Park or aquarium for two days in Ibaraki?
Combine Kodokan and Kairakuen on day one and stay one night in Mito. For day two, choose Hitachi Seaside Park for long flower walks or Oarai Aquarium for sharks and jellyfish up close. Either way, return to Mito for a Tokyo-bound limited express.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Mito historic sights and Hitachi Seaside Park
Visit Kodokan and Kairakuen on day one and stay one night in Mito. Spend day two at Hitachi Seaside Park until the afternoon, then return to Mito for a Tokyo-bound limited express. This starts and ends at Tokyo Station.
Mito historic sights and Hitachi Seaside Park →2 days / 1 night BMito historic sights and Oarai Aquarium
Choose Oarai Aquarium on day two for sharks, jellyfish and fish in the large tank. Visit Kodokan and Kairakuen on day one, stay one night in Mito, then return to Tokyo Station after the aquarium.
Mito historic sights and Oarai Aquarium →Mito historic sights and Hitachi Seaside Park
Visit Kodokan and Kairakuen on day one and stay one night in Mito. Spend day two at Hitachi Seaside Park until the afternoon, then return to Mito for a Tokyo-bound limited express. This starts and ends at Tokyo Station.
Day 1: Kodokan, then Kairakuen
- Tokyo Station → Mito Station
Take a Hitachi or Tokiwa limited express stopping at Mito from Tokyo Station. Prepare a basic fare ticket and ordinary-class reserved-seat limited-express ticket. Check your actual date’s departure service and stops in the official timetable.
Tokiwa 53 and operating calendarJR current station-timetable search
- Mito Station North Exit → Kodokan side entrance
Go straight along the north deck and down the stairs at its end. Turn right at the ginkgo tree, pass Keisei Hotel on your left and climb Ichōzaka. Turn right beside Sannomaru Primary School. Enter between the fences on the left and check in at the side entrance to the right of the closed main gate. This follows the official photo directions.
Kodokan photo directionsKodokan visiting and accessibility information
- Kodokan → Kodokan visit
Explore the historic school’s Seicho, Shizendo and garden. October hours are 09:00–16:30; adult admission is JPY 420.
Kodokan visiting and accessibility informationKodokan school history and surviving buildings
- Kodokan stop 1 → Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop
Take route 10’s Kairakuen-bound loop bus from Kodokan stop 1 to Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi. The adult one-way fare is JPY 270. Walk towards the main garden’s Omotemon Gate after alighting.
- Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop → Kairakuen main garden, Omotemon Gate
Follow Omotemon signs to the main garden ticket office. Official guidance gives about five to eight minutes’ walking. Distinguish the Kobuntei building entrance from the main garden entrance.
- Kairakuen main garden → Kairakuen garden walk
Enter at Omotemon, walk through bamboo and large cedar areas and see the garden around Kobuntei. Entry inside Kobuntei is excluded. October main-garden hours are 07:00–18:00; adult admission outside the plum festival period is JPY 320.
Main garden walking routeMain garden admission and operations
- Kairakuen Omotemon Gate → Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop 1
Exit through Omotemon and retrace your walk to Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop 1.
- Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop 1 → Mito Station North Exit
Take route 10’s loop bus towards Mito Station North Exit via Lake Senba and Daikumachi. The adult one-way fare is JPY 270. This differs from an out-and-back route requiring a stop across the road.
Day 2: Park visit and return to Tokyo
- Mito Station → Katsuta Station
Take an ordinary JR Joban Line train from Mito towards Katsuta and alight one stop later. The adult paper-ticket reference fare is JPY 200.
673M and operating calendar2026 JR ordinary-fare tableJR current station-timetable search
- Katsuta Station ticket gates → East Exit bus stop 2
Leave via the East Exit and find bus stop 2. Check departures and the boarding information on site.
- Katsuta Station East Exit stop 2 → Hitachi Seaside Park West Gate stop
Take a bus towards Seaside Park South Gate via City Hall and Joyful Honda, but alight at West Gate. The adult one-way fare is JPY 450. This course does not continue to South Gate.
- West roundabout → West Gate, Wing Gate
Walk from the bus and taxi boarding area at the west roundabout to the West Gate, Wing Gate, and buy admission at the ticket office.
- Hitachi Seaside Park → Miharashi no Oka walk
Collect a park map, walk towards Miharashi no Oka and have lunch and rests inside. October hours are 09:30–17:00; the adult seasonal price for 9 October–3 November 2026 is JPY 800. Flowering and kochia colours vary by visit date. Rides, rental bicycles and Seaside Train cost extra.
Official English mapPark admissionOpening datesOpening calendar
- Park walking area → Hitachi Seaside Park West Gate stop 1
Return to West Gate, leave the park and head to stop 1 at the roundabout. Allow time for walking inside the park and waiting for buses.
- Hitachi Seaside Park West Gate stop 1 → Katsuta Station
After exiting West Gate, take a Katsuta Station-bound bus from stop 1 via Joyful Honda and City Hall. The adult one-way fare is JPY 450.
- Katsuta Station → Mito Station
Take an inbound JR Joban Line train towards Mito and Tsuchiura and alight at Mito. The adult paper-ticket reference fare is JPY 200. If the bus is delayed, check the next train.
422M and operating calendar2026 JR ordinary-fare tableJR current station-timetable search
- Mito Station → Tokyo Station
If luggage is at your accommodation, collect it within its collection hours and return to Mito Station. Allow time for local buses, rail and accommodation access, then choose a reserved seat on a Shinagawa-bound Hitachi or Tokiwa stopping at Tokyo. Board at Mito and alight at Tokyo Station.
Hitachi 22 and operating calendarJR current station-timetable search
Check the park calendar and services stopping at West Gate. If the return bus is delayed, check the next Mito train at Katsuta and allow time to connect with your Tokyo-bound limited express.
Costs included in the calculation: Tokyo–Mito return limited express JPY 8,000 + Mito–Katsuta return JR JPY 400 + historic-sight buses JPY 540 + return park buses JPY 900 + Kodokan JPY 420 + Kairakuen main garden JPY 320 + park seasonal admission JPY 800 = JPY 11,380.
Extra costs: Accommodation, meals, travel to your departure station, additional visits and experiences and luggage-storage charges are extra.
Calculated using adult paper basic-fare and limited-express tickets bought in advance for an October weekday, checked on 8 October 2026. Check fares for your travel date, admission and discount conditions. This is not the whole-trip price including accommodation. Park admission of JPY 800 applies to 9 October–3 November 2026; recalculate for other dates.
2026 JR ordinary-fare tableLimited-express tickets bought in advanceKodokan → Omotemon bus and fareOmotemon → Mito bus and fareKodokan visiting and accessibility informationMain garden admission and operationsPark-bound times and faresReturn to Katsuta StationPark admission
Mito historic sights and Oarai Aquarium
Choose Oarai Aquarium on day two for sharks, jellyfish and fish in the large tank. Visit Kodokan and Kairakuen on day one, stay one night in Mito, then return to Tokyo Station after the aquarium.
Day 1: Kodokan and Kairakuen, then stay in Mito
- Tokyo Station → Mito Station
Take a Hitachi or Tokiwa limited express stopping at Mito from Tokyo Station. Prepare a basic fare ticket and ordinary-class reserved-seat limited-express ticket. Check your actual date’s departure service and stops in the official timetable.
Tokiwa 53 and operating calendarJR current station-timetable search
- Mito Station North Exit → Kodokan side entrance
Go straight along the north deck and down the stairs at its end. Turn right at the ginkgo tree, pass Keisei Hotel on your left and climb Ichōzaka. Turn right beside Sannomaru Primary School. Enter between the fences on the left and check in at the side entrance to the right of the closed main gate. This follows the official photo directions.
Kodokan photo directionsKodokan visiting and accessibility information
- Kodokan → Kodokan visit
Explore the historic school’s Seicho, Shizendo and garden. October hours are 09:00–16:30; adult admission is JPY 420.
Kodokan visiting and accessibility informationKodokan school history and surviving buildings
- Kodokan stop 1 → Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop
Take route 10’s Kairakuen-bound loop bus from Kodokan stop 1 to Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi. The adult one-way fare is JPY 270. Walk towards the main garden’s Omotemon Gate after alighting.
- Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop → Kairakuen main garden, Omotemon Gate
Follow Omotemon signs to the main garden ticket office. Official guidance gives about five to eight minutes’ walking. Distinguish the Kobuntei building entrance from the main garden entrance.
- Kairakuen main garden → Kairakuen garden walk
Enter at Omotemon, walk through bamboo and large cedar areas and see the garden around Kobuntei. Entry inside Kobuntei is excluded. October main-garden hours are 07:00–18:00; adult admission outside the plum festival period is JPY 320.
Main garden walking routeMain garden admission and operations
- Kairakuen Omotemon Gate → Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop 1
Exit through Omotemon and retrace your walk to Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop 1.
- Kobuntei Omotemon-iriguchi stop 1 → Mito Station North Exit
Take route 10’s loop bus towards Mito Station North Exit via Lake Senba and Daikumachi. The adult one-way fare is JPY 270. This differs from an out-and-back route requiring a stop across the road.
Day 2: Oarai Aquarium, then return to Tokyo
- Mito Station → Oarai Station
Take a Kashima Rinkai Railway train towards Oarai and alight there. The adult one-way fare is JPY 420. Check destinations and platforms on the station board.
- Outside Oarai Station → Aqua World Oarai stop
Take the Umimachi Line sightseeing-route bus to Aqua World Oarai. The adult single fare is JPY 200. Distinguish other loop routes that do not stop at the aquarium.
- Aqua World Oarai stop → Aquarium entrance
Official guidance gives approximately one minute’s walking from the stop to the entrance.
- Oarai Aquarium → Aquarium exhibitions
Explore sharks, jellyfish and the large tank, then have lunch. Adult admission costs JPY 2,300. Ordinary hours are 09:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:00. Check your date’s information for show seats, individual experiences and dining-area operations.
Aquarium admissionOperations and transportDining-area noticeAqua World sharks, jellyfish and large tank
- Aqua World Oarai stop → Oarai Station
Return from the aquarium to the stop and take the Umimachi Line sightseeing route towards Oarai Station. The adult single fare is JPY 200.
- Oarai Station → Mito Station
Return on the Kashima Rinkai Railway towards Mito. The adult one-way fare is JPY 420. Check your date’s timetable for a train connecting with the sightseeing bus.
- Mito Station → Tokyo Station
If luggage is at your accommodation, collect it within its collection hours and return to Mito Station. Allow time for local buses, rail and accommodation access, then choose a reserved seat on a Shinagawa-bound Hitachi or Tokiwa stopping at Tokyo. Board at Mito and alight at Tokyo Station.
Umimachi Line costs JPY 200 per ride, or JPY 400 for two rides. Suica/PASMO are not accepted; prepare a payment method listed by the operator. Check return buses and trains together.
Costs included in the calculation: Tokyo–Mito return limited express with ordinary paper basic-fare tickets and ordinary-class reserved seats bought in advance JPY 8,000 + Kodokan–garden–Mito buses JPY 540 + Kodokan JPY 420 + Kairakuen main garden JPY 320 + Mito–Oarai return railway JPY 840 + return sightseeing loop buses JPY 400 + aquarium JPY 2,300 = JPY 12,820.
Extra costs: One night’s accommodation, meals, travel to Tokyo Station, entry inside Kobuntei, shrine visits, taxis, additional experiences and luggage-storage charges are extra.
Calculated using adult paper basic-fare and limited-express tickets bought in advance for an October weekday, checked on 8 October 2026. Check fares for your travel date, admission and discount conditions. This is not the whole-trip price including accommodation. No discount ticket or pass is applied.
2026 JR ordinary-fare tableLimited-express tickets bought in advanceKodokan → Omotemon bus and fareOmotemon → Mito bus and fareKodokan visiting and accessibility informationMain garden admission and operationsCurrent rail faresOarai town Umimachi Line sightseeing routeAquarium admission
Frequently asked questions
Can I fit flowers, aquarium and waterfall into two days?
These courses visit Mito historic sights on day one, then choose park or aquarium for day two. The waterfall needs return Suigun Line travel and an approximately 40-minute walk from the station. For all three, compare four-day B’s separate visit days.
Official Hitachi Seaside Park transport informationCurrent Kashima Rinkai Railway timetable
Official sources and check dates
- Official Hitachi Seaside Park transport information ·
- Tokiwa 53 and operating calendar ·
- Kodokan photo directions ·
- Kodokan → Omotemon bus and fare ·
- Main garden walking route ·
- Omotemon → Mito bus and fare ·
- 673M and operating calendar ·
- Outbound bus ·
- West Gate roundabout ·
- Official English map ·
- Return bus ·
- 422M and operating calendar ·
- Hitachi 22 and operating calendar ·
- Operator’s timetable-symbol explanations ·
- 2026 JR ordinary-fare table ·
- Limited-express tickets bought in advance ·
- Park admission ·
- Current Kashima Rinkai Railway timetable ·
- Oarai town Umimachi Line sightseeing route ·
- Aquarium access ·
- Aquarium admission ·
- Hitachi 20 ·
- Main garden admission and operations ·
- Entrances and transport ·
- Kodokan visiting and accessibility information ·
- Opening dates ·
- Operations and transport ·
- Dining-area notice ·
- Park-bound times and fares ·
- Return to Katsuta Station ·
- Current rail fares ·
- Opening calendar ·
- JR current station-timetable search ·
- Kodokan school history and surviving buildings ·
- Aqua World sharks, jellyfish and large tank ·