Ibaraki

About Ibaraki

Ibaraki Prefecture area 6,098.32 square kilometres 23rd nationally but fourth in habitable land population 2,777,226 estimated July 1 2026 about 2.78 million density 455 ranking 11th top among North Kanto three prefectures. Capital Mito about 265,000 core city while largest city now Tsukuba about 268,991 overtaking Mito 2025 census due to TX development followed by Hitachi. Geography sits northeast Kanto east facing Pacific Kashima-nada north bordering Fukushima west Tochigi Saitama south Chiba. Northern one third mountainous southern end Abukuma Highlands Yamizo Mountains with Mount Yamizo 1,021.8 m on border three prefectures highest, Kuji Taga mountains dissected by Naka Kuji Rivers. Central south Joso Plain part Kanto Plain historically Hitachi Plateau Shimosa Plateau. First class rivers Tone Naka Kuji plus Kinu Kokai tributaries flow Pacific. Lakes Kasumigaura as Japan second largest freshwater lake 220 sq km with Nishiura Kitaura, Kitaura Hinuma Ushiku. Historically area was Hitachi Province wholly plus parts of Shimosa Province transferred from Chiba Meiji including Sashima Yuki Toyoda districts. Name Ibaraki originates from Ibaraki District ancient county system described Hitachi Fudoki legends Prince Kurosaka using thorns defeat robbers. Mito domain Tokugawa Mitsukuni Mito Komon fame. Early Meiji no Ibaraki Prefecture but 1871 six small prefectures Mito Matsuoka Shishido Kasama Shimodate Shimotsuma merged create Ibaraki not named Mito due to low contribution new government. 1875 Niihari abolition added Kashima Namegata transfers from Chiba fixed borders. Climate Pacific side climate dry sunny winters humid summers no heavy snow zone prefecture as northernmost such prefecture. Northern coastal Hitachi mild winters January mean minima 1.2C warmest prefecture despite north summer cool 24.1C August mean. Northern mountain Daigo drop minus 10C central Mito plain radiation cooling minus 10C but few tropical nights southwestern Koga bordering Saitama hottest many scorching days southeastern Kashima-nada warmest winter rare snow. Tornadoes occasionally occur central south spring. Annual precipitation around 1,300 mm max October typhoon season. Industry strong agriculture melon quarter Japan top along with lotus root green pepper chestnut top three rice Ibaraki Hitachi beef Rose pork egg dairy near Omitama with airport. Mito natto fermented bean straw tradition. Manufacturing Kashima coastal industrial complex iron steel petrochemical Hitachi company town Hitachi Ltd Hitachi Chemical Hitachinaka auto construction machinery. Tsukuba Science City houses about 300 research institutes University Tsukuba JAXA space agency. Tourism Kairakuen garden Mito one Japan Three Great Gardens famed 3,000 plums February plum festival, Fukuroda Falls Daigo one Japan Three Great Waterfalls 120 m high four-tier frozen in winter called yohi-no-taki, Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii on rocks Pacific sunrise, Hitachi Seaside Park four million nemophila blue spring two million kochia red autumn, Kashima Shrine warrior shrine heading Tokyo great shrines deer garden, Ushiku Daibutsu 120 m bronzetallest world bronze statue, Mount Tsukuba double peak 877 m cable car legends Mount Fuji younger brother saying western panoramic, Kasumigaura hobikisenage sailing boat. Traditional events Mito Komon Festival Stone Festival. Ibaraki has no primate city each major city about ten percent prefecture population diverse access capital region near. Excellent access.