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Azalea, Kasama Pottery, Chestnut Treats!
Spending the Spring in Kasama
Less than two hours away from central Tokyo, Kasama Tsutsuji Park is renown for its beautiful azaleas that are in full bloom from late April to early May. In this period the park's hill becomes an endless red carpet of flowers. Also, from late April to early May the Kasama Himatsuri pottery festival is held in the area. This makes it a great trip to enjoy the seasonality of Japan!
Photo taken on May 1, 2019.
At the top of the hill inside the park is a shop selling local specialties like soft-serve ice cream made with Kasama pears, as well as udon and soba noodles.
For the most adventurous, during the event you can try your hand at tree climbing
Event period: 16 April to 8 May 2022
*the event is usually held in the period from mid-April to early May
*The schedule is subject to change depending on blooming conditions
Place: Kasama Tsutsuji Park (616-7 Kasama, Kasama-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture)
Fee: Adults (high school students and older) 500 yen. Free for junior high school students and younger
Website (Japanese-only): Kasama City official website
https://www.city.kasama.lg.jp/page/dir000005.html
*Please check the official website for event details before your visit.
*Dates for the 2021 Himatsuri Festival are to be determined.
The best thing about this festival is that all the potters of Kasama gather in one place, and you can see a variety of their works. This means more than 200 potters and an even wider selection of products. Since there are no strict rules about using a certain shape or style for Kasama Pottery, the artists can really show their individuality in their work. You can pick up and feel each piece to find the perfect texture, thickness and color for you.
As another perk of the Himatsuri, some potters sells their wares at a discounted price just for the event. The popular ones tend to sell out in the first half of the festival, so it's first come first served!
As for any respectable festival, the Himatsuri features a variety of food stalls that serve local dishes from Kasama and Ibaraki.
Inside the festival venue is also the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, where you can learn about the history and culture of Kasama Pottery and check out the pottery art displays.
http://www.himatsuri.net/access.php
Source: Kasama Himatsuri Official Website
Address: 1 Kasama, Kasama-shi, Ibaraki
Website: http://www.kasama.or.jp/english/index.html
This greengrocer is right in front of the Torii gate of the Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine. On the second floor is a café space where you can enjoy this seasonal sweet.
Officially called "Kasama Shuukuri", these cream puffs are filled with chestnuts, one of Kasama's local products. Take out is available, and if you order a drink you can use the café space on the second floor.
This sake brewery also serves amazake, a popular low-alcohol (sometimes non-alcohol) drink made from fermented rice that's considered to be very healthy and nutritious.
This shop sells hot homemade manju, a traditional steamed soft cake. The sweet red bean paste filling comes in two varieties: koshian (smooth) and tsubuan (chunky).
On the first floor is also a tourist information center where you can get info about Kasama. The museum offers free Wi-Fi.
Fare: 100 yen per ride, 300 yen for a one-day unlimited ride ticket.
Operation: 8 rides per day (excluding Mondays). If Monday is a national holiday the suspension of service is moved to the following day
Kasama City Tour Bus Route Map (PDF)
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Route: Akihabara Station → [Highway Bus Yakimono Liner] → Kasama Station and other places in Kasama City
Click here for more information about the Yakimono Liner
By train: about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Adults 3,560 yen
Route: Tokyo Station → [JR Joban Line Limited Express] → Tomobe Station → [JR Mito Line] → Kasama Station
There is a bus service from Ibaraki Airport to Mito Station about once an hour. From Mito Station, it takes about 20 minutes to get to Kasama Station on the JR Joban Line.
Bus route: Ibaraki Airport → Mito Station
Fare: Expressway route: 1,050 yen for adults one way, regular road route: 1,160 yen for adults one way
Click here for more information about the Ibaraki Airport
*The above article is based on a coverage from April 2020.
*Some information has been updated on April 2022
*Event schedules and other information in this article are subject to change. Please check the official websites before your visit.
A Spectacular Sea of Azaleas! Kasama Tsutsuji Park
Kasama Tsutsuji Park boasts about 8,500 azalea plants, and the flowers are usually in full bloom from late April to early May. During the peak blooming time the entire hill is covered in red and you can also see pink, white, and other colors of azaleas all around the park.
Photo taken on May 1, 2019.
At the top of the hill inside the park is a shop selling local specialties like soft-serve ice cream made with Kasama pears, as well as udon and soba noodles.
For the most adventurous, during the event you can try your hand at tree climbing
For the duration of the Azalea Festival, entry to the park does require a fee. However during the rest of the year you can get in for free and enjoy the view over Kasama city.
Information
Kasama Azalea Festival | 笠間つつじまつりEvent period: 16 April to 8 May 2022
*the event is usually held in the period from mid-April to early May
*The schedule is subject to change depending on blooming conditions
Place: Kasama Tsutsuji Park (616-7 Kasama, Kasama-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture)
Fee: Adults (high school students and older) 500 yen. Free for junior high school students and younger
Website (Japanese-only): Kasama City official website
https://www.city.kasama.lg.jp/page/dir000005.html
*Please check the official website for event details before your visit.
Accompany Your Azalea Viewing Experience With a Renown Pottery Festival
One of the things Kasama City is famous for is its pottery, called Kasama-yaki. Every year from April 29th to May 5th, the largest pottery fair in Kasama, the Kasama no Himatsuri, is held.*Dates for the 2021 Himatsuri Festival are to be determined.
The best thing about this festival is that all the potters of Kasama gather in one place, and you can see a variety of their works. This means more than 200 potters and an even wider selection of products. Since there are no strict rules about using a certain shape or style for Kasama Pottery, the artists can really show their individuality in their work. You can pick up and feel each piece to find the perfect texture, thickness and color for you.
As another perk of the Himatsuri, some potters sells their wares at a discounted price just for the event. The popular ones tend to sell out in the first half of the festival, so it's first come first served!
As for any respectable festival, the Himatsuri features a variety of food stalls that serve local dishes from Kasama and Ibaraki.
Inside the festival venue is also the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, where you can learn about the history and culture of Kasama Pottery and check out the pottery art displays.
Information
Kasama no Himatsuri | 笠間の陶炎祭
Event period: April 29 to May 5 2022
*the event is usually held in the period from mid-April to early May
Place: Kasama Geijutsu no Mori Park Event Space (2345 Kasama, Kasama-shi, Ibaraki Prefecture)
Fee: Adults 500 yen
Website (Japanese-only): https://www.himatsuri.net/
*Please check the official website for event details before your visit.
Kasama Himatsuri Festival Limited Time Tour Bus
A tour bus runs during the Kasama Himatsuri Festival. This bus goes around Kasama Tsutsuji Park, Kasama Himatsuri Festival, Kasama Inari Shrine, etc. One ride is 100 yen.http://www.himatsuri.net/access.php
Beautiful Contrast of Purple and Red! Wisteria Flowers at Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine
The Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine is considered to be one of the three major inari shrines in Japan. People usually visit it to pray for business prosperity, but in early May the gorgeous wisteria flowers steal the show and draw many more visitors to the shrine.
Information
Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine | 笠間稲荷神社Address: 1 Kasama, Kasama-shi, Ibaraki
Website: http://www.kasama.or.jp/english/index.html
Street Food Along Kasama Inari Monzen-Dori!
Kasama City has a lot of delicious local dishes that you should try. After visiting the Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine, we strolled around the area and tried some Kasama specialties. Read on to see our finds!■Kasama Inari Sushi
Inari sushi is vinegared rice wrapped in fried tofu, and it can be found all over Japan. The Kasama variety is special because it uses a lot of ingredients like soba noodles, walnuts and maitake mushrooms to enrich this simple dish. Each shop has a different style so be sure to try a few!■Strawberry Parfait
Place: Okai Shouten | 岡井商店（MAP）This greengrocer is right in front of the Torii gate of the Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine. On the second floor is a café space where you can enjoy this seasonal sweet.
■Chestnut Cream Puffs
Place: Kashi Koubou Fuku | 菓子工房 福（MAP）Officially called "Kasama Shuukuri", these cream puffs are filled with chestnuts, one of Kasama's local products. Take out is available, and if you order a drink you can use the café space on the second floor.
■Tomato Amazake
Place: Sasame Soubee Shouten（MAP）This sake brewery also serves amazake, a popular low-alcohol (sometimes non-alcohol) drink made from fermented rice that's considered to be very healthy and nutritious.
■Manju
Place: Nakaya Souhonten | 中屋総本店（MAP）This shop sells hot homemade manju, a traditional steamed soft cake. The sweet red bean paste filling comes in two varieties: koshian (smooth) and tsubuan (chunky).
Seasonal Goshuin at Shofuku-Ji Temple
Goshuin is a sort of "proof of visit" seal that is given out at temples and shrines. They usually include a red stamp and hand-written calligraphy that state the name of the temple, the date of your visit, and sometimes the temple's symbol or a prayer. People often collect them as a souvenir of their visit. The Sashirosan Shofuku-Ji Temple is on the way to Kasama Tsutsuji Park, so make sure you pay a visit! It has different goshuin designs for each month.Bonus: We Found Some Small Koinobori (Carp Streamers)!
If you stop by the Kasama History Exchange Center Izutsuya, they have tiny carp streamers on display during this period. Can you spot them in the picture?On the first floor is also a tourist information center where you can get info about Kasama. The museum offers free Wi-Fi.
Enjoy Azaleas, Pottery and Gourmet Food in Kasama During Japan's Golden Week!
To summarize, during the same period you have the Kasama Azalea Festival and the Himatsuri pottery festival, as well as the Kasama Inari Jinja Shrine and other attractions nearby. If you visit Kasama in spring there are plenty of seasonal flowers and events to enjoy!
Access Information
■Kasama City Tour Bus
A bus that takes you to major sightseeing spots in the city.Fare: 100 yen per ride, 300 yen for a one-day unlimited ride ticket.
Operation: 8 rides per day (excluding Mondays). If Monday is a national holiday the suspension of service is moved to the following day
Kasama City Tour Bus Route Map (PDF)
■Bicycle Rental
You can rent a bicycle at the tourist information center in front of Kasama Station. Here you can also find handy maps and pamphlets with sightseeing information.Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
■How to get to Kasama from Tokyo
By bus: about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Adults 1,650 yenRoute: Akihabara Station → [Highway Bus Yakimono Liner] → Kasama Station and other places in Kasama City
Click here for more information about the Yakimono Liner
By train: about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Adults 3,560 yen
Route: Tokyo Station → [JR Joban Line Limited Express] → Tomobe Station → [JR Mito Line] → Kasama Station
■How to get to Kasama from Ibaraki Airport
There is a bus service from Ibaraki Airport to Mito Station about once an hour. From Mito Station, it takes about 20 minutes to get to Kasama Station on the JR Joban Line.
Bus route: Ibaraki Airport → Mito Station
Fare: Expressway route: 1,050 yen for adults one way, regular road route: 1,160 yen for adults one way
Click here for more information about the Ibaraki Airport
*The above article is based on a coverage from April 2020.
*Some information has been updated on April 2022
*Event schedules and other information in this article are subject to change. Please check the official websites before your visit.
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THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM 02 25,2021 Author：DiGJAPAN! Editorial Team
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