12 Things to Do in Ibaraki in Spring
![12 Things to Do in Ibaraki in Spring](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/860/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0ee86308_58d8be342959a_457274584.jpg)
Makabe Hina Doll Festival
![Makabe Hina Doll Festival](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/600/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0f08c6f6_58d8b77ccae2e_291256376.jpg)
Hina dolls are decorated at nearly 180 houses on a charming street with storefronts.
Access: 25 min. by bus from JR Iwase Station or 50 min. by bus from Tsukuba Station on the Tsukuba Express Line.
Kairakuen
![Kairakuen](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/600/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0f20f64e_58d8a9652937e_1471464251.jpg)
One of the Three Great Gardens of Japan. Established by the Tokugawa family, it is well known for its plum blossoms.
Access: 20 min. by bus from JR Mito Station.
Koga Park (Peach Blossom Festival)
A park with different flowers in each season. Five different varieties of peach blossoms bloom during the Peach Blossom Festival.
Access: 10 min. by taxi from JR Koga Station.
Kodokan
A Han school from the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Origin of the historical studies known as Mitogaku, which impacted many high-minded patriots.
Access: 8 min. walk from JR Mito Station.
Kashimajingu-Shrine
![Kashimajingu-Shrine](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/600/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0f631f73_58d8bded53f6b_532616928.jpg)
The head shrine for around 600 Kashima shrines across the country, with an exceptionally long history.
Access: 10 min. walk from JR Kashima-Jingu Station.
Kasama Inari Shrine
One of the three leading Inari shrines in Japan, enshrining the deity commonly known as O-inari-sama.
Access: 8 min. by bus from JR Kasama Station.
Hitachi Fudoki no Oka
Well known for Japan's largest lion head and as a good spot for viewing cherry blossoms.
Access: Take a bus for 10 min. from JR Ishioka Station and walk for 15 min.
Art Tower Mito
![Art Tower Mito](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/600/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0fa0bb9e_58d8b6c226ace_1751444666.jpg)
A cultural complex with a concert hall, theater and modern art gallery, with a symbolic 100-meter-tall tower.
Access: Take a bus for 10 min. from JR Mito Station and walk for 2 min.
Cherry Blossoms along Fukuoka-zeki
![Cherry Blossoms along Fukuoka-zeki](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/600/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0fb55a5f_58d8bab98c924_187375282.jpg)
One of the three largest weirs (floodgates) in the Kanto region. There are around 600 cherry trees along the approximately 1.8-kilometer walking trail.
Access: 10 min. by taxi from Midorino Station on the Tsukuba Express Line.
Hitachi Seaside Park (Nemophila)
![Hitachi Seaside Park (Nemophila)](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/600/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0fc94302_58d8b0cef2a8e_249622609.jpg)
The view of the blue hill blends beautifully with the sky and sea.
Access: 20 min. by bus from JR Katsuta Station.
Itako Riverside Iris Park
![Itako Riverside Iris Park](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/600/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0fdd718c_58d8bcd18d930_875852856.jpg)
Enjoy the riverside atmosphere along with the view of a million irises in approximately 500 different varieties.
Access: 1 min. walk from JR Itako Station.
Howaen
![Howaen](https://imgcp.aacdn.jp/img-a/600/auto/global-aaj-front/article/2017/03/58d8c0ff296f1_58d8bd7221d65_899183049.jpg)
A purely Japanese-style garden with a pond and a small hill. In early summer, 6 ,000 hydrangeas of around 100 different varieties are in full bloom.
Access: 14 min. by bus from JR Mito Station.