Have you experienced all the familiar tourist routes in Japan? Try exploring the Diamond Route, a new journey that takes you to the unique beauty of the northern suburbs of Tokyo. About 2.5 hours by train from Tokyo, this route passes through Ibaraki, Fukushima and Tochigi prefectures, where the sights, experiences and cuisine are just as special as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
The Diamond Road promises to bring a journey full of surprises and excitement, from ancient citadels, splendid temples, historical relics to majestic nature and unique cuisine. Don’t hesitate any longer, let’s start exploring the Diamond Road with JNTO right away!
Ibaraki Prefecture
Start your Diamond Route journey in Ibaraki Prefecture. Located in the northeastern Kanto region, about two hours by train from Tokyo, this is a popular destination for visitors with its unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Hitachi Seaside Park
Located along the Pacific coast of Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Hitachi Seaside Park is a place that offers visitors unforgettable experiences with beautiful natural scenery and fresh air.
With a large area of up to 350 hectares, the park owns many different types of flowers, creating brilliant flower carpets stretching across the park. This place is famous for captivating the hearts of visitors with the blue color of Nemophila flowers around April, the pink-red color of Kochi grass in October…
Visiting here around August, visitors will be immersed in the brilliant yellow color of blooming sunflowers. In addition, the park also has many interesting games for all ages, camping areas, BBQ grills… enough for visitors to spend a whole day playing and relaxing here.
Hitachi Seaside Park is an ideal place for those who love nature and want to immerse themselves in the colorful flower hills. Don’t forget to save this place on your trip to Ibaraki Prefecture!
Kairakuen Garden
Built in 1842 in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kairakuen Garden is one of the three most famous Japanese-style gardens in Japan along with Kenrokuen Garden in Ishikawa Prefecture and Korakuen Garden in Okayama Prefecture.
Kairakuen Garden is exquisitely designed, harmoniously combining natural landscape and artificial architecture. This place is famous for its brilliant spring when more than 3,000 plum trees bloom, or the poetic Senba Lake, known as the “Oasis of Mito”, where visitors can admire beautiful swans and many other water birds.
Strolling around the grounds, visitors will be overwhelmed by the poetic ponds, meticulously crafted bonsai trees and colorful flower gardens that bloom in different seasons. In particular, do not forget to visit the ancient tea house Kobuntei to enjoy wonderful moments of relaxation.
Kairakuen Garden is not only an ideal destination for visitors to immerse themselves in nature, but also a place to learn about traditional Japanese culture and architecture.
Ushiku Daibutsu Great Buddha Statue
Built in 1993 in Ushiku City, the Ushiku Daibutsu stands tall as a spiritual symbol and a popular tourist destination in Ibaraki Prefecture. It is also one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, standing at 120 meters tall and weighing approximately 4,000 tons.
Entering the campus, visitors will be impressed by the large park at the foot of the statue with many types of flowers that change with the seasons such as cherry blossoms, shibazakura flowers, hydrangeas, butterfly flowers… Not only simply admiring this great statue from the outside, visitors can also visit the space inside the Buddha statue. The inside is divided into 5 floors, visitors can move between floors by stairs and elevator. Visitors will admire artifacts and documentary images of the statue’s construction process, feel a majestic space displaying about 3,400 impressive golden Buddha statues. In addition, visitors can also climb to the observation deck inside and admire the panoramic view of the surrounding area.
Ushiku Daibutsu Great Buddha Statue is a must-see destination for those who love Japanese culture and spirituality. Don’t miss this place if you have the opportunity to come to Ibaraki province!
Fruit picking experience
Ibaraki Prefecture is considered one of the leading agricultural provinces in Japan, with a temperate climate and ideal soil conditions for many types of fruit to grow deliciously. Summer in Ibaraki is the right time for visitors to experience picking and enjoying the delicious taste of fresh fruit right in the garden.
Famous for its sweet, juicy melons, Ibaraki Prefecture is a must-visit destination for fruit lovers. The melon harvest season lasts from April to October, giving visitors the chance to enjoy the freshest melons. This is also the third largest pear producer in the country, with harvests from July to late October, providing visitors with ripe, sweet pears.
In addition, the lush green vineyards with plump, sweet grape clusters are also a highlight not to be missed. Visitors can enjoy fresh grapes in the garden and buy them as gifts. Ibaraki Prefecture also has many other attractive fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, chestnuts… diverse and abundant all year round.
Summer fruit picking in Ibaraki is an interesting and rewarding experience so don’t miss this activity when you come here.
Enjoy Hitachi beef
Hitachi beef is a famous wagyu beef brand of Ibaraki Prefecture. Carefully selected from the rare black-haired cattle breed, featuring beautiful marbling, Hitachi beef achieves the perfect balance between meat and fat. The meat is soft, the flavor is rich, when enjoyed, you will feel the softness in your mouth, the natural sweetness of the meat and the delicate aroma.
Hitachi beef can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as stone-grilled, teppan-yaki, shabu-shabu, or sukiyaki. Each preparation method offers a different flavor and culinary experience, suitable for each person’s taste and preferences. No matter how it is prepared, the meat retains its characteristic flavor and tenderness.
Hitachi beef is not only a delicious dish but also a part of the culinary essence of Ibaraki Prefecture. Enjoy Hitachi beef to fully experience the sophistication and class of Japanese cuisine.
Fukushima Prefecture
The journey continues to Fukushima province, famous for its amazing natural landscapes, fortified castles, samurai culture and long-standing craft villages, which will surely leave a deep impression on many visitors.
Ouchi-juku Ancient Village
Nestled in the mountains of southwestern Fukushima Prefecture, the ancient village of Ouchi-juku was once a bustling post town during the Edo period (1603-1868), and is still carefully preserved like a village straight out of a painting.
The village is famous for its thatched roof houses that are over 300 years old, where many souvenir shops, local restaurants and traditional minshuku inns are always ready to serve visitors. In particular, along both sides of the path are small canals that bring water, creating a poetic and peaceful scene.
When you come here, don’t forget to enjoy local specialties such as negi soba noodles at restaurants in the area, or seasonal fruits and carbonated drinks naturally chilled under cool streams.
Tsuruga Castle
Tsuruga Castle, also known as White Crane Castle, is located in the center of Aizu-wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture.
The castle was destroyed in 1874 and rebuilt in 1965. In 2011, the roof was completely re-covered with unique red tiles, recreating the appearance of the castle in the late Edo period (1603~1868).
Source: Fukushima Prefecture
The area surrounding the castle is Tsuruga Castle Park, with its lush green trees that change with the seasons, creating a beautiful natural landscape. Inside the castle is a museum that displays the historical landscape of ancient Aizu and the lives and spirits of brave samurai warriors.
Source: Fukushima Prefecture
In addition, Tsuruga Castle is also the venue for the Aizu Festival – one of the city’s biggest events, held every September and attracting many tourists as well as locals.
Ebisu Circuit
Ebisu Circuit, located in the northern part of Fukushima Prefecture, is known as a great “mecca” for fans of Drifting – an extreme sports racing technique in which the driver will conquer corners by oversteering, causing the car to slide to one side with the wheels facing the opposite direction of the turn.
Within the vast Ebisu Circuit complex, visitors will find a total of 7 race tracks and 2 slides, each designed to satisfy the passion for speed and skillful driving techniques of those who play this sport.
Moreover, Ebisu Circuit also organizes annual drift driving training courses and events, or if you just intend to come here to experience and visit, “Drift Taxi” will be a great opportunity for you to sit behind the wheel of professional Drift school teachers, they will skillfully control the racing car to take you through spectacular and dramatic turns.
Makie Lacquer Painting Experience
Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture is famous for its exquisite Aizu lacquerware, which dates back 600 years. And one of the most interesting activities here is experiencing Makie lacquer painting – a technique that has existed in Japan for centuries.
Participating in special workshops, visitors can decorate traditional local products by using gold or silver powder to create intricate patterns on the surface of lacquer objects.
Source: IG@ fukushima_today
More specifically, you will learn how to use special tools and materials to create Makie patterns on lacquer products such as boxes, plates, or jewelry. Throughout the process, you will be guided by experienced and enthusiastic lacquer artisans, so don’t worry too much.
Source: IG@ fukushima_today
After completion, visitors can take home their own lacquer products as a memorable memory of the trip. This experience not only helps you understand more about traditional lacquer art but also brings meaningful moments of relaxation and creativity.
Enjoy Negi-soba noodles
Negi-soba, also known as Takato-soba, is a specialty dish of the ancient village of Ouchi-juku. The most outstanding feature of Negi-soba is its unique way of eating it. Instead of using regular chopsticks, diners will use the Negi onion to eat the noodles. This way of eating requires skill and patience from the diner, making eating an enjoyable and memorable experience.
Source: IG@ fukushima_today
Negi-soba is not only a delicious dish but also has deep cultural and spiritual significance. Aizu people believe that eating noodles with onions can bring good luck and prosperity. So don’t forget to enjoy this noodle dish on your trip!
Tochigi Prefecture
The final destination is Tochigi Prefecture, famous for its magnificent temple complex recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. Not only that, this place is also known by domestic and foreign tourists as an ideal stopover to enjoy Gyoza – a delicious dumpling, a famous specialty of Utsunomiya city.
Rinnoji Temple
Located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Rinnoji Temple was founded in 766 by Buddhist monk Shodo Shonin. Rinnoji Temple – Futarasan-jinja Shrine – Toshogu Shrine are recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites with the common name of 【Shrines and Temples of Nikko】or in Japanese, Nikko no Shaji.
Source: ©2024 Nikko-zan RINNO-JI Temple
Originally a desolate mountain, the monk and his followers worked hard to develop the isolated area into a sacred temple complex. To this day, the temple is still used by monks of the Tendai sect as a place to practice.
Source: ©2024 Nikko-zan RINNO-JI Temple
Nikko-zan Rinnoji Temple is divided into 6 main areas, including the Sanbutsudo main hall area, Kaizando temple area, Shinhonryuji Kannondo temple area, Okunikko area, Kanmangafuchi gorge area and especially the Taiyu-in area where the mausoleum of shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu is located.
The mausoleum is surrounded by hundreds of lush ancient cedar trees and like most of the temples and shrines in Nikko, it stands out with its vermillion color and impressive gold-plated details that attract a large number of visitors to visit and pray every year.
If you have the opportunity to come to Tochigi province, you must definitely visit this sacred temple complex in Nikko!
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura Theme Park
A theme park located in Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura offers visitors an atmosphere imbued with the ancient atmosphere of the Edo period (1603~1868).
The park recreates a small town from the Edo period, with ancient wooden houses, Edo people in elaborate traditional costumes and captivating performances by Ninjas.
Especially here, visitors can experience transforming into Samurai, Ninja, princess or any other class of Edo period society to explore this park.
There are also training courses to become real samurai warriors or programs that give young people the opportunity to experience many different unique occupations during the Edo period.
Edo Wonderland Nikko Edomura amusement park promises to be an exciting place for all ages.
Nasu Animal Kingdom – Nasu Animal Kingdom
Another place that offers interesting experiences that you cannot miss when coming to Tochigi Prefecture is the Nasu Animal Kingdom in Nasu District.
This place is known for its vast nature and is home to more than 600 species of animals from all over the world. The kingdom is divided into 2 areas, an indoor area called “Town” and an outdoor area with lush green landscapes called “Farm”.
Here, visitors can freely visit and watch super cute animals such as capybara, rabbits, tigers, penguins… and other birds flying freely under the blue sky.
In addition, this place is also known as the happy kingdom for dog lovers, because there are many areas where visitors can play with lovely and friendly dogs.
After hours of sightseeing and playing with animals, visitors can also rest and relax in the hot spring area inside the kingdom.
Experience riding the Kuranomachi Yuransen boat
Sitting on a boat going down the river and admiring a peaceful corner of the city is also a very popular experience when tourists have the opportunity to visit Tochigi province.
Source: @ okay.yuransen
Experience a 20-minute cruise on the Kuranomachi Yuransen boat on the Uzuma River that flows through downtown Tochigi City. Visitors will be able to see the Edo-style houses built close together along both sides of the river.
This location was formerly a commercial port of Tochigi Prefecture and is now one of the prefecture’s famous TV drama filming locations.
Coming here, visitors can completely immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the Edo period while admiring the peaceful natural scenery and listening to the boatmen tell historical stories about the river and the charm of the town. If you have the opportunity to come to Tochigi Prefecture, do not miss this gentle and interesting experience!
Enjoy Utsunomiya Gyoza
When it comes to Gyoza, Japanese people often immediately think of Utsunomiya city in Tochigi province, known as the “Gyoza holy land” of Japan.
Utsunomiya Gyoza is made from fresh ingredients such as ground pork, cabbage, leeks, green onions and some special spices. The thin dough made from wheat flour, when fried becomes crispy, and when boiled becomes chewy, making diners unable to resist. The compact size of Gyoza also makes it easy for diners to enjoy many pieces comfortably.
There are over 300 Gyoza restaurants in Utsunomiya, concentrated mainly in the downtown area. From modern eateries to traditional restaurants, each place has a strong local identity with affordable prices and guaranteed quality.
Every year in November, Utsunomiya hosts the Gyoza Festival, attracting many visitors to participate and celebrate the city’s unique culinary culture. Utsunomiya Gyoza is not only a delicious dish but also an indispensable part of Tochigi Prefecture’s culinary culture, demonstrating the passion and creativity of the local people. Let Utsunomiya Gyoza bring you wonderful culinary memories on this trip.
Conclusion
The Diamond Route opens the door to a new Japan, full of interesting and surprising things. Each prefecture on the route has its own unique characteristics, from impressive tourist destinations to unique experiences and rich cuisine, which will certainly not disappoint you.
Come and explore Diamond Road to feel the difference and attraction of this land!