5 Instagram-Worthy Gourmet Finds in Ibaraki

Ibaraki is overflowing with gourmet treats and sweets that make your heart leap with the desire to capture them. Here are five Ibaraki specialties that are absolutely guaranteed to light up your Instagram feed. Record beautiful travel memories while savoring every delicious moment.

01 | Hamaguri and Hotate Shellfish BBQ at Oarai (Oarai Isosaki Shrine Area)

At Oarai, Ibaraki's leading resort, the large hamaguri (hard clams) and scallops grilled over charcoal at seaside restaurants are hugely popular. The vivid orange of the charcoal and the bubbling, savory juices of the shells make for a visually stunning dish.

• Best angle: Holding a shell up against the backdrop of the Kamiiso Torii gate creates a striking contrast with the ocean blue
• Best time: Early morning to around 10 a.m. when morning sunlight streams in is the golden hour
• Shooting angle: Place the shell in the foreground with the torii softly blurred in the background for added depth
• Access: Take the loop bus or other service from Kashima Rinkai Railway Oarai Kashima Line "Oarai Station." Grilled shellfish is available at seafood restaurants and markets around Oarai Port; hours and closed days vary by establishment.

02 | Plum Sweets Soft Serve near Kairakuen Garden

Around Kairakuen Garden, one of Japan's Three Famous Gardens, stands selling soft serve and other seasonal sweets made with plums sometimes appear during the plum blossom season (typically February to March) — though offerings vary by shop and year. With a pale pink visual and a plum-tree-lined backdrop in spring, it makes for a dreamy shot.

• Best angle: The delicate pink of the soft serve and the gradation of white and red plum blossoms create a beautiful color harmony
• Best time: On a clear day, late morning to just before noon, when soft natural light is best
• Shooting angle: A low angle shooting upward with the sky and plum trees in the frame is recommended
• Access: About 15 minutes by route bus from JR Mito Station (North Exit, bus stop 6) (one-way ¥270)

03 | Chestnut Mont Blanc Parfait at the Kasama Inari Monzen Area

In Kasama City, a renowned chestnut-producing area, mont blanc parfaits from long-established Japanese confectionery shops and innovative cafes are creating a buzz. Come autumn, lavish visuals piled high with golden chestnut cream take over social media feeds.

• Best angle: Pairs perfectly with the antique-style interiors or stone-paved approach road for a retro-chic look
• Best season: The chestnut season from September to November is by far the most recommended
• Shooting angle: A slightly overhead 45-degree angle that captures the full height of the parfait
• Access: About 20 minutes on foot from JR Mito Line "Kasama Station"

04 | Takeout Kaisen-don (Seafood Rice Bowl) at Nakaminato Fish Market

At Nakaminato Fish Market, where fresh seafood gathers, taking out a colorful kaisen-don and photographing it with the harbor in the background is the standard style. The red, yellow, pink, and white jewel-like toppings are a visual feast.

• Best angle: The blue of the harbor with fishing boats and the vivid colors of the seafood enhance each other perfectly
• Best time: Around midday, when the light is stable, is better
• Shooting angle: A perfectly vertical top-down shot (true bird's-eye view) to beautifully frame the entire bowl
• Access: About 10 minutes on foot from Hitachinaka Seaside Railway "Nakaminato Station"

05 | Yuzu Honey Soft Serve near Fukuroda Falls

Sold at souvenir shops near Fukuroda Falls, one of Japan's Three Famous Waterfalls, the yuzu honey soft serve is a refreshing pale yellow. With the mist of the falls or green moss as a backdrop, it looks like a page straight out of a natural-lifestyle magazine.

• Best angle: A fresh contrast between the negative-ion-rich waterfall and the yellow soft serve
• Best season: May to June for fresh greenery and October to November for autumn foliage are especially photogenic
• Shooting angle: A vertical composition with the greenery or falls softly blurred in the background, the soft serve as the main subject
• Access: About 10 minutes by bus from JR Suigun Line "Fukuroda Station"

Master all of Ibaraki's Instagram-worthy gourmet spots and add even more color to your feed. Make great use of this article as your travel companion!

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours / closed days: The main garden of Kairakuen is open 6:00-19:00 from mid-February to September 30, and 7:00-18:00 from October 1 to mid-February. The Kobuntei villa within the garden is open 9:00-17:00 (until 16:30 from October 1 to mid-February; last entry 15 minutes before closing) and is closed from December 29 to 31. Opening hours and closed days of the markets, shops and eateries differ from establishment to establishment.
• Guide to costs and admission: Admission to the main garden of Kairakuen is 320 yen for adults and 160 yen for children (groups of 20 or more pay 240 yen for adults and 130 yen for children). Admission to Kobuntei is 230 yen for adults and 120 yen for children (groups: 170 yen for adults and 90 yen for children). Those aged 70 and over pay half price.
• Access: To Kairakuen, about 15 minutes by local bus from stop No. 6 at the north exit of JR Mito Station (270 yen one way; transport IC cards accepted). The Nakaminato Osakana Ichiba fish market is within walking distance of Nakaminato Station on the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway. For Fukuroda Falls, take a bus from Fukuroda Station on the JR Suigun Line.
• Parking: Whether parking is available and how much it costs differ from facility to facility. Roads in the area become congested during the plum blossom festival and on long weekends, so using public transport is the safer choice.
• Photography rules: At markets and shops, do not photograph the goods, the shopkeepers or other customers without permission. When taking photos of a storefront or inside a shop, always ask first and get permission. Avoid using tripods or selfie sticks that block the aisles.
• Points to note: The rocky area where the Kamiiso no Torii gate stands at Oarai is dangerous, as it can be washed over by waves. Do not climb down onto the rocks; take your photos from the promenade or from inside the fence. Eat seafood takeaway items at the place designated by the shop where you bought them, and take your rubbish home with you.

Note: Admission fees, opening hours and bus journey times are subject to change. Please check the official website of each facility for the latest information before you set out.

(Sources: Kairakuen, One of Japan's Three Great Gardens, official website / Kanto Railway official website, "Guide to Buses to Kairakuen")