Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview of Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県)
Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県) is located in the Kanto region of Japan, with its prefectural capital at Mito. Key sights and travel highlights across the prefecture include Hitachi Seaside Park flower hills, Kairakuen (one of Japan's Three Great Gardens), Oarai Isosaki Shrine's ocean torii gate, Mount Tsukuba, and Fukuroda Falls.
How to get to Ibaraki Prefecture
45m from Tokyo Akihabara to Tsukuba on the Tsukuba Express, or 1h 15m from Tokyo/Ueno Station to Mito on the JR Hitachi Limited Express. Use our Shinkansen Fare & Route Calculator and JR Pass Value Helper to compare rail tickets and regional passes.
Signature local food in Ibaraki
When visiting cities across Ibaraki, look out for these regional specialties at station restaurants, markets, and local izakaya:
- Anko nabe (monkfish hotpot)
- Hitachi wagyu beef
- Mito natto
- Hitachiota soba
- Dried sweet potatoes (hoshi-imo) & melons
Best time to visit Ibaraki
February–March for Mito Kairakuen's 3,000 plum trees; late April–May for blue nemophila hills and October for red kochia at Hitachi Seaside Park.
All 32 cities & municipalities in Ibaraki Prefecture
Click any city below for its individual travel guide, demographics, rail access, food specialties, and nearby stops:
| City (Kanji) | Type / Status | Population | Area | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mito 水戸市 | Core city | 264,062 | 217.43 km² | City guide → |
| Hitachi 日立市 | City | 195,844 | 225.55 km² | City guide → |
| Tsuchiura 土浦市 | City | 143,986 | 113.82 km² | City guide → |
| Yūki 結城市 | City | 52,065 | 65.84 km² | City guide → |
| Ryūgasaki 龍ヶ崎市 | City | 79,295 | 78.20 km² | City guide → |
| Shimotsuma 下妻市 | City | 45,918 | 80.88 km² | City guide → |
| Jōsō 常総市 | City | 65,858 | 123.52 km² | City guide → |
| Hitachiōta 常陸太田市 | City | 58,461 | 372.01 km² | City guide → |
| Takahagi 高萩市 | City | 32,031 | 193.65 km² | City guide → |
| Kitaibaraki 北茨城市 | City | 48,437 | 186.55 km² | City guide → |
| Toride 取手市 | City | 109,953 | 69.96 km² | City guide → |
| Ushiku 牛久市 | City | 79,254 | 58.88 km² | City guide → |
| Tsukuba つくば市 | Special city | 207,314 | 284.07 km² | City guide → |
| Hitachinaka ひたちなか市 | City | 155,338 | 99.04 km² | City guide → |
| Kashima 鹿嶋市 | City | 65,193 | 92.96 km² | City guide → |
| Itako 潮来市 | City | 31,103 | 62.67 km² | City guide → |
| Moriya 守谷市 | City | 57,793 | 35.63 km² | City guide → |
| Hitachiōmiya 常陸大宮市 | City | 46,729 | 348.38 km² | City guide → |
| Naka 那珂市 | City | 54,618 | 97.80 km² | City guide → |
| Bandō 坂東市 | City | 57,128 | 123.18 km² | City guide → |
| Inashiki 稲敷市 | City | 48,125 | 178.12 km² | City guide → |
| Chikusei 筑西市 | City | 110,813 | 205.35 km² | City guide → |
| Kasumigaura かすみがうら市 | City | 44,450 | 118.77 km² | City guide → |
| Kamisu 神栖市 | City | 93,538 | 147.24 km² | City guide → |
| Namegata 行方市 | City | 39,117 | 166.33 km² | City guide → |
| Koga 古河市 | City | 144,392 | 123.58 km² | City guide → |
| Ishioka 石岡市 | City | 80,502 | 213.38 km² | City guide → |
| Sakuragawa 桜川市 | City | 47,480 | 179.78 km² | City guide → |
| Hokota 鉾田市 | City | 50,869 | 203.90 km² | City guide → |
| Kasama 笠間市 | City | 80,646 | 240.27 km² | City guide → |
| Tsukubamirai つくばみらい市 | City | 41,957 | 79.14 km² | City guide → |
| Omitama 小美玉市 | City | 52,834 | 140.21 km² | City guide → |