Located in Hitachi City, this branch is highly celebrated for its stunning coastal views and comprehensive wellness facilities. It is a favorite for those who want to combine a hot spring visit with a view of the Pacific Ocean.

Ocean-View Open-Air Bath: The facility's standout feature is an outdoor bath that offers a panoramic view of the Kawarako Coast and the Pacific Ocean.

Healing Springs: Includes high-concentration carbonated springs, which are popular for their potential blood circulation-promoting effects and skin-smoothing properties.

Detox Amenities: Features an "Auto Löyly" sauna where steam is generated by pouring water over hot stones, as well as silk baths and stone saunas (ganbanyoku).

On-Site Dining: The restaurant serves local Ibaraki cuisine, allowing visitors to enjoy regional flavors after their soak.

Overall, people say this public bath offers a variety of baths, including a highly concentrated carbonated spring, silk bath, and reclining bath, as well as a dry sauna. They highlight the stunning ocean views from the open-air bath, dining area, and sauna, and the relaxing atmosphere with comfortable rest areas and a manga library. They also like the friendly and helpful staff, it was ideal place to relax your soul and body in this season!

After the hot spring relaxation, we can walk down the Kawarako Beach Kitahama.

Kawarago Beach Kitahama (often specifically referred to as the Kawarago-Kitahama Sports Plaza area) is a scenic coastal destination in Hitachi City, Ibaraki. It is widely recognized as one of the "Best 100 Beaches in Japan" due to its high water quality and excellent visitor facilities.

Kawarako Beach is a historic destination dating back to the Edo Period, offering a mix of natural beauty and modern sports facilities. While the southern end is popular for swimming, the north side (Kitahama) is a primary hub for surfers and sports enthusiasts.

Surfing & Sports: The Kitahama area is a magnet for surfers due to its consistent and powerful waves. The adjacent Sports Plaza includes a "Target Bird Golf" course and a large promenade for running and walking.

Iconic Landmarks: Visitors can easily spot the red lighthouse and the "Eboshi Rock," a unique rock formation that serves as a symbol of the coastline.

Modern Amenities: The area is well-equipped with an administration office that provides restrooms, vending machines, and a resting room. Showers are available for a small fee (typically 100 yen per 5 minutes).

Seasonal Events: The beach hosts the popular Hitachi Kawarago Fireworks Display every August, drawing large crowds to its wide sandy shores.

Nakaminato Fish Market is one of Ibaraki Prefecture's largest and most popular tourist markets. It benefits from the meeting of warm and cold ocean currents, providing a massive variety of high-quality seafood at prices that often rival or beat those in Tokyo.

Atmosphere and Experience

The market is known for its high-energy, bustling atmosphere, especially on weekends when it attracts over one million visitors annually. It offers a more local and traditional experience compared to more commercialized markets, with vendors often manually processing their catches right in front of you.

The market features about a dozen specialized shops and restaurants. The quality is guaranteed by the immediate proximity to the port.

Fresh Rock Oysters: A signature experience at Nakaminato involves eating "Iwa-gaki" (rock oysters) that are just-shucked and served raw right at the vendor stalls.

Seafood Rice Bowls (Kaisendon): Restaurants like "Nakaminato-Hamagoya" are famous for their "Mihama-don," a massive rice bowl with ingredients so large they often overflow from the bowl.

Conveyor Belt Sushi: Morita Conveyor Belt Sushi is a highly recommended spot on the first floor for fresh sushi, while its second-floor counterpart offers a more premium experience with elevated views.

Winter Specialties: During the colder months (December–February), the market is the best place to try "Ankou Nabe" (monkfish hotpot), a local winter delicacy where every part of the fish is used.

Oarai Isosaki Shrine was founded in 856 AD, this coastal shrine is one of Japan's most picturesque "power spots," dedicated to the deities of nation-building and medicine.

Kamiiso-no-Torii: The shrine’s most famous feature—a stone gate standing on a jagged rock in the Pacific Ocean. It is a legendary site for sunrise photography, especially on New Year's Day.

Unique Guardians: Instead of traditional lions, you’ll find statues of frogs (a pun on the Japanese word for "return") to ensure the safe return of travelers.

Anime Ties: It is a major pilgrimage site for fans of Girls und Panzer, featuring many custom-drawn prayer plaques.

The Climb: A steep, grand stone staircase leads from the beach to the main hall, offering a stunning view of the sea through the trees.

We will visit it at late afternoon for the best photos of the torii gate against the ocean waves before we end the tour.