This outlet mall that opened in 2009 is right off the Ken-O Expressway Ami-Higashi Interchange. Capturing the style of the American West-Coast here you’ll find almost 150 different shops made up of popular foreign brands, casual brands, lifestyle shops, and restaurants. The wide aisles throughout the mall make it easy to traverse for those with strollers or wheelchairs. A kid’s room and nursing room are also available on site.

The Oarai Isosaki Jinja is a shrine in Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County, Ibaraki Prefecture, that venerates Ohonamuchi-no-mikoto and Sukunahikona-no-mikoto. The worship hall for the presiding god—a protector of domestic safety and safe naval passage—demonstrates the architectural style of early Edo period, and has been designated a prefectural cultural property. Also, the Kamiiso torii gate praised by Mitsukuni Tokugawa is first among big torii in the Kanto region, and is set on rocks in the sea, for a great view during sunrise and sunset. Shrine worship deals with the ocean, so the Oarai Sea Museum is located nearby.

A shopping mall in Kamitakatsu, Tsuchiura City. In addition to the AEON's Tsuchiura branch – the mall's main shop – there are also stores selling fashion items, miscellaneous goods, books, musical instruments, and more. There's a movie theater too, as well as a food court and restaurant area.

This beach spot is known for its spacious, clear and far-reaching shallow beach, located in Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County. It’s quite popular with families, couples, and friends, as it has complete facilities including beach houses, restrooms, and showers. It is also a “universally-accessible” beach, with special wheelchairs for beach travel and life jackets, so handicapped and elderly persons can enjoy the beach too.

Located in Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County, Ibaraki Prefecture, this is a theme park focusing on mentaiko (seasoned cod roe) and run by Kanefuku Co.—a well-established mentaiko shop. The interior includes a mentaiko plant that you can observe through glass, and a wholesaler where you can buy mentaiko directly. A great place for kids and adults to spend the day with mentaiko. The food corner has popular eats like “mentaiko onigiri” and “mentaiko ice cream.”

Said to have been constructed in the second year of Emperor Yomei (587) by Horindokushukoji from China, this temple of the Toyama sect of Shingon Buddhism is located in Sakuragawa City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Many visitors come here every year seeking its blessing in regards to safe childbirth and child-raising. The main Kannon bodhisattva statue has been designated a National Important Cultural Property. The temple is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring and hydrangeas during the rainy season.

Ibaraki Natural Museum, opened in 1994, is a new type of natural science museum. In addition to the normal exhibitions of natural history materials there are also outdoor facilities in the area covering 15.8 hectares, including trampolines, and water parks to keep children happily amused. The mini aquarium displaying creatures from Ibaraki’s rivers and sea is also popular.

Ryujin Big Suspension Bridge located in Okukuji Prefectural Nature Park in Ibaraki Prefecture is a suspension bridge that crosses over Ryujin Gorge and boasts the longest length in Honshu. There is a carillon called “Mori no Kane” is on the opposite bank, and it is popular among couples as it needs two people to press a button simultaneously. From the hanging bridge of a maximum height of 100 meters, you can do bungie jumping, and there are also various seasonal events such as the koinobori (a carp streamer) festival and the suifusoba festival where Hitachiaki soba noodles, a local specialty, can be enjoyed.

This shrine in Hitachi City, Ibaraki is located on the side of the ancient Hitachi Province sacred mountain Mt. Oiwa and has recently become popular as a spiritual hot spot. While the details of its foundation are unclear it is said that Mt. Oiwa was the birthplace of ancient faiths and that generations of lords of the Mito clan would visit the shrine to pray. It is famous for being a shrine rich in Shinto and Buddhism with 188 gods enshrined throughout the mountain, including the Tangible Cultural Property of the Dainichi Nyorai Statue and the Amida Nyorai Statue. You will also find growing on the grounds a three trunked cedar estimated at over 500-years-old, which has been designated a Prefectural National Treasure.

This soccer stadium is located a two-minute walk from Kashima Soccer Stadium Station on the Oarai Kashima Line. Built in 1993 as Japan's first fully-fledged dedicated soccer stadium, the facility is used as the home stadium of the J1 League Kashima Antlers. Sprinklers, underground heating, and other methods are used to maintain the condition of the stadium's natural grass field, and, during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the stadium's characteristics were utilized for world-class play.

Located in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, this shrine has long been the object of adoration for the god of rich harvest and mercantile success. Considered to be one of Japan’s Top Three Inari Shrines, it hosts 3.5 million visitors every year, and is one of the prefecture’s best spots for New Year’s worship. A number of religious ceremonies like yabusame and bugaku are performed during the “Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival” held in autumn.

Tsukuba Wanwan Land is a large-scale interactive zoo where you can pat the animals. A landmark is Mokkun, an 11-meter high wooden statue which is a dog-shaped observatory. Dogs are the main attraction, and there are about 500 dogs from 90 breeds. You can pat your favorite dog as well as experience walking with it. In addition to dogs, there is a building which houses cats only and an area which you can pat small animals so you can experience interacting with a wide range of animals. Entry with your pet dog is available. Your dog can use a dog run, and there are events in which it can participate.

Located in natural environs in Inashiki City, Ibaraki Prefecture, this interactive theme park is popular with families. This park is filled with outdoor activities for children including a field athletic course suspended through the trees, and a small animal petting zoo. Families can try their hand at cooking and craft making, from any of the extensive workshops. On site is a restaurant, a hall, and barbecue facilities where homemade sausage, and the park’s original pizza can be enjoyed.

This Japanese-style garden in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture was created by Tokugawa Nariaki—ninth lord of the Mito clan—in 1842. Along with Kanazawa’s Kenroku-en and Okayama’s Korakuen, it is one of Japan’s Top Three Gardens, and is nationally designated as both Historical Sites and Places of Scenic Beauty. It’s also famous for plum-viewing in spring, with roughly 3,000 plum trees in 100 varieties. The flowers and trees are beautiful year-round, with azaleas, cherry blossoms and fall leaves teaming up with Lake Senba to make memorable scenes. Every year, the “Mito Plum Festival” is held from late February to March.

This 1.5-kilometer north-south arc of sandy beaches is a bathing resort just a short five-minute walk from Ajigaura Station. One of the most popular beaches in Ibaraki, it is packed with beach-goers every summer, and features complete facilities, with a parking lot, restrooms, and beach houses. The vicinity includes Hitachi Seaside Park, a big shopping mall, hotels, day spas, and many seafood restaurants.

The Tsukuba Space Center is a facility encompassing approximately 530,000 square meters, surrounded by nature, and with state-of-the-art testing facilities. At the center, visitors can learn about space development research and various initiatives as a development site through exhibitions and inspection tours. Visitors are free to look around the center and reservations are unnecessary for individuals. There are five guided tours conducted daily.

Focusing on flowers and flora in Ishioka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, this theme park is divided into “Flower Park” and “Fureai-no-Mori.” Several annuals like peonies, azaleas, hydrangeas, dahlias, and Christmas roses are beautiful, and the official prefectural flower—roses—are famous. On the rose terrace and rose garden, you’ll find 30,000 flowers in roughly 800 species, brought from all around the world, and the rose festival is held there in spring and fall. The winter also has great illumination events to enjoy.

Hasaki Beach located in Hasaki, Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture is a far and shallow beach which has been selected as the one of Japan’s Top 100 Beaches recommended by the Ministry of the Environment. You can enjoy collecting shells and swimming, and many surfers visit as it has a lot of good places for surfing and bodyboarding. The neighboring Sunsun Park is used as a rest facility with toilets and warm showers for a fee. It holds a lot of events such as Ibaraki Hasaki Surfing Games and Kirasse Festival.

Also called Ibaraki’s Gold Coast for it’s beautiful views, this roughly one kilometer long beach area is along Hokota City, Ibaraki Prefecture. The shallow shelved ocean provides an expansive view, and is monitored with lifeguards, making it popular with families. With rather high waves, it is also popular with surfers and seasonally attracts visitors digging clams.

A large park with an abundance of natural areas sprawling on the shore of Lake Kasumigaura. Facilities include a large playground, pool, aquatic plant garden, and rest house, and the park is particularly popular with families. The Dutch windmill which serves as a symbol of the park was erected to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Tsuchiura City; there's an observatory located halfway up the windmill's tower.

A beach consisting of white sands and beautiful pine tree groves which has been designated one of the Best Beach 100 of Japan and one of the Japan's 100 Best Beaches with White Sand and Blue Pine. Beach facilities include free showers, changing rooms, and toilets. There's also a nearby daytrip hot spring bathhouse, and the beach is popular with men and women of all ages.

Oarai Beach, part of the Oarai Prefectural Seaside Park, is located along Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County, Ibaraki Prefecture. Famous for fishing spots, the Oarai lighthouse, and especially New Year’s sunrises seen through the Kamiiso Torii built on the rocky outcropping with the sound of great breaking waves. This 1.2 kilometer long beach attracts many visitors in the summer. The Oarai Beach was chosen as one of Japan’s Top 100 Shorelines and Top 100 White Sand Beaches with Pine Groves.

This Shinto shrine is on Prefectural Route 6 in Isozakicho, Hitachinaka City. Founded in 856, it honors the deities Onamuchi-no-Mikoto and Sukunabikona-no-Mikoto. It was moved to its present location on the order of Tokugawa Mitsukuni in 1702. The precincts have stone statues of turtles dedicated by big lottery winners, and many come to pray for luck with hitting the lottery. The grounds also have a large woodland area that will give you a look at the special qualities of coastal forests.