Sitting on the northeastern corner of the Kanto Region, Ibaraki Prefecture is an easily accessible getaway located not too far from Tokyo. Whether you’re traveling by car or public transport, getting to Ibaraki and visiting its main points of interest is doable in a weekend. Well connected with a network of trains, buses and cycling paths, here are some of the best ways to get to and around Ibaraki Prefecture.
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01
Travel on the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Train
![Travel on the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Train]()
Travel on the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Train
When visiting Ibaraki, one of the main cities you’ll want to visit is Kashima, home to Kashima Shrine, one of the most important Shinto Shrines in the prefecture, and Kashima Soccer Stadium, which was used during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. The best way to get to Kashima is via the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Train. Running through Ibaraki, the line connects Mito Station with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station. This train is accessible with a JR East Weekend Pass ticket (8,700 yen) so if you’re planning on getting away for the weekend and want to see the sights of the area, this train is definitely worth hopping aboard.
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02
Pick up a bike from Yuki Station rental cycle
![Pick up a bike from Yuki Station rental cycle]()
Pick up a bike from Yuki Station rental cycle
Sitting on the eastern corner of Ibaraki is Yuki, a city with plenty of temples and shrines to explore, and a very interesting manufacturing history. One of the best ways to explore the area is by bicycle. Near Yuki Station you’ll find a rental cycle site where you can pick up a mamachari (town bike) for the day. Cruise through the streets lined with Edo style buildings and follow the flow of the Kinugawa River which weaves through the city.
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03
Making your way around Mito
![Making your way around Mito]()
Making your way around Mito
Mito is the capital city of Ibaraki and quite likely you main point of transport if you’re travelling to and around the prefecture. To get here via Tokyo Station, take the JR Hitachi-Tokiwa Limited Express Iwaki, the ride takes about an hour and 20 minutes and costs 3,820 yen each way. If you continue on the line you’ll head to Hitachi Station. Another way to get to Mito via Tokyo is to catch the JR Kanto bus which regularly travels between the two centers and costs a little over 2,000 yen each way.
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Head to Hitachi Station
![Head to Hitachi Station]()
Head to Hitachi Station
One of the most stunning pockets of Ibaraki is Hitachi Seaside Park located in the city of Hitachi. It’s home to a small amusement park and fields of colorful flowers that transform with the passing seasons. Visit in spring to see the iconic blue nemophila in all their photogenic glory. If you’re traveling from Tokyo Station, one of the most common and straightforward ways to get to Hitachi is via the JR Hitachi-Tokiwa Limited Express Iwaki. The trip takes around an hour and a half and costs 4,790 yen each way.
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Colorful Buses of Oarai
![Colorful Buses of Oarai]()
Colorful Buses of Oarai
Getting around the town of Oarai is half the fun of visiting. Positioned on the central coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, one of the best ways to see all the sights of the city is by hopping on one of Oarai’s colorful town buses. If you do find yourself in Oarai, you’ll want to pay a visit to Isosaki-jinja Shrine; sitting on the jagged coastline, it’s said to be one of the best places to watch the stunning Ibaraki sunrise. To get there from Oarai Station, you can catch the bus to Oarai Isosaki-jinja Shrine stop. You can also get the bus to the shrine from Mito Station.
- Oarai Isosaki Jinja
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Driving through Ibaraki
![Driving through Ibaraki]()
Driving through Ibaraki
If you have the right license and not a lot of spare time, then getting around Ibaraki by car is easily the best option. Depending on where in Ibaraki you want to visit, you can get to Ibaraki from Tokyo by car in around two hours. The Joban Expressway connects the greater Tokyo area with Mito, the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture. Stretching along the Pacific Ocean, Ibaraki offers some incredible seaside driving. The prefecture’s major points of interest like Kairaku-en Park, Mount Tsukuba, and Kashima Shrine are all accessible within an hour and a half drive.
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