Traveling
Northern Ibaraki

Around JR Mito Station (for now). Kodokan, Kairakuen Garden etc.

Mito - Guide

The capital city of Ibaraki Prefecture.

pinKodo-kan [弘道館]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

9:00-17:00 (-16:30 Oct-Feb 19); 200yen; closed Dec 29-31

Kodo-kan was Mito Domain's official educational institution for samurai who belonged to the domain during the Edo period. The part that survived a civil war in 1868 and WWII remains.
Near JR Mito Sta.

Kodo-kanKodo-kanKodo-kanKodo-kan

pinKairaku-en Garden [偕楽園]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

[Garden] 6:00-19:00 (-18:00 Oct-midFeb), daily open; free
[Kobun-tei] 9:00-17:00 (-16:30 Oct-midFeb); 200yen; closed Dec 29-31

Kairakuen is a Japanese stroll garden famous for its Japanese apricot blossom. It has been open to the general public ever since the garden was founded by the then domain lord of Mito in 1842. Kobun-tei is the post-war reconstruction of its villa building. (For some reason it is called one of the three greatest gardens of Japan but this claim seems baseless.)
Located near JR Kairakuen Sta which operates only late Feb to Mar.

Kairaku-en GardenKairaku-en GardenKairaku-en GardenKairaku-en Garden

pinIbaraki Prefectural Museum of History [茨城県立歴史館]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

[Garden] 6:00-19:00 (7:00-18:00 Oct-Feb 19); free; closed Mon* & Dec 29-Jan 1

There are several old or reconstructed buildings in the garden of this museum. As for the indoor exhibition, opening hours are 9:30am-5pm and the fee for its permanent exhibition is 150yen.

Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of HistoryIbaraki Prefectural Museum of HistoryIbaraki Prefectural Museum of HistoryIbaraki Prefectural Museum of History

pinMito Hachimangu Shrine [水戸八幡宮]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

Mito Hachimangu retains a fine shrine complex built in the Edo period.

Mito Hachimangu ShrineMito Hachimangu ShrineMito Hachimangu ShrineMito Hachimangu Shrine

pinNijusanya-son Keiganji Temple [二十三夜尊(桂岸寺)]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

Keiganji is a Shingon Buddhist temple with brightly-colored buildings. Howaen, a small stroll garden next to the temple, used to be the garden of the temple.

Nijusanya-son Keiganji TempleNijusanya-son Keiganji TempleNijusanya-son Keiganji TempleNijusanya-son Keiganji Temple

pinShinganji Temple [信願寺]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

Shinganji is a Shin Buddhist temple near the Prefectural Museum of History. If you are visiting the museum, take a look at it.

Shinganji TempleShinganji TempleShinganji TempleShinganji Temple

pinIbaraki-ken Gokoku Jinja Shrine [茨城県護国神社]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

This is a shrine dedicated to the war dead soldiers who went to war from Ibaraki Prefecture. Its shrine complex survived WII.

Ibaraki-ken Gokoku Jinja ShrineIbaraki-ken Gokoku Jinja ShrineIbaraki-ken Gokoku Jinja ShrineIbaraki-ken Gokoku Jinja Shrine

pinYoshida Jinja Shrine [吉田神社]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

Yoshida Jinja is a Shinto shrine with well-maintained precincts.
30-min walk from JR Mito Sta.

Yoshida Jinja ShrineYoshida Jinja ShrineYoshida Jinja ShrineYoshida Jinja Shrine

pinYakuo-in Temple [薬王院]



Mito, Ibaraki Pref.MAP

Yakuoin is a Tendai Buddism temple not far from Yoshida Shrine.

Yakuo-in TempleYakuo-in TempleYakuo-in TempleYakuo-in Temple

Map

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