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50-588: Mito , the capital, is the largest city in Ibaraki Prefecture. Other major cities include Tsukuba , Hitachi , and Hitachinaka . Ibaraki Prefecture is located on Japan's eastern Pacific coast to the northeast of Tokyo , and is part of the Greater Tokyo Area , the most populous metropolitan area in the world. Ibaraki Prefecture features Lake Kasumigaura , the second-largest lake in Japan;

100-738: A mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral city council of 28 members. Mito contributes six members to the Ibaraki Prefectural Assembly. In terms of national politics, the city is divided between the Ibaraki 1st district and the Ibaraki 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan . Mito is primarily a regional commercial center and administrative city as most industry in Ibaraki

150-462: A population density of 1,233 persons per km . The percentage of the population aged over 65 was 27.1%. The total area of the city is 217.32 square kilometres (83.91 sq mi). Mito is located in central Ibaraki Prefecture. Mito Station is about 10 km inland from the Pacific Ocean which Naka River , flowing from the north to the east of the city, pours into. Immediately south

200-631: A castle there. Mito Castle changed hands several times after that; coming under the control of the Satake clan won it in Sengoku period , but the Satake were forced to surrender it to Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1603 after the Battle of Sekigahara . Ieyasu's son Tokugawa Yorifusa was then given Mito Castle, becoming head of one of the three " gosanke " branches of the clan qualified to provide a new shōgun should

250-488: A national geography completed in 721 AD, says Mount Tsukuba was named after a noble called Tsukuha no Mikoto ( 筑箪命 ) . According to this account, the area around Mount Tsukuba was once called Ki no kuni ( 紀国 ) . Under the reign of Mimaki no Sumeramikoto ( 美麻貴天皇 ) ( Emperor Sujin ), Tsukuha no Mikoto from the Uneme clan ( 采女氏 ) was appointed as its governor . He had a strong desire to leave his name in history, so he renamed

300-546: A number of amphibians and over 70 species of butterfly (蝶) . Larger animals such as the Japanese hare , mamushi pit viper (蝮) , sika deer (鹿) , Japanese boar (猪) , raccoon dog (狸) , Japanese badger (穴熊) and the Japanese red fox (狐) can be occasionally spotted. In addition, over 700 bird species are known to Mt. Tsukuba, these include the Japanese robin (駒鳥) , Japanese pheasant , Japanese white-eye (目白) , Japanese grosbeak , cinnamon sparrow (すずめ) , Japanese quail and

350-446: A variety of conifers . Below these giants of the forest, the mountain is also home to hydrangea (紫陽花) , rhododendron (つつじ) , hosta , bush clover (ヤマハギ) , five-leaf akebia (アケビ) , fern , gold-banded lily (ヤマユリ) and the dog-tooth violet (片栗) , to name a few. Amongst these exist a myriad of insects, including hairy caterpillars (毛虫) , centipedes , giant hornets (スズメバチ) , stick insects , praying mantis (カマキリ) , cicada (セミ) ,

400-470: Is Lake Senba , a recreational area. A main street extends from Mito Station to the west, and residential areas to the south and the west in particular. Ibaraki Prefecture Mito has a Humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa ) characterized by warm summers and cold winters with light snowfall. The average annual temperature in Mito is 13.6 °C. The average annual rainfall is 1353.8 mm with September as

450-758: Is a botanical garden in Mito. Park Ibaraki Nature Museum in Bandō . There are castle ruins in many cities, including Mito Castle , Yūki Castle, Kasama Castle , Tsuchiura Castle , Oda Castle . Hitachi Fūryūmono , a puppet float theater festival, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Makabe Hina Doll Festival - Hinamatsuri - (Sakuragawa City). Yūki-tsumugi (silk weaving technique) Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Kasama ware , Makabe Stone Lamp, Kagami Crystal Glass Factory, old glass factory in Ryūgasaki City. The sports teams listed below are based in Ibaraki. [REDACTED] Ibaraki Prefecture with

500-635: Is a cold, lonely, and barren mountain, while Mt. Tsukuba bursts with vegetation and is filled with colors as the seasons change. Ancient chronicles say that the sacred progenitors of the Japanese race are enshrined here, the male divinity, Izanagi-no-Mikoto , at Mt. Nantai, and the female divinity, Izanami-no-Mikoto , at Mt. Nyotai. Legends say that the two deities wed and gave birth to other deities, and even to Japan herself. In antiquity Mt. Nyotai served as location for kagai − harvest festivals associated with fertility − allowing people to participate in

550-433: Is a site for the cultivation of mandarin oranges. Various varieties, including Unshu mikan and Natsumikan, are grown in this region. Notably, the cultivation of a native species called "Tsukuba mikan" or "Fukuremikan" is prevalent. This indigenous mandarin is small-sized, with a diameter ranging from 2 to 3 cm, and is characterized by a thin peel and large seeds. Considered the sole native species of mandarin oranges in Japan,

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600-416: Is an 877 m (2,877 ft) mountain located at the northern-end of Tsukuba , Japan . It is one of the most famous mountains in Japan, particularly well known for its double peaks, Nyotai-san ( 女体山 , lit. "female body") 877 m (2,877 ft) and Nantai-san ( 男体山 , lit. "male body") 871 m (2,858 ft). Many people climb the so-called "purple mountain" every year for the panoramic view of

650-554: Is concentrated around the nearby cities of Tsukuba and Hitachi . Mito has a modest but thriving tourism industry, centered on the Kairaku-en gardens and local museums dedicated to the Tokugawa family. [REDACTED] JR East - Mito Line / Jōban Line [REDACTED] JR East – Suigun Line [REDACTED] Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line Mount Tsukuba Mount Tsukuba ( 筑波山 , Tsukuba-san )

700-506: Is famous not only for the legends that have appeared in poetry anthologies since 710 A.D. Today, the mountain and its centuries-old Shinto shrine Tsukubasan Shrine are both a source of blessing for the Japanese people and a must-see attraction to both local and foreign tourists. As the peaks (male and female) make a couple, they are worshipped as kami in the Shinto religion and are believed to bestow marital harmony and conjugal bliss. At

750-589: The Jōban Line connected Mito to Tokyo, and by 1910, telephones and electric lighting were available throughout the city. More than three-quarters of the city was burned to the ground during the Mito air raid of August 2, 1945, just before the end of World War II . The borders of Mito expanded in 1955 through 1958 through the annexation of the neighboring villages of Kamiono, Watari, Yoshida, Sakedo, Kawawada, Yanagawa, Kunita and Iitomi and Akatsuka. The village of Tsunezumi

800-511: The Kantō plain from the summit. On clear days the Tōkyō skyline , Lake Kasumigaura and even Mount Fuji are visible from the summit. Japanese mountains are mostly volcanic , but Mount Tsukuba is non-volcanic granite and gabbro in origin. Renowned beautiful granites are produced in the northern quarries even today. The Fudoki of Hitachi Province ( 常陸国風土記 , Hitachi no kuni Fudoki ) ,

850-598: The Kinu River and Kokai River, which flow from north to south in the western part of the prefecture. The Shintone and Sakura rivers flow into Lake Nishiura. The Edo River flows into Tokyo Bay; its source currently rises as an arm of the Tone River. In the past, the course of the Edo River was different, its source was corrected and diverted to the Tone River in the 17th century by the Tokugawa shogunate to protect

900-805: The Mito Domain , the clan is known as the Mito Tokugawa family or simply the Mito clan. Mito Domain, was a Japanese domain of the Edo-period Hitachi Province . In 1657, a Mitogaku was created when Tokugawa Mitsukuni , head of the Mito Domain, commissioned the compilation of the Dai Nihonshi , a book on the history of Japan. In Meiji era , during the Meiji Restoration , the political map changes,

950-624: The Nishiibaraki region. Ibaraki is famous for the martial art of Aikido founded by Morihei Ueshiba , also known as Osensei . Ueshiba spent the latter part of his life in the town of Iwama , now part of Kasama , and the Aiki Shrine and dojo he created still remain. Kasama is famous for Shinto ( Kasama Inari Shrine ), Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, house museum of the calligrapher and ceramist Kitaōji Rosanjin , Kasama Nichidō Museum of Art , residence of Morihei Ueshiba , founder of

1000-617: The Tone River , Japan's second-longest river and largest drainage basin ; and Mount Tsukuba , one of the most famous mountains in Japan. Ibaraki Prefecture is also home to Kairaku-en , one of the Three Great Gardens of Japan , and is an important center for the martial art of Aikido . Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province . In 1871, the name of the province became Ibaraki, and in 1875 it became its current size, by annexing some districts belonging to

1050-466: The surprise attack against the USN Pacific Fleet and its base at Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , on 7 December 1941 (8 December [1208] in Japanese calendar ). On the other hand, the "No Go" signal used the mountain's name, if needed, would be TSUKUBAYAMAHARE ( ツクバヤマハレ [Kanji: 筑波山晴れ ] ), meaning "Mount Tsukuba is sunny". Located at an elevation of approximately 140 meters, Mount Tsukuba

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1100-421: The "k" sound in Ibaraki dialect. Ibaraki is twinned with: 36°14′N 140°17′E  /  36.233°N 140.283°E  / 36.233; 140.283 Mito, Ibaraki Mito ( 水戸市 , Mito-shi ) is the capital city of Ibaraki Prefecture , in the northern Kantō region of Japan . As of 1 January 2024 , the city had an estimated population of 268,036 in 126,055 households and

1150-624: The Mountain of Tsukuba / Where the eagles dwell / Near the Wells of Mohakitsu, / Seeking each other, in song of Kagai, / I will seek the wives of other men / And let other men woo my own. / The gods dwelling in these mountains / Have allowed this / Since olden times; / Do not make exception today / And do not reproach the lovers / And blame them not.” The Imperial Japanese Navy used the "Go" signal— NIITAKAYAMANOBORE 1208 ( ニイタカヤマノボレ一二○八 [Kanji: 新高山登る一二○八 ]) , meaning "Climb Mount Niitaka 1208"—to begin

1200-470: The Pacific Ocean, Lake Kasumigaura, other lagoons and rivers, various species of fish are obtained. The Hitachigyū cattle (常 陸 牛 - ひたちぎゅう - Hitachi-gyū, Hitachi-ushi), which is a prefectural bovine breed, is noteworthy in livestock. The name comes from the kanji 常 陸 (Hitachi), the name of the ancient Hitachi Province and 牛 (ushi or gyū, beef). Background. In 1833 Tokugawa Nariaki (徳川 斉昭) established

1250-461: The Tokyo metropolitan area, giving it a high reputation as an industrial base. The prefecture is also home to Tsukuba , Japan's most extensive research and academic city, and the birthplace of Hitachi , Ltd. With extensive flat lands, abundant water, and suitable climate, Ibaraki is among the prefectures with the highest agricultural production in Japan. It plays an important role in supplying food to

1300-400: The Tokyo metropolitan area. Its main products include melons, pears, peppers, various varieties of rice and sugar cane, as well as flowers and ornamental plants. It also supplies other food crops to the rest of the country. As of March 2011, the prefecture produced 25% of Japan's bell peppers and Chinese cabbage. It is one of the prefectures with the highest fish production in the country; in

1350-553: The Tsukuba mikan belongs to the Rutaceae family and has historical roots, with mentions dating back to the "Hitachi Fudoki." The successful cultivation of mandarin oranges on Mount Tsukuba is attributed to the presence of a "thermal belt" on the mountain slope. This thermal belt experiences higher temperatures compared to the foothills, especially during the cold winter months. In the elevation range of 170-270 meters on Mount Tsukuba,

1400-446: The area "Tsukuha", which is now pronounced Tsukuba. As legend has it, thousands of years ago, a deity descended from the heavens and asked two mountains for a place to spend the night. With its great summit and almost perfect cone, Mt. Fuji refused, believing with pride and arrogance that it does not need the deity's blessings. Mt. Tsukuba, on the other hand, humbly welcomed the honored guest, even offering food and water. Today, Mt. Fuji

1450-622: The area between the two peaks. Here one can purchase ramen , omiyage , beer and the local cure-all, toad oil (がま油). At both Mt. Nantai-san and Mt. Nyotai-san are small shrines devoted to their respective gods. The mountain is a popular starting point for parasailing. Mount Tsukuba has an abundance of nature which covers the entire mountain. At lower elevations of the mountain are trees such as live oak (赤樫) , mountain cherry (山桜) , Japanese cedar (杉) , Japanese red pine (赤松) and Hinoki cypress (檜) . Higher in elevation, one can find species such as beech (ぶな) , Japanese mountain maple (山紅葉) and

1500-804: The beginning of the Edo period, the lower reaches of the Tone River did not exist and the mouth of the Tone was in Tokyo Bay. On the plain was the Katori Sea , which existed in ancient times, the Lake Kasumigaura and other lagoons in present-day Chiba prefecture are remnants of that sea. Katori Sea was connected to the Kashima-nada (Pacific Ocean). Lake Kasumigaura is currently divided into three lakes: Nishiura, Kitaura, Sotonasakaura. In addition, in

1550-466: The breeding of black cattle in the present Migawa-chō (見川 町) of the city of Mito. Originally it remained mainly in the northern part of the prefecture, but later it spread throughout the prefecture. Ibaraki's population is decreasing more rapidly than any other prefecture. Ibaraki is known for nattō , or fermented soybeans, in Mito , watermelons in Kyōwa (recently merged into Chikusei ), and chestnuts in

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1600-510: The city of Edo (now Tokyo) from flooding. The Tone River, in addition to the Edo River, is part of the southern border of Ibaraki Prefecture with Chiba Prefecture, and the Watarase River , Tone River, Gongendō River, and Naka River (Saitama) in the southwestern border of Ibaraki with Saitama Prefecture. The Watarase River has become a small boundary of the southern border between Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures. From ancient times to

1650-525: The extinct Shimōsa Province . In Japanese Paleolithic , humans are believed to have started living in the present-day prefecture area before and after the deposition of the volcanic ash layer from the Aira Caldera about 24,000 years ago. At the bottom of this layer are local tools of polished stone and burnt pebbles. During the Asuka period the provinces of Hitachi and Fusa were created. Later Fusa

1700-406: The following national routes: [REDACTED] Ibaraki Prefecture with more than 300 prefectural routes. The prefecture is often alternatively pronounced "Ibara gi " by those who speak the regional dialect known as Ibaraki-ben. However, the standard pronunciation is "Ibara ki " . According to the author of "Not Ibara gi , Ibara ki " , this is most likely due to a mishearing of the softening of

1750-541: The foot of the southern face lies the main shrine called “Tsukuba-san-jinja” (筑波山神社). This ancient shrine is a popular destination for tourists, festival ( matsuri ) attendees and the occasional Japanese-style wedding. It is from here where the main hiking trails up the mountain begin. One can choose to go straight up the mountain via the Miyukigahara course (御幸ヶ原コース), which parallels the Swiss -made funicular , to

1800-435: The main family line fail. During this period, Mito was the seat of the so-called Mito School , a congregation of nativist scholars of Confucian persuasion led by Aizawa Seishisai , who during the 18th and 19th centuries advocated Western learning as a means not only to further Japanese technological development and international strength, but as means to prove Japanese uniqueness and superiority among nations. The Kōdōkan

1850-415: The martial art Aikidō. The capital Mito is home to Kairakuen , one of Japan's three most celebrated gardens, and famous for its over 3,000 Japanese plum trees of over 100 varieties. Kashima Shrine (Jingū) Ibaraki's cultural heritage. Mito Tōshō-gū , is the memorial shrine of Tokugawa Ieyasu in Mito. Seizansō was the retirement villa of Tokugawa Mitsukuni . Mito Municipal Botanical Park ,

1900-611: The mountains' marriage and promoting marriage between people. A poem by Takahashi no Mushimaro in the anthology Man'yōshū implies that these festivals also permitted adultery: 「鷲住 筑波乃山之 裳羽服津乃 其津乃上尓 率而 未通女壮士之 徃集 加賀布嬥歌尓 他妻尓 吾毛交牟 吾妻尓 他毛言問 此山乎 牛掃神之 従来 不禁行事叙 今日耳者 目串毛勿見 事毛咎莫」 “Washi no sumu / Tsukuha no yama no / Mohakitsu no / sono tsu no ue ni / adomohite / wotome wotoko no / yukitsudohi / kagafu kagahi ni / hitozuma ni / ware mo majiramu / waga tsuma ni / hito mo kototohe / kono yama wo / ushihaku kami no / mukashi yori / isamenu waza zo / kefu nomi ha / megushi mo na miso / koto mo togamu na” “On

1950-559: The northeast area of Chiba Prefecture. The northern third of the prefecture is mountainous and in the center is the Tsukuba Mountains (筑波 山地). Its main mountains are: mount Yamizo with an elevation of 1022 m on the border with Fukushima and Tochigi prefectures ( tripoint ), mount Takasasa with 922 m, mount Tsukuba with two peaks Nyotai-San at 877 m and Nantai-San at 871 m, mount Osho at 804 m, mount Hanazono at 798 m, and mount Kaba at 709 m. The main rivers that flow through

2000-541: The notch between the peaks. Or one can follow the Shirakumobashi course (白雲橋コース) up to the east ridge, where it joins up with the Otatsuishi course, and then continues on up to Mt. Nyotai. In addition to the funicular there is also an aerial tramway which follows the east ridge up the mountain, paralleling the Otatsuishi course (おたつ石コース). At the top of the mountain there are many gift shops and food stalls in

2050-422: The old provinces are converted or merged, to create the current prefectures, in this case the Ibaraki Prefecture. Ibaraki Prefecture is the northeastern part of the Kantō region , stretching between Tochigi Prefecture and the Pacific Ocean and bounded on the north and south by Fukushima Prefecture and Chiba Prefecture . It also has a border on the southwest with Saitama Prefecture . The northernmost part of

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2100-511: The prefecture include the Tone , Naka (Ibaraki) , and Kuji rivers, all of which flow into the Pacific Ocean . Before the seventeenth century, the lower reaches of the Tone were different from its current layout, and the Tone ran south and emptied into Tokyo Bay , and tributaries such as the Watarase and Kinu rivers had independent water systems. The main tributaries of the Tone River basin are

2150-407: The prefecture is mountainous, but most of the prefecture is a flat plain with many lakes and is part of Kantō Plain . As of 1 April 2012, 15% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks , namely Suigo-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park , and nine Prefectural Natural Parks. Also, Ibaraki has one Prefectural Geopark. The Suigo-Tsukuba Quasi-National Park, also includes

2200-816: The prefecture there are freshwater lagoons such as Hinuma, Senba , and Ushiku. Fukuoka Dam , is a dam that spans the Kokai River in Tsukubamirai , it is one of the three largest dams in the Kantō region. Ryūjin Dam in Hitachiōta , is a beautiful dam on the Ryūjin River with a large pedestrian suspension bridge above the dam lake. Thirty-two (32) cities are located in Ibaraki Prefecture: These are

2250-481: The thermal belt maintains temperatures 3-4 °C higher than the foothills, creating favorable conditions for mandarin orange cultivation. This phenomenon has allowed for the appearance of tourist-oriented mandarin orchards since the 1980s. A similar utilization of a thermal belt for agriculture is observed in Shizuoka Prefecture, where tea cultivation takes advantage of comparable conditions. Mt. Tsukuba

2300-441: The towns and villages in each district , 10 towns and 2 villages in 7 districts: Ibaraki's economy is based on energy production (particularly nuclear energy), chemical and precision machining industries, research institutes, and tourism. Agriculture, fishing, and livestock are also important sectors in the prefecture. Ibaraki's vast flat terrain make it highly suitable for industrial development. This complements its proximity to

2350-623: The wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in August, at around 25.2 °C, and lowest in January, at around 3.0 °C. Per Japanese census data, the population of Mito has steadily increased over the past century. The Yamato people settled in Mito around the 4th century CE. Around the end of the Heian period , Baba Sukemoto , a warlord of the Heike clan, moved to Mito and built

2400-434: Was annexed in 1992. In 2001, Mito was designated a special city with increased local autonomy. The neighboring town of Uchihara was annexed in 2005. The city suffered from severe damage in the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami with 25,982 houses completely or partially destroyed; however, there were only two fatalities. Mito was designated a core city , with further increases in local autonomy on April 4, 2020. Mito has

2450-864: Was divided, among them, the Shimōsa Province. At the beginning of the Muromachi period , in the 14th century, Kitabatake Chikafusa made of the Oda Castle his field headquarters for over a year, and wrote the Jinnō Shōtōki (Chronicles of the Authentic Lineages of the Divine Emperors), while he was at castle. During the Edo period , one of the three houses or clans originating from Tokugawa Ieyasu (Gosanke 御 三家, three houses), settled in

2500-498: Was the largest of the han schools . The capital of Edo was directly connected to Mito by the Mito Kaidō . The Tokugawa ruled Mito until the Meiji Restoration . The city of Mito was formed on April 1, 1889, with the establishment of the modern municipalities system. It was one of the first 31 cities to be established in Japan. With a population of 25,000, it was designated as the prefectural capital of Ibaraki Prefecture. By 1900,

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