Kodokan Admission Ticket (Ibaraki)

This is a domain school (special historic site) of the Mito domain, founded by Tokugawa Nariaki, the 9th lord of the Mito domain. Both academics and martial arts were emphasized, and a wide range of education was offered, including Confucianism, medicine, swordsmanship, and horsemanship, allowing the children of the domain's samurai to train in both the arts and the military. At the time, it was the largest domain school in the country, and the 15th shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, also studied here. Currently, the main gate, main hall, and Shizen-do Hall (all designated as Important Cultural Properties) remain, and the school is also famous for its plum blossoms. The best time to see them is from late February to early March.