Sightseeing in Ishioka, Ibaraki: Video Introduction This video, titled "[Ishioka Ibaraki Prefecture Official] SATOYAMA landscape ISHIOKA: See the Satoyama Landscape of Ishioka, the Original Landscape of Japan, With Seasonal Images and a Soul-Stirring Tsugaru Shamisen Performance" (【茨城県石岡市公式】SATOYAMA landscape ISHIOKA 　日本の原風景、石岡の里山風景を四季折々の映像と津軽三味線の魂を揺さぶる演奏とともにご覧下さい。), was uploaded by "Ishioka, Ibaraki" (茨城県石岡市). The Tsugaru shamisen performer in the video is Shotaro Yo, a hometown ambassador for Ishioka. This video of Ishioka's sightseeing spots lets you soar like a gust of wind along with the soft-yet-wild tones of the Tsugaru shamisen. The combination of beautiful Japanese scenery, Satoyama (an area between the natural environment and an urban space, consisting of a village, surrounding forests and farmland, reservoirs, grasslands, and so forth.) scenery, and the Tsugaru shamisen will transport you away from reality, and into a world overflowing with the near-forgotten spirit of "wa" (the Japanese concept of 'harmony'). What Kind of City is Ishioka, Ibaraki? Photo：Ishioka, Ibaraki Ishioka is located in Ibaraki Prefecture in Japan's Kanto region, less than 60 minutes from Tokyo by train, making it the perfect distance for a day trip from Tokyo. Gazing at the satoyama scenery, an image of a Japan untouched by human hands extends in every direction, a sight that's sure to wash away the stresses of daily life. Ishioka is a relatively flat place, and this geography allows for an even wider view of the awesome landscapes and satoyama scenery. Thanks to high quality groundwater, Ishioka is also a brewery town, where sake and soy sauce production have flourished for many years. Ishioka has many places to relax, including flower gardens and hot springs, and a variety of fun activities that can be enjoyed in the area, including leisure facilities where you can enjoy the blue skies, hiking through the mountains, and much, much more. We're certain you'll be able to refresh both your body and mind with a visit to Ishioka! Enjoying Cherry Blossoms at Hitachi Fudoki no Oka Photo：Kanokoshiseki Park near Hitachi Fudki no Oka Among Ishioka's many sightseeing locations, Hitachi Fudoki no Oka is one that brings you close to some important history. In addition to the location's credentials as a cultural resource, Hitachi Fudoki no Oka's "Chibiko Hiroba" (ちびっこ広場, lit. 'kid's park') has plenty for the kids to enjoy too. Another hit with the kids is the observation deck, that doubles as the largest lion mask in Japan, which was made famous through the Ishioka festival "Ishioka no Omatsuri" (石岡のおまつり). The imposing lion mask and the blue skies are great for taking Instagram photos! As for adults, you can enjoy seasonal flowers, including cherry blossom, lilies, lotuses and so on between spring and summer at the waterside park. Chibiko Hiroba, the lion mask observation deck, and the waterside park are all, happily, free of charge. [Video] 2:09 - Shishigashira Observation Deck! Inside the paid area is a plaza populated with reconstructed ancient houses, with reconstructions of houses from the Paleolithic/Jomon era (between around 14,000B.C. and 400B.C.) to the Yayoi period (between around 300B.C. and 250A.D.), and an exhibition and research facility where buried cultural resources and remains are on display. If you're a history buff, you'll definitely want to check this out! Popular Tourist Attractions in Ishioka, Ibaraki: Petting Zoos Photo：Ostrich Kingdom, Ishioka, Ibaraki Tsukuba Utopia (筑波ユートピア) and Ostrich Kingdom (ダチョウ王国, dacho okoku) are absolute musts if you're sightseeing in Ishioka. Both facilities offer the rare opportunity to interact with animals. These spots are great fun for both kids and adults alike, and are great for any sightseeing itinerary. In addition, you can enjoy a plethora of hands-on events as well as looking at the animals. There's plenty of fun to be had here, not just for families, but for couples on dates too! Enjoy an extraordinary time while getting in touch with nature and petting cute animals. Camping and Other Outdoor Activities in Ishikoka; Make Lifelong Memories Here! Ishioka has a wide range of facilities where you can enjoy nature. There are a total of four places offering paragliding experiences: Mt. Ashio (足尾山, ashio-san), Mt. Wagakuni (吾国山, wagakuni-san), Mt. Maie (真家山, maie-san), and Mt. Minedera (峰寺山, minedera-san). It's a great way to experience the beautiful scenery of the Japanese countryside from the sky! Also, those planning to climb Mt. Tsukuba (筑波山, tsukuba-san) often stay at "Tsukubane Autocamp" (つくばねオートキャンプ場), a campground from which hot spring facilities are easily accessible by car. You can spend time in nature with family, go for a date with your partner, or hang out with your friends in the natural surroundings. The special time you spend here is something you just won't find in day-to-day life, and is sure to make for some treasured memories. Chow Down on Some Local Specialties in Ishioka Photo：Soba Don't forget to try the food in Ishioka as well! Enjoy slurping on some delicious soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles) while enjoying the hot springs at Yasato Onsen Yuri no Sato. Ishioka is home to vast fields of buckwheat. Slurping down soba while smelling the fragrance of buckwheat makes it all the more delicious. The brewing industry is also big in the area, meaning you can enjoy the ultimate combination of Japanese sake and soba. Combine that with the breathtaking Japanese scenery, and you might understand what it would have felt like to live in Japan in the past! In addition, at Sanpoen (三宝園) you can indulge in apples and persimmons still dripping with morning dew, among a whole host of other fruits. The fruit tour, which can be enjoyed as part of a day trip, is another activity to consider. Ishioka Sightseeing Summary Did you watch the video introducing Ishioka's sightseeing spots, with backing provided by the tones of the Tsugaru shamisen? The video also includes scenes of Shobuzawa Yakushi Kodo (菖蒲沢薬師古道、lit. Old Shobuzawa Physician's Road), and old-school billboard architecture (an architectural style resembling the art deco style), that aren't mentioned in this article. [Video] 0:31 - Shobuzawa Yakushi Kodo [Video] 0:49 - Billboard Architecture Furthermore, at Daikakuji Temple (板敷山大覚寺, Itajikiyama Daikakuji), there is a splendid garden, modeled after Kyoto's Tenryuji Garden. If you're interested in Japanese culture, you ought to add it to your sightseeing itinerary. There's too much to do in Ishioka for just one day. From autumn tasting trips on bike, to experiencing the outdoors and paragliding, it might be worth picking a theme to explore before your visit. Either way, we definitely recommend adding Ishioka to your list of travel destinations in Japan! 【TripAdvisor】Ishioka

Introducing Ibaraki Prefecture - A Tourist Destination Full of Attractions This video, titled "[Revised Version] Ibaraki Prefecture PR Video "Outlook IBARAKI" Japanese Version" (【改訂版】茨城県PR映像「Outlook IBARAKI」 日本語版), was released by "いばキラTV - IBAKIRA TV -." Ibaraki Prefecture is an area where you can enjoy beautiful, Instagram-worthy scenery such as Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan's three most famous waterfalls, Mt. Tsukuba, on the list of "Top 100 Mountains in Japan," and the beautiful Kasumigaura Lake, the second largest lake in Japan. The Beauty of Ibaraki The population of Ibaraki is about 3 million and this prefecture lets people enjoy the four seasons of Japan. It takes 70 minutes to get to Mito City, the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, from central Tokyo by the Joban Line. Kairakuen Garden, a sightseeing spot in Mito, is famous for its Ume flowers and when they’re in full bloom, the place is overflowing with visitors. Ibaraki Prefecture is an important region supporting Japan in agriculture and industry, and has a well-developed land, sea, and air transportation network, with the Port of Ibaraki and the Port of Kashima, as well as Ibaraki Airport, connecting the prefecture to countries around the world. Ibaraki has a historically deep culture, and you can find traditional Japanese culture, such as Kashima-Jingu Shrine, one of the oldest shrines in Japan, as well as traditional crafts. Ibaraki Prefecture supports Japan in various fields such as industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, cuisine and space technology. Check Out Ibaraki's Melons! Photo：Melon Ibaraki Prefecture is a major producer of fruits and vegetables, and Ibaraki's chestnuts, rice, Chinese cabbage and lotus root, boast the No. 1 market share in Tokyo. It is also the top producer of melons in Japan! “Ibaraking” is a famous melon because of its large size and elegant sweetness. This melon is introduced at past 1:40 in the video. You can tell how delicious it is just by watching. In addition to melons, you can enjoy chestnuts and pears in the fall, so it is recommended that you visit Ibaraki in each of the four seasons. Although it’s not well known, Mt. Tsukuba and the Northern part of the prefecture have an enriched hot spring where you can enjoy a relaxing time after a meal or sightseeing. Photo：Monkfish hot pot Try Out the Local Specialties in Ibaraki! Ibaraki is a reservoir for various seafood, such as mackerel and sardine. A standard dish during the winter in Ibaraki is monkfish hot pot. The annual "Monkfish Cleaning" event at Oarai Sun Beach has become a popular winter event, so much so that it has become a hot topic in the news. The livestock industry is prosperous as well. There's Hitachi beef which is famous throughout the world, and Rose Pork, with a quality of meat that ranks among the best in Japan! In this article's video, "Outlook IBARAKI," you can learn more about monkfish, Hitachi beef, and popular sightseeing and dining spots in Ibaraki. Speaking of local gourmet, in Ibaraki there's the “Mito roast pork burger,” “Kasama Inarizushi,” Clam rice, and of course locally produced sake. If you're going to Ibaraki be sure to try some of these out. They're all delicious. Ibaraki - A World Class Research City in Japan Photo：Tsukuba Space Center Ibaraki: One of the World's Leading Cities for Research and Education in Japan In addition to being famous for its cuisine and tourism, Ibaraki is also a hub for research and development. It is located 45 minutes from the center of Tokyo by the Tsukuba Express. There are research institutes from 29 countries, including the Tsukuba Space Center, which is famous for space development, and about 20,000 scientists support the world's most advanced research. It is one of the world's leading Japanese research cities, home to four Nobel Prize winners associated with Tsukuba! Bronze statues of Nobel Prize winners are introduced around 2:48 in the video. Major Japanese companies such as Hitachi, Komatsu, Canon, and Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal have their main factories here, and the robotics industry is particularly active in the industrial sector, where various robots are being developed and put to practical use. Ibaraki's Remarkable Sports Ibaraki Prefecture is known for its cuisine, tourism and research and development. In addition, Ibaraki Prefecture is also attracting attention in the field of sports. J-League powerhouse Kashima Antlers, named after Japan's oldest shrine, the Kashima Shrine, is loved by residents of Ibaraki Prefecture. Additionally, the Ibaraki National Athletic Meet was held in 2019. It’s the largest event and athletes from all over Japan gather to show their hard training. Summary of Ibaraki There are also many other attractive sightseeing spots in Ibaraki, such as Hitachi Seaside Park, where you can enjoy the seasonal flowers, as well as many gourmet foods. Check out the video, full of the attractions of Ibaraki, such as nature, industry, agriculture, livestock farming, gourmet food, space development, and more! This article can't convey all of the amazing things Ibaraki has in store for you, so be sure to check out the video to get a better idea of what there is to do! 【Official Website】Ibaraki Prefecture https://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/site/foreign-language/index.html 【Tripadvisor】Ibaraki https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g298165-Ibaraki_Prefecture_Kanto-Vacations.html