Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture, a ‘golf paradise’, has come close to Koreans. Aero K charter flights connecting Cheongju Airport and Ibaraki Airport were launched in December last year, and will operate three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday) until March 4th of this year. If you are planning a golf trip to Southeast Asia, Ibaraki Prefecture is worth considering, with its low prices and mild weather. It takes 2 hours to arrive by plane from Cheongju.
● When you know it, it is a ‘golf paradise’
Ibaraki Prefecture may be unfamiliar to Koreans. Ibaraki Prefecture, located in the northern Kanto region of Japan, is located approximately 30km and as far as 150km northeast of downtown Tokyo. It borders the Pacific Ocean and is rich in natural resources such as rivers, lakes, and mountains.
However, above all, for Koreans who enjoy golf, the advantages of Ibaraki Prefecture include golf courses boasting great scenery and facilities, weather that is not cold all year round, and relatively low costs.
Even in December, when Korean temperatures are below freezing and snow falls, the average temperature in Ibaraki Prefecture remains between 2 and 10 degrees. Even in the coldest months of January and February, the average temperature does not fall below freezing. Of course, it almost never snows.
Ibaraki Prefecture, which is 10 times the area of Seoul (approximately 605㎢) and has a population of 2.8 million, has 114 golf courses. Among these, there are more than 10 high-quality golf courses that can host international golf competitions. To the south of Ibaraki Prefecture is Japan’s largest Kanto Plain, to the north is a mountainous region, and to the east is the Pacific Ocean. There are many courses that are geographically diverse and allow you to enjoy the spectacular scenery.
If you want to take a cool swing on a wide, flat fairway while looking at the Pacific Ocean, there is no need to go all the way to the United States. In addition, various hazards are exquisitely placed on each golf course, allowing for strategic approaches. There are also many courses that beginners can enjoy.
The best advantage is the price. The 58-year-old Mito Golf Club, which I visited last December, only charged 5,900 yen (about 54,000 won) for a round, including lunch and cart fees, on a weekday. On weekends, it costs around 17,000 to 20,000 yen (about 156,000 to 180,000 won). Surprisingly, this golf course is said to be one of the most expensive in Ibaraki Prefecture, so you can guess how cheap other golf courses are.
There is a saying that cheap is expensive, but this does not apply to this golf course. The condition of the fairways and greens is comparable to that of high-end Korean membership golf courses. Because there is no caddy, it is good because the group can focus on each other and chat. There is no team rushing after you, so you can enjoy the round leisurely. There are many golf courses that provide pick-up services from major transportation hubs, including Mito Station.
● Harmony of shopping and gardens
If you enjoy golf during the day, you can enjoy shopping at night. Mito City, the location of the Ibaraki Prefectural Government, has a well-established shopping infrastructure, including Aeon Mall Mito Uchihara, the largest shopping mall in the North Kanto region. As you browse duty-free supermarkets and medicine stores, you won’t notice how time flies.
Mitoshi is famous for natto. 70% of Japan’s natto is produced in Ibaraki Prefecture. Just as when you think of Sunchang, you think of red pepper paste, when you think of Mito in Japan, you think of natto. Anyone who is not averse to natto can enjoy the essence of natto culture.
If you like sake, a Japanese alcohol that is popular around the world, Ibaraki Prefecture can be a good choice. Ibaraki Prefecture, a famous rice producing area and abundant in good water, has been producing high-quality sake since ancient times. Currently, there are 35 breweries. There are several breweries that the public can tour. In most cases, it is easy to get there using public transportation such as subways or buses. This means you can drink as much as you want since you don’t have to drive a rental car.
In Ami Town, southern Ibaraki Prefecture, there is a premium outlet based on the American West Coast concept. There are about 150 stores of famous domestic and foreign brands, and you can purchase them at special prices.
This outlet is famous for another specialty. The Ushiku Great Buddha, the world’s tallest Buddha statue at 120 meters in height, is located right nearby. The Great Ushiku Buddha was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1995 as the world’s largest bronze Buddha statue. Ushiku Buddha is also a ‘temple’ in itself. There is a 5-story building inside the Buddha statue, and if you take the elevator up, there is an observatory at 85 meters high.
If you are satisfied with golf and shopping, it is time to visit Kairakuen (偕樂園), one of Ibaraki Prefecture’s top three gardens in Japan. Kairakuen, which was built in 1842 at the end of the Edo shogunate period, can be called a ‘sea of flowers’ in a word. Although it is difficult to see flowers in the winter, various flower festivals such as the Plum Festival, Cherry Blossom Festival, and Azalea Festival take place from February to fall.
Fukuroda Falls in Daigo Town, one of Japan’s three major waterfalls, is also nicknamed ‘Four Falls’. In addition to the spectacle of the waterfall falling directly on you four times, you cannot experience its true beauty unless you see it in all four seasons, hence the nickname.
If I had to point out a drawback of Ibaraki Prefecture, it would be that there aren’t many hot springs, but there aren’t any. If you go to the northern state-run Hitachi Seaside Park, you will find Ajigaura Hot Springs Nozomi, made up of hot spring water pumped from an ancient stratum 1504 meters underground. Near the hot springs is Ajigaura Beach, which is called ‘Naples of the East’ because its scenery is similar to Naples, Italy. The 1.2 km long white sand beach that runs along the Pacific Ocean is dazzling.
● Move from place to place conveniently…
Ibaraki Airport, which opened in 2010, can be a new stopover point to the Kanto region of Japan for Koreans who only know Narita or Haneda airports. There is no need to come up to Seoul to go from Chungcheong-do to Tokyo. Although it is a small regional airport, it has both international and domestic flights, so it can be a base for heading to the northern Kanto or southern Tohoku.
It is also close to Tokyo. You can take a direct bus to Tokyo Station from in front of Ibaraki Airport. If you take this bus, you can go anywhere in Tokyo in 100 to 140 minutes. There is not much difference from the time it takes to arrive at Haneda Airport from Seoul and take the high-speed train to downtown Tokyo. The bus fare is 1,650 yen (about 15,190 won) for adults and 830 yen (about 7,650 won) for children. There are stations of Tsukuba Express and Joban Line, a metropolitan railway connecting Tokyo, throughout Ibaraki Prefecture, so enjoying golf and traveling to Tokyo is easy.
At the launch ceremony held at Ibaraki Airport in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture on December 3 last year, AeroK CEO Kang Byeong-ho said, “Currently, there are only routes departing from Cheongju, but if there is demand, we will also consider direct flights from Incheon Airport to Ibaraki Airport.” He said. Ibaraki Prefecture Governor Kazuhiko Oigawa also said on this day, “The proportion of Koreans among foreign tourists visiting the prefecture is overwhelmingly high, and the number of visitors is increasing,” adding, “With the launch of direct flights, we will actively pursue policies that can satisfy Korean tourists.” “He said.
Ibaraki Prefecture operates a Korean website. We suggest the optimal course to tour major tourist attractions, from a day trip to a 4-day, 3-night trip by train, car, bicycle, or foot.