Kobuntei tea house in Kairakuen Garden (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
Mito City, on the north-eastern end of the Kanto Plain, is within a 2.5-hour drive from most area military bases. The castle city has a rich samurai heritage and is home to great points of interest like a scenic lake and beautiful traditional garden perfect for a fun day trip.
Since the first Edo Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu (1542 – 1616) chose the castle city as the base for one of his three family branches, Mito City developed as a major power base of the Shogunate government.
In quest of profound history and samurai heritage in autumn colors, my wife and I explored the city. One thing we enjoyed was that there were relatively few visitors, meaning no crowds and no rush.
Kairaku-en Garden
Kairaku-en Garden (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
For our first stop, we visited 183-year-old Kairaku-en Garden, known for its beautiful plum blossoms, which bloom from late February to the end of March.
Inside, the sprawling bamboo and cedar trees sent us into a Zen-like calm.
Among the traditional wooden buildings on the grounds are a Kobuntei tea house with a stunning view on its third floor, and an inner palace where lords of the Mito Clan used as their personal villa to entertain guests.
Near the garden’s east gate visitors can stop at Tokiwa Jinja, a Shinto shrine for Lord Tokugawa Mitsukuni, aka Mito Komon. The shrine is known as a popular location for the “Shichi-go-san” (7-5-3) celebration in November.
Tokiwa Jinja (Shinto shrine) (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
Mito Komon Festival Mitokomon Carnival (Wikipedia Commons, photo courtesy of 常陸國民)
Walk in samurai footsteps at Mitogaku-no-Michi Street
Otebashi Bridge and Otemon Gate on the Mitogaku-no-Michi Street (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
MItogaku-no-MIchi Street (Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
Very few parts of Mito Castle remain due to repeated attacks during domestic wars and a WWII air raid. Mitogaku-no-Michi, a promenade that once led to the castle remains, gives visitors an opportunity to walk in samurai footsteps. This stone-paved path and the restored Otebashi Bridge and Otemon castle gate give a glimpse into feudal Japan.
At the end of Mitogaku-no-Michi, Kodokan’s buildings surrounded by a white plastered clay wall remain in their original form. Kodokan was a samurai school in its heyday and is now designated as a Special Historical site by the national government.
Feel autumn in the Prefectural Museum Park
To finish our day trip, we headed to the Ibaraki Prefectural Archives and Museum.
The museum displays plenty of local historical exhibits and archives, while its expansive grounds also house historical buildings relocated from various places around the prefecture.
Things to know
Kairaku-en
Address: 1-1251 Migawa, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Hours: Mid-Feb. – Sept., 6 a.m. – 7 p.m., Oct. – mid-Feb. 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Admission: Adults (middle schooler or older) 300 yen, elementary schoolers or younger 150 yen
Website: https://ibaraki-kairakuen.jp/en/language/
Tel: 029-244-5454
Kodokan (samurai school)
(Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
Location: 1-6-29 Sannomaru Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Hours: Feb. 20 – Sept., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Oct. – Feb. 19, -4:30 p.m.
Admission: Adults 420 yen, elementary and middle school students 210 yen
Websute: https://kodokan-ibaraki.jp/
Tel: 029-231-4725
Ibaraki Prefectural Archives and Museum
(Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)
Location: 2-1-15 Midorimachi, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Hours: 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Admission: Adults 500 yen, elementary and middle schoolers 200 yen
URL: https://rekishikan-ibk.jp/
Tel: 029-225-4425
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