Oarai Beach Elysse Hurtado One of two public beaches in the Oarai area, the main attraction of this spot is the rock formations just offshore, which cre...
Activities Oarai Sun Beach Elysse Hurtado Oarai Sun Beach is the biggest beach in the Kanto area, and one of the most popular because of it.
Food Kitchen House Furin (Ogitsu) Ian Platford Kitchen House Furin is a Japanese style pub 5 minutes walk from Ogitsu Station. It is a mixture of bakery, bar, restaurant, ...
Culture Visiting Ushiku Daibutsu Peter Sidell An hour north-east of Tokyo, the Ushiku Daibutsu is a towering statue of the Amida Buddha. A full hundred and twenty meters t...
Shopping Ami Premium Outlet Peter Sidell Less than an hour's drive from Tokyo, Ami Premium Outlet is home to over 150 stores, ranging from Marui and Forever 21 to Bro...
Food An Urban Oasis in Mito Elysse Hurtado Hidden in the back of a building, with only a very simply sign advertising it, is one of Mito’s best-kept secrets. Rin is an ...
Food The Drunken Duck in Mito City Philip Gregory The Drunken Duck, one of the best places to eat or drink in Ibaraki, is located in Mito City (as well as a second location in...
Activities Hiking up Mt. Tsukuba Joe Peters The hiking trails of Mt. Tsukuba are about 100 km (60 miles) from Tokyo, easily accessible by train or car.
