5 special things to do in Ibaraki prefecture this autumn

Kairakuen in the city of Mito is considered one of Japan’s three greatest landscape gardens and is known for its immaculate greenery and historical structures. The garden was the pet project of 19th-century daimyo feudal lord Tokugawa Nariaki, who ruled over Mito and used the garden as a relaxing retreat.

Today, the well-groomed grounds can be enjoyed by everyone year-round. The garden flourishes with an abundance of seasonal plants, including 3,000 plum trees that blossom from February to March and incredible momiji maple trees that change colours in November and December. If you’re visiting in autumn, the garden’s Momiji Valley is a must-visit spot. Located on the western side of the garden, this area is free to enter and is home to roughly 170 momiji trees whose leaves turn vermillion from mid-November. Come evening, the area is also illuminated for a limited time, making it a wonderful place to enjoy both day and night. 

If you want to get an aerial view of the garden grounds, head to Kairakuen’s Kobuntei, a historic three-storey building that used to serve as private quarters for Tokugawa Nariaki. The structure can be toured (¥230, children ¥120) and you can also enjoy coffee and sweets at the onsite café overlooking the garden and its foliage.

General entry for Kairakuen Garden is ¥320 (children ¥160)

Thrill-seekers will want to make a beeline for Ryujin Suspension Bridge, Japan’s largest pedestrian suspension bridge, which offers breathtaking views of the colourful autumn leaves. Tucked away in Okukuji Prefectural Natural Park, the bridge measures in at a whopping 375m in length, crossing over the lush gorge that runs into Ryujin Lake. When the weather starts to cool, the foliage around the bridge turns into brilliant shades of red and yellow. 

If you’re looking for something more adventurous than leaf-watching, you can sign up for an adrenaline-boosting bungee jump experience where you hop off from the middle of the bridge and soar 100 metres into the scenic gorge below.

Save your appetite for a meal at nearby Soba Dokoro Satomi, which is around a 12-minute drive from the bridge. Located within a 70-year-old traditional Japanese house, the eatery offers a number of signature dishes featuring homemade soba (buckwheat) noodles. A must-try is the Tsuke Kenchin soba, where you dip your noodles in a warming soup that's been made by simmering vegetables in a soy sauce-based broth.

Connecting JR Mito Station and JR Asaka-Nagamori Station, the JR Suigun Line is a great choice for those keen on exploring rural parts of Ibaraki and Fukushima prefectures. The train line has been around for a while; it marks its 90th anniversary this year.

Notable stops to explore along the Suigun Line include the area around Hitachiota Station. Located within the city of Hitachiota, the station is a great place to start your adventure as you can easily walk or ride a bike from it to many sightseeing spots in the area. You can pick up one of the three electric bicycles available for rental at the station’s Tourist Information Center. Rentals start at ¥300 for four hours and bikes can also be rented out for the full day for just ¥500.

Take a stroll around Kujiragaoka shopping street and you’ll come across many charming shops and restaurants including soba joint Shiomachikan. The restaurant offers both soba and udon dishes, including the popular Negi Tempura Seiro soba featuring crispy deep-fried Welsh onion. For something sweet, stop by Kujira-ya, a small shop baking up whale-shaped cakes filled with red bean paste, custard and chocolate.

Not far away you’ll find the Okabe Sake Brewery which brews the Matsuzakari brand of sake. Here you can sign up for brewery tours that give you an in-depth look at how Japan’s national drink is made – and enjoy tastings for ¥500.

Sitting at the base of Mt Oiwa, Oiwa Shrine is a tranquil escape that feels as if you’ve been transported to another world. The serene atmosphere and lush greenery make it one of the most peaceful places in the prefecture. You can also enjoy exploring the area by following a one-hour hiking course (one-way) that goes around the shrine grounds and up through the mountains.

Oiwa Shrine is included in Ibaraki prefecture's 'Hundred Scenic Views' list and is home to one of the country's most famous trees, the towering Sanbon-sugi. The incredible tree features three distinct cedars that have split off from the same trunk base.

The shrine is the spiritual focal point of the entire Mt Oiwa area and enshrines as many as 188 Shinto deities. As you head further into the shrine grounds, you’ll come across a number of notable structures including the main hall, where 26 of these deities are worshipped.

For another autumn leaves excursion, make your way to Hananuki Gorge, a beautiful outdoor destination featuring the 60m-long Shiomidaki Suspension Bridge that crosses the spectacular gorge. During the autumn, the numerous trees flanking the bridge boast leaves in bright red, orange and yellow. The trek from the Hananuki parking lot to the bridge takes around 20 minutes and you can enjoy the sight of the Hananuki River as you make your way along the path.

The annual Hananuki Gorge Koyo Festival takes place in autumn and features a range of food and beverage stalls as well as an evening light-up. Even if you miss the festivities, the gorge is wonderful to visit at any time of the year. Due to the unseasonably warm temperatures in recent years, the autumn leaves can often be enjoyed well into December.

If you’d like to spend more time in the area, consider checking out the Kotakizawa Campgrounds, where you can pitch a tent along the Hananuki River and sleep under the stars surrounded by the lush forest.