'''Ibaraki''' (____) [http://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/bukyoku/seikan/kokuko/en/] is a prefecture in the Kanto region of Japan.

Cities

  • Mito — Famous for Kairakuen Park and Lake Semba, also largest producer of ''natto'' (fermented soybean dish)
  • Tsukuba — Home of '''Tsukuba University''' and the surrounding modern research town, and beautiful and historically significant '''Mount Tsukuba'''
  • Other destinations

    Understand

    Talk

    Get in

    There are no Shinkansen stations in Ibaraki, but the '''Joban Line''' passes through Mito on its way to northern Tohoku. There is an express train called the "Fresh Hitachi" which links Ueno and the capital Mito in approx. 1 hour. The local Joban line takes just over 2 hours. The '''Tsukuba Express Line''' connects Tsukuba to Akihabara in downtown Tokyo in about 45 minutes.

    Get around

    See

    Do

    Buy

    Eat

    Ibaraki is a major producer of ''natto'' (fermented beans). It is healthy and the locals eat it often for breakfast on rice. Many foreigners (and Japanese) find it too stinky to eat, though some quite like it. Asking your opinion of ''natto'' is a common topic of small talk with strangers — don't be afraid of offending someone if you don't like it, as it will likely earn a laugh either way.

    Drink

    Get out

  • Fukushima Prefecture
  • Tochigi Prefecture
  • Gunma Prefecture
  • Saitama Prefecture
  • Tokyo
  • Chiba Prefecture