1-day tour to Hitachi seaside park and Oarai Isosaki shrine in Ibaraki, Japan

Hitachi Seaside Park is located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan, facing the Pacific Ocean to the east and just an hour's drive from Tokyo, making it very conveniently accessible. Formerly a military base, it was converted into a park after 1973. The park's Chinese name is often referred to as Hitachi Seaside Park, but this is a slight misunderstanding. In Japan's old administrative system, Ibaraki was called Hitachi Province. The Japanese kana for "Hitachi," like Hitachi, is written as ひたち (Hitachi), so it's often translated as Hitachi Seaside Park in China. In fact, the official translation is "Hitachi Seaside Park." The park has four entrances: West Gate, South Gate, Central Gate, and Seaside Gate. The park is divided into flower areas, West Exit, South Exit, woods, grasslands, dunes, and an amusement park, each with its own unique character. This vast, gently undulating coastal dune landscape is ablaze with vibrant flowers year-round. Tulips, daffodils, and pieris bloom in spring, while zinnias, lavender, and sunflowers bloom in summer. In autumn, cosmos and kochia dominate the scene, while in winter, ice tulips and plum blossoms bring life to the snowy landscape. The park is particularly famous for its flower area (Miharashi-no-Oka). Every month from late April to late May, over 4.5 million graceful blue and white pieris flowers bloom here. The azure sea can be seen in the distance. The sky, the sea, and the sea of ​​flowers are all blue, creating a blue world reminiscent of Pandora's Planet Avatar. In summer, the flower fields are planted with small, spherical kochias. Initially green, they gradually transform into a mix of green and pink, and in autumn, they take on a vibrant crimson hue. During this time, you can capture stunning photos of the cosmos blooming against the red hills. Locals often bring their families here to enjoy the flowers and picnic. If you'd like to experience local life, bring some light meals and a picnic blanket and enjoy the beautiful scenery while sitting on the grass. The West Exit is a great place to enjoy tulips and daffodils in spring, with a tulip show held every spring. Near the seaside gate is the vast dune area, home to the Fragrance Valley, where over a hundred varieties of spices, including mint, lavender, and rosemary, are cultivated. The central grassland area is covered in colorful zinnias in summer and autumn, creating vibrant photos against the backdrop of the amusement park's towering Ferris wheel. Entering through the central gate is the amusement park, home to the popular Ferris wheel, Kappa House, carousel, and forest roller coaster—a place for both children and adults to have a fun day. The Seaside Cafe, located in the dune area, is also a must-see. This seaside café, housed in a glass house (グラスハウス), lives up to its name, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows. Sit in the open-air café, directly facing the Pacific Ocean, enjoy a cup of fragrant coffee accompanied by a simple Western-style meal, and gaze at the sea and sky in this bright and tranquil space. Because the park is so vast, walking the entire route is arduous, so many visitors opt to take the park's seaside train or rent bicycles. The train stops at each area and at the park's four main gates. The train generally departs from the Central Gate and makes its way to ten stops: Rose Garden, South Gate, Desert and Sea Forest, Seaside Terrace, Seaside Gate, Prairie, Flower Area (みはらしの丘), Memorial Forest, and West Gate. Bicycle rentals are located at each of the four main gates, and bicycles must be returned at the rental counters.