A Shore Excursion day trip in Ibaraki
Ready to have a relaxing memorable day trip in Ibaraki? Head to east and see the famous red gate standing in the ocean at Oarai Isosaki Shrine – it's amazing for photos! Then, eat some super fresh seafood right by the sea at Nakaminato Fish Market. Finish your day at Hitachi Seaside Park, a huge park filled with beautiful flowers that change with the seasons, from blue in spring to red in autumn.
This trip offers a great mix of beautiful views, delicious food, and stunning natural scenery!
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel or Utsunomiya train station
- At your hotel or train station - I will contact you on mobile.
Oarai Isosaki Shrine (Kamiiso-no-Torii)
Highlight: This shrine is famous for its iconic "Kamiiso-no-Torii" gate standing on rocks in the Pacific Ocean. It's a breathtaking spot, especially at sunrise or when waves crash against the rocks, offering fantastic photo opportunities. According to legend, this rock is where a god descended.
Lunch at Nakaminato Fish Market
Just a short distance from Oarai Isosaki Shrine, this bustling fish market is a must-visit for seafood lovers. You can see the day's fresh catch, sample a variety of seafood, and enjoy a fresh seafood lunch at one of the many restaurants. It's a vibrant atmosphere and a great place to experience local life.
Hitachi Seaside Park
This vast park is renowned for its seasonal flower displays that transform the landscape into a sea of color.
Spring (Mid-April to Early May): Millions of "baby blue eyes" (Nemophila) blanket Miharashi Hill, creating an incredible blue spectacle that blends with the sky and ocean.
Autumn (Mid-July to Mid-October): The Kochia (Broom Grass) bushes turn a brilliant red, making for a stunning contrast with other autumn flowers like cosmos.
Other seasons: The park also features rapeseed flowers, sunflowers, hydrangeas, and plum blossoms at different times of the year.
Ending Point
At your hotel or Utsunomiya train station
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Tour Guiding
Interpreting fee
Hotel Pick up/Drop off
I can pick you in Tokyo area, please message me for details
Your and Guide admission Tickets:
If you wish to receive a Goshuin (red stamp) from the shrine, there is usually a small fee (typically ¥300-¥500).
Hitachi Seaside Park Standard Pricing:
Adults (15 years old and over): ¥800
Seniors (65 years old and over): ¥560
Junior high school students and younger: FREE
Your Rail fare: Approximately 5000 YENS per person from Utsunomiya train station
Lunch
Personal Purchases
Tour Important Information
Hot and Humid: Summer weather in Ibaraki will be hot and humid. Average temperatures are around 25-28°C (77-83°F), but it can feel hotter due to humidity, often reaching highs in the low 30s°C (85-90s°F).
What to Wear: Pack lightweight, breathable clothing. Don't forget sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses for sun protection also wear comfortable shoes
Hydration: Stay hydrated! Carry plenty of water with you.
Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Important message from the supplier
My schedule can be flexible, up to my deadline of works.
I can guide you in any area of Japan, please contact me in advance!
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
About Tour Guide Andy L.
Hello! I’m Your Friendly Guide to Japan’s Kanto Region
I’m based in the beautiful Tochigi Prefecture and absolutely love sharing Japan’s amazing culture, history, and hidden spots with visitors like you. Before doing tour guiding, I was a public school teacher, so I’m great at making stories come alive and helping you really connect with the places we visit.
I speak Japanese at an advanced level (N2), and I’ve spent a lot of time exploring Japan—from living a year in the peaceful town of Kamishihoro in Hokkaido to wandering the bustling streets of Tokyo. This means I can give you insider tips and deep insights that go beyond the usual tourist trails.
*What I Offer*
I mainly guide around the Kanto area, which includes Tokyo, Yokohama, Saitama, Ibaraki, Gunma, and of course, Tochigi. Here are some of the fun tours I can take you on:
- **Utsunomiya Cultural Immersion:** Spend a day discovering the unique charm and tasty eats of Utsunomiya.
- **Tokyo All-in-One:** Explore both East and West Tokyo in a single day for a full city experience.
- **Anime & Pop Culture Tours:** Tailor-made adventures based on your favorite shows, games, and characters.
- **Kanto Day Trips:** Visit iconic spots like Nikko’s stunning temples or Kamakura’s historic sites.
I also love guiding in other parts of Japan, especially Kyoto—I’ve seen every World Heritage Site there! Plus, I often run tours in Osaka, Nara, Nagoya, Hikone, and more, all easy to reach by train.
*Customize Your Journey*
Every tour is flexible and designed just for you. To make your trip even more memorable, I’ll create a free, beautifully crafted photo album with music from your tour—perfect for sharing or keeping as a souvenir.
Ready to explore Japan in a fun, relaxed way with someone who’s passionate about showing you the real stories behind every place? Let’s chat and start planning your perfect adventure!
Reviews
Aj A.
“Initial D tour”
5/5 great communication leading up to start of the trip. Pick up and drop off from my hotel helped make it stress free to start and finish. I got to see all the locations I've always wanted to for so long, very happy about that. Customized the trip to my liking Andy is very chilled and laid back which was perfect nothing was an issue took me to a great spot to try local food and did a bit of shopping to find the anime stuff I was after. Very happy would highly recommend
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Andy L.
Hi AJ, thank you so much for the 5-star review! I’m really glad I could help you check those long-awaited initial D locations off your list. It was a pleasure customizing the day for you, and I’m happy we managed to track down the specific anime items you were looking for! Helping make the trip stress-free is always my goal, so I'm glad the pick-up and drop-off worked out well. Hope to see you again for another tour in the future! Andy
Michael L.
“GREAT DAY TRIP TO MT. FUJI”
Andy was a delightful tour guide. Believe it or not, one of our many highlights along the way was a stop at a highway rest stop. Being from the USA we were amazed at how different this place was compared to ones at home. Then on to Mt. Fuji. We were awestruck when the grand mountain first presented itself to us. Absolutely beautiful. The closer we got the more magnificent it was. Our stop at the village of Oshino Hakkai was very interesting. Just seeing the ancient structures and imagining the life they lived back in the day was inspiring. From there Andy took us to several spots for photo ops. Andy asked us what we would like to eat and we requested something "local" to immerse ourselves in customary style and food. He picked a spot that fulfilled both. It was fun to immerse ourselves in the Japanese culture. Andy was still willing to take us to at least one other place, but with our bellies full, we were ready to head back to our hotel in Yokohama and savor our memories from the day. Andy was an excellent guide, conversationalist, driver and new friend. We would highly recommend him for any tour he offers. We are sure you will not be dissapointed. Mike and Sue
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Andy L.
Dear Mike and Sue, Thank you so much for your kind words! It was truly a pleasure spending the day with you. I’m so glad you enjoyed the unique charm of our highway rest stops—they really are a world of their own! Seeing your reactions to Mt. Fuji and the history of Oshino Hakkai made the trip special for me as well. I hope you’re still savoring those memories back home in the USA. I’d love to welcome you back for another adventure anytime! Andy
Jeaney Y.
“Customised Gunma highlights from Ikaho to Kusatsu”
Andy kindly substituted for another guide on short notice, to which we are grateful for. This tour is excellent in covering both areas from Ikaho to Kusatsu Onsen, with plenty of interesting sights along the way including delicious udon with a long history, mountain scenery and Yamba Dam. Its a relaxing way to sightsee in otherwise would've been just been a point to point journey. Thank you Andy, for your patience and care towards both tours!
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Andy L.
Hi Jeaney, Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure to step in and ensure you had a great experience moving between Ikaho and Kusatsu. I'm so glad you enjoyed the mountain scenery and the historic udon—those 'point-to-point' journeys are often the best time to discover hidden gems like the Yamba Dam. It was a joy to spend that time with you, and I truly appreciate your appreciation for my care and patience. Hope to see you in Japan again!
$195/ per group
More tours by Andy L.
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Initial D tour on Mountain Haruna Gunma
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The Hidden Gems of Anime and OTAKU culture Lovers Tour in Yokohama & Tokyo
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