Culture Fukuda Kilns Elysse Hurtado Fukuda Kiln is one of Kasama’s many intrepid solo kilns, currently run by the 12th generation of the family and covering a spr..
Culture Hitachi Seaside Park in October Yu Nakao A perfect day outside Tokyo at Hitachi Seaside Park, a seaside park with gardens and an amusement park. It is a great place to see..
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 e..
Culture Mito's Plum Blossom Festival 2026 Mid Feb - Late Mar Every year during the second last week of February, Mito’s Kairakuen plays host to the Mito Plum Festival. Thanks to its long ..
Activities Kairakuen Park, Mito Elysse Hurtado Each garden has its own different set-up and selection of flora, but behind Kairakuen’s beauty lies a twist: beyond simply ple..
Shopping Yuki's Traditional Silk-Weaving Elysse Hurtado From its legendary beginnings in the mists of time, the legacy of silk-weaving has been passed down from generation to generation..
Culture Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival 2025 Late Oct Every autumn, Ibaraki hosts the Kasama Kiku Matsuri, an amazing chrysanthemum festival in the grounds of the historic Kasama I..
Activities Yabusame in Kasama 2025 Monday - Nov 3rd Yabusame is a ceremonial form of archery and this is one of the three major performances in the Kanto region.
