One-Day Tour of Japan's Three Great Illumination Shows: Garden of Light Flowers & Ibaraki Fortune Turtle & Nakaminato Fish Market & Oarai Isosaki Shrine
- The Oarai Isosaki Shrine's sea torii gate presents different appearances with the tides, making it a stunning spot to experience the energy of the coastal sanctuary.
- The Nakaminato Fish Market offers a rich selection of seafood directly from the source and a pure fishing port atmosphere, making it easy to enjoy the local flavors.
- The Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine's century-old green tunnel and lucky turtle are considered energy spots that bring wealth and health.
- The Miume Torii gate beside the approach offers a direct view of the Pacific Ocean, turning the sea breeze and wave sounds into a healing moment that washes away your feelings.
- Ashikaga Flower Park recreates the four seasons of floral scenery with a million lights, showcasing the dreamlike charm of Japan's three major light shows.
- The iconic Wisteria trellis of light sways on winter nights, as if wisteria is blooming again, adding a romantic touch to your trip.
- From coastal aura to light and shadow art, this journey perfectly connects nature, culture, and healing experiences.
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What to expect
This is a romantic journey that captures the coastal aura, local flavors, and dreamy light and shadows all in one day. From the sea shrine to the garden of lights, each stop is like stepping into a different fantasy scene, perfect for taking pictures, relaxing, and healing yourself ✨
- First, visit Oarai Isosaki Shrine. The torii gate at sea will truly make you feel peaceful in an instant. No matter what season you visit, you can see different horizons where the sea and sky meet. The god of medicine in mythology once descended here, so it's no wonder the entire shrine has a healing aura. The shrine's sacred water is said to cure eye diseases, and it miraculously gushed out even during the Great East Japan Earthquake, and it is regarded by locals as a true energy sanctuary.
- Next, visit Nakaminato Fish Market, known as "Ibaraki's Tsukiji." It doesn't have the crowds of Tokyo, but it has the same fresh, or even purer, harbor atmosphere. Seafood lovers will go crazy here, with large pieces of sashimi, freshly grilled shellfish, and super-rich seafood rice bowls. The happiest rhythm is to stroll and eat.
- Then, head to Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine, which has recently become very popular. The 300-year-old green tunnel is so dreamy that it feels like stepping into a world of Studio Ghibli. When you walk to the side of the approach, you will also encounter a torii gate facing the sea, and you will be healed the moment the sea breeze blows. Don't forget to touch the "lucky turtle". Many people say that it has brought them good fortune, and even big prizes are common 🙌
- The finale of the night is the Garden of Light at Ashikaga Flower Park. It is well-deserved to be named one of the world's top ten dream destinations by CNN. The miracle wisteria is re-bloomed with lights, and the wisteria-colored sea of lights is unrealistically beautiful; the hand-washing area is lit up with flowers and light spots, fresh during the day and dreamy at night; there is also a 100-meter tunnel of light and water mirror reflections, walking in it is like being taken to a winter fairy tale world.
- The return trip will also pass through Onihei Edo Dokoro (If there are special circumstances such as traffic jams on the day, this rest stop may be cancelled), which is like traveling back to a town in the Edo period, Shamo Nabe (chicken hot pot), soba noodles, ningyo-yaki (doll cakes)… each one is very tasty.
- The whole journey is like collecting the sea, energy, lights, and old Japanese customs all at once. It's a perfect day for taking pictures, relaxing, and healing your soul 🌙✨
Reviews
just the winter illumination at ashikaga makes it totally worth it! it is a truly magical experience, perfect for all ages. for the hitachi seaside park, make sure you check the flowering status before going. unfortunately for us the flowers were mowed in preparation for the next season, but the park still offers sand dunes, grass fields, rock garden and an amusement park.
chose this trip due to the later meet up time at 11am instead of the usual early morning. Guide is on time and take care of the whole group of 9 travellers . The tour duration and pace is just nice.
The weather was great, and the Kochia scoparia was beautiful and lush. Our tour guide, Leo, was attentive and patient, with clear explanations. We had a very pleasant day! :)
Ibaraki Flower Viewing: Ashikaga Flower Park Illumination Show & Hitachi Seaside Park & Sakatsura Isozaki Shrine One-Day Tour. The tour guide will add you on WhatsApp the day before to contact you and is very friendly.
very good tour guide, and also the driver. Mr.Lee speak both in English & chinese very fluently, and explained many things. such an excellent service to all the guests. good job mr. Lee. am very happy to know you
Leo was a great guide! Well on time, professional and good english speaking! Very friendly and gave a lot of informations!! 👍👍👍👏👏👏
Our tour guide, Xiao Hu, was very dedicated and provided detailed explanations. The weather was great throughout the trip, the scenery was beautiful, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.
Although other passengers were late and delayed the time, the tour guide, Yoyo, still tried to control the time appropriately, and there was a chance to enjoy the visiting spots to the fullest. The Azalea Flower Park is beautifully decorated, with a lot of variation and ingenuity, and it is worth recommending to visit and admire!
I didn't really like Sakatsura Isosaki Shrine, there's nothing special about this place. I suggest not arranging visits here in the future. Hitachi Seaside Park was disappointing. When we arrived, the flowers were past their bloom, and we only saw bare hills. It wasn't the red hills that the tour mentioned, so it didn't live up to its name. When arranging tours, you should check if the flowers are past their bloom; if they are, don't arrange visits here. The Ashikaga Flower Park illumination show was the most surprising part, very beautiful, and worth a visit. The driver was responsible and made good arrangements.
I highly recommend this trip. All of the sites were amazing and the guide Leo was very friendly and tok good care of us.
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