Mito Plum Festival
- Every year from the end of February to beginning of March, festival is conducted at Kairakuen and Ko-do-kan in Mito, Ibaraki. Please come visit.
- Mito City : Located 100 km north-east side of Tokyo metropolitan area. A point of interest include Kairakuen, where is famous for beautiful Japanese plum, or Ko-do-kan, where was a school for Mito domain, or Mito Art Tower where is center of art and cultural events.
※korean
※Traditional chinese
※Simplified chinese
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“Kairakuen” (where is main location for Mito Plum Festival)
- One of three great gardens of Japan and built by Nariaki Tokugawa, who is the ninth feudal lord of the Mito in 1842.
- During Mito Plum Festival held from end of February thru beginning of March, totaling 3000 which contains 100 different kinds of plum trees will bloom and there will be lot of visitors.
- During the festival seasons, there are different kind of events are conducted themed around night, plum, festivals and tea ceremonies.
- You’ll see these Mito’s plum ambassadors who will greet you in beautiful kimonos!
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Ko-do-kan (where is main location for Mito Plum Festival)
- A largest clan school founded by Nariaki Tokugawa in 1841.
- School consisted of mainly Bunkan (liberal arts department), Bukan (martial arts
department), and Igakukan (medical science department).
- The present Seimon gate, Seicho, and Shizen-do are designated as national important cultural properties.
- Nearby Ko-do-kan, roughly 800 plum trees ranging 60 species are grown and the place is famous as a beautiful plum blossoms during the spring too.
- During the festival, various events are planned and held.
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Ko-bun Cafe
- Located on Senba lakeside, nearby Kairakuen, Ko-bun Cafe is where people can enjoy meals, sweets and coffee with beautiful scenery.
- The shape of these cream puffs are inspired by shape of black and white swans who live around Senba lake. You can enjoy taste of custard and black sesame and hope you can try out.
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Kawamasu
- This is one of the traditional Unagi (eel) restaurant nearby Mito station.
- When in town, hope you enjoy grilled Unagi with roasting aroma.
- Since large number of Unagi was caught in Naka river that goes across the Mito city, we have quite number of Unagi restaurants to-date.
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Gokoku Shrine Jinja
- Located Sakurayama which is nearby Kairakuen, Gokoku Shrine was built to worship soldiers from Ibaraki, who have died from end of Edo period to World War II.
- We call these dolls as “Hina Ningyo”.
- In many Japanese families, we also put out these dolls for display for every March 3rd to pray for health and happiness of girls in a household and we call this “Hina-Matsuri Festival”.
- Every year, Gokoku Shrine displays dedicated dolls and many people come visit the shrine.
- Nearby Gokoku Shrine, cherry blossoms groom and this area is also famous for good spot to enjoy these flowers.
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Tokiwa Shrine Jinja
- Tokiwa Jinja was founded to enshrine the spirits of Mitsukuni Tokugawa, the second lord of Mito clan, and Nariaki Tokugawa, the nine lord of Mito clan.
- During Mito Plum festival seasons, Plum wine festivals are held as well for 3 days.
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Kobuntei
- Kobuntei was built It is made up of a main house and a one story annex
- The house was named after the word Kobun”, which is another name for the Japanese plum.
- The panoramic view from 3rd floor “Rakujuro” is breathtaking
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Night, Plum, Festival (Kairakuen)
- The festival enjoying Japanese plum during the night.
- You can enjoy Illuminated cherry blossoms, bamboo forests and other events which include candle ornament, tea ceremony, fireworks and much more.
- In addition, smell the aroma of cherry blossoms which has stronger aroma from night toward morning.
- In Tokiwa Shrine Jinja which is next to Kairakuen, there will be music and dance performance that you can enjoy as well.