Mito & Kairaku-en

Home to One of Japan’s Legendary Gardens

Today, we will be journeying back up north to the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture for a hidden gem that is often overlooked, the city of Mito. Though firmly located off the beaten path, Mito is by no means a “countryside” destination. Indeed, the immediate area around the JR station is much like a mini neighborhood of Tokyo or Osaka unto itself. Nevertheless, Mito is the perfect compromise for those who want to escape the inner-city crowds while not going off the grid entirely.

Despite its location, Mito remains deeply rooted within Japan’s historical past. Originally settled in the fourth century, control of the region has passed through many hands. During the Edo period (1603–1868), Mito was firmly under the control of one of the Tokugawa branch families. Due to its close ties with the shogunate, the city of Mito was connected to Tokyo (then called Edo) by the Mito Kaido, one of five medieval trade routes that linked the country’s cities together.

Under the reign of the Tokugawa branch family, Mito grew into a flourishing city of scholarship and the arts. Eventually, the city became the home to what would be called the “Mito School.” This congregation of scholars advocated the Western learnings that were brought into Japan by the Dutch as a means of furthering technological advancement and…