If you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to fireworks, then I implore you to attend the Tsuchiura All Japan Fireworks Competition. It is where the newest technology and designs meet to create the freshest, most stunning displays you will s..
Tsukuba is something of a 'ramen battleground' outside Tokyo, with the city dominating the rankings for Ibaraki prefecture, with many of their most famous shops drawing in visitors nationwide. As you'd expect, Tsukuba has its own ramen fe..
The city of Koga is tucked in Ibaraki prefecture’s south-western corner, surrounded by cities of other prefectures. Its current population is estimated to be 140,800. An hour by train from Tokyo, Koga is known for its temples and rich history, with many old streets and buildings left untouched..
Hitachi is a city in Ibaraki prefecture by the Pacific Ocean that is great for viewing flowers all year round. Currently, the city has a population of around 183,000. The most famous place for flower viewing is Hitachi Seaside Park, where a sea of flowers – in blue, green, or red depending on ..
Ushiku is a small city of around 84,200 in southern Ibaraki prefecture that has the largest Buddhist statue in the world, Ushiku Daibutsu. What’s more impressive than the statue itself is that you will not just be able to see it in just its full glory – there is an elevator up to an obse..
Onwa Tsukuba newly opened its doors in May 2017 as the second branch to the original, acclaimed steakhouse over in Tochigi's Utsunomiya. Looking to bring the same high-end, gourmet yakiniku experience to central Ibaraki, Onwa hopes to appease Iba..
Ibaraki's Tsukuba area is known as a heavily contested ramen battleground of sorts, with most of the prefecture's top ranked shops located here. Aoi (麺や蒼) ramen is one of them and passing through Tsukuba recently gave me the chance to drop by..
To the south of Koga station in central Ibaraki lies Mendou Inaba (麺堂稲葉), a ramen shop popular with the local crowd specialising in Toripaitan – a rich chicken broth-style ramen. Opening in 2007, Inaba is allegedly named after the eponymous fr..
The sound of ocean waves intermingles with the Cuban music coming from the CD player just inside the open door, where a colorful cotton curtain is fluttering in the breeze. As I relax on a private balcony in the sunshine, drinking tea and eating my f..
Chisun Inns are a nationwide chain of budget hotels, designed to provide reasonable comfort at good value. They're generally aimed at business travelers or people driving across country, but can also often be found in cities or near interesting o..
Kairakuen is one of the best Japanese gardens and is most famous for its over three thousand plum trees. Kairakuen is located in Mito, the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture. Kairakuen was built in 1841 by the local lord Tokugawa Naria..
The Japanese sometimes suggest they have something in common with the British because both are island nations. One thing the two nations share is the enthusiasm for talking about the weather. People in Japan always on some aspect of the climate durin..
Whether you are visiting Japan for a few days or have been living here for a few months, you'll eventually find yourself visiting a temple or two during your stay here. They can be found everywhere throughout Japan and while their layouts may dif..
