Mito & Northern Ibaraki Local Quiz Practice: Questions and Explanations

Correct answerKasama City

Kasama Inari Shrine in Kasama City is one of Japan's "Three Great Inari Shrines," alongside Fushimi Inari (Kyoto) and Yutoku Inari (Saga). Said to have been founded in 651, it draws about 3.5 million visitors a year. In autumn, the shrine grounds also host a chrysanthemum festival that has drawn crowds for more than a century.

Source:About Kasama Inari ShrineKasama Inari Shrine, one of Japan's Three Great Inari Shrines

Correct answerOarai Town

The Kamiiso Torii stands at Oarai Isosaki Shrine in Oarai Town, on a reef called "Kamiiso" where the enshrined deity is said to have descended. Famous for its sunrise view through the gate, it is one of Oarai's signature scenic spots. Around New Year, crowds gather well before dawn to watch the sunrise appear through the gate.

Source:Kamiiso Torii | Official Oarai Tourism AssociationKamiiso Torii - Oarai Isosaki Shrine

Correct answerDaigo Town

Fukuroda Falls is located in Daigo Town, Ibaraki, and is ranked among Japan's Three Great Waterfalls along with Kegon Falls (Tochigi) and Nachi Falls (Wakayama). Cascading about 120m high and 73m wide over a massive rock face, it is a breathtaking sight. Its four-tiered drop also gives it the nickname "Falls of Four Visits."

Source:Fukuroda Falls and Namase Falls (National Scenic Site) | Daigo Town Official WebsiteFukuroda Falls, National Scenic Site and One of Japan's Three Great Waterfalls

Correct answerHitachinaka City

Hitachi Seaside Park, a national government park in Hitachinaka City, Ibaraki, is famous for its spring scenery, when about 5.3 million blue nemophila flowers blanket the "Miharashi Hill," attracting visitors from Japan and abroad. The bloom typically peaks from mid-April to early May and has been featured by overseas media.

Source:Hitachi Seaside ParkNemophila | Hitachi Seaside Park Official Website

Correct answerTokugawa Mitsukuni

The period drama "Mito Komon" is based on Tokugawa Mitsukuni, the 2nd lord of Mito Domain, and depicts him traveling the country with retainers to right wrongs. Its long-running regular broadcast continued until December 2011. There is no historical record that the real Mitsukuni actually traveled the country. The two loyal retainers at his side, Suke-san and Kaku-san, are likewise said to be based on real Mito Domain samurai.

Source:Mito Komon

Correct answera discontinued Hitachi Electric Railway line

Hitachi BRT runs on a dedicated bus roadway built on the former route of the discontinued Hitachi Electric Railway line, going into full operation in April 2019. Part of the route has also been used for automated-driving bus trials. Running on its own dedicated roadway, it avoids traffic congestion and is used daily by commuters and students.

Source:Hitachi BRT Goes Into Full Operation (From April 2019)

Correct answerHitachiota City

The Ryujin Suspension Bridge spans the Ryujin Gorge in Hitachiota City, Ibaraki, stretching 375m long and 100m above the lake surface. When completed, it was Japan's longest pedestrian-only suspension bridge, and it is now also famous for bungee jumping. A transparent panel set into the walkway lets visitors look straight down into the gorge below.

Source:Ryujin Suspension Bridge | Hitachiota City Official WebsiteRyujin Suspension Bridge | Hitachiota City Tourism and Products Association

Correct answerIzura Coast

Around 1903, Okakura Tenshin visited the Izura Coast in what is now Kitaibaraki City and grew fond of it, designing the hexagonal Rokkakudo pavilion himself as a place for contemplation. It is also known as the base of the Japan Art Institute. Its setting overlooking the Pacific still draws art lovers and sightseers alike.

Source:Rokkakudo | Official Kitaibaraki City Tourism AssociationRokkakudo in Old Photographs | Tenshin Memorial Museum of Art, Ibaraki

Correct answerTrue

Kairakuen was built by Tokugawa Nariaki, the 9th lord of Mito Domain, and is ranked alongside Kenroku-en (Kanazawa) and Koraku-en (Okayama) as one of Japan's "Three Great Gardens." Famous for its plum blossoms, it was designed as a companion facility to the domain school Kodokan. During bloom season, the "Mito Ume Matsuri" fills the garden's many plum varieties with visitors.

Source:Kairakuen Garden

Correct answerNatto (fermented soybeans)

Mito has a long history of natto-making using rice straw, and the association "Mito means natto" is widely shared nationwide. Mito also consistently ranks among the top cities nationwide for natto purchases in Japan's official household survey. Several long-established shops in the city still ferment natto the traditional way, wrapped in rice straw.

Source:Natto purchase spending: Mito ranks 5th, failing to reclaim first place

Correct answerTokugawa Nariaki

Kodokan was founded in 1841 by Tokugawa Nariaki, the 9th lord of Mito Domain, as part of his domain reforms, and it became the largest domain school in the country. Nariaki is a different person from Mizuno Tadakuni, who led the nationwide 'Tenpo Reforms.' Alongside training in both scholarship and martial arts, it also housed a medical hall, making it the core of Mito Domain's education for samurai children.

Source:KodokanKodokan

Correct answeraround 2016

Mito consistently ranks among the top cities nationwide for natto purchases in the Ministry of Internal Affairs' household survey, most recently taking first place in 2016. It remains a perennial top contender, and "Mito means natto" is a widely shared point of local pride. Recent surveys still place the city near the top, and the ranking carries real brand value for local natto makers and processors.

Source:Natto purchase spending: Mito ranks 5th, failing to reclaim first place

Correct answerMito Ume Matsuri (Plum Festival)

The Mito Ume Matsuri is an annual event held at Kairakuen Garden and Kodokan from mid-February to March, when many plum trees burst into bloom, with events such as outdoor tea ceremonies and night illuminations. During the festival, local "plum ambassadors" also appear at promotional events that draw crowds of visitors.

Source:Mito Ume Matsuri Official Website

Correct answerLake Senba

The Mito Komon Festival fireworks display is held at Lake Senba, featuring fireworks by Nomura Fireworks, the most-decorated fireworks maker with the Prime Minister's Award, known for its fireworks reflected on the lake's surface. Roughly 4,500 shells light the night sky in early August, and the lakeside promenade fills with spectators throughout the festival.

Source:Fireworks Display Guide

Correct answerKuhara Fusanosuke

Kuhara Fusanosuke acquired the Hitachi Mine in 1905 and rapidly developed it. He led the construction of the Great Chimney as a solution to the smoke pollution problem, and was also deeply involved in founding Hitachi, Ltd. He later became the company's first president, leaving a lasting mark on the industrial foundations of the Hitachi area.

Source:The Founder's Spirit: Kuhara Fusanosuke

Correct answerHitachi Furyumono

Hitachi Furyumono is a float and mechanical puppet performance tradition passed down at the festival of Kamine Shrine, Hitachi City's guardian shrine. It was registered as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009, and in 2016 was added to an expanded registration of 'Yama, Hoko, Yatai, Float Festivals.' Each of the float's five tiers stages a different puppet scene, keeping the performance engaging from start to finish.

Source:Hitachi FuryumonoHitachi Furyumono

Correct answerabout 1,000,000

Nakaminato Fish Market has five seafood shops and seven eateries, selling fish landed that same morning. It draws about 1 million visitors a year from Ibaraki and beyond, making it one of the Kanto region's leading tourist markets. Vendors calling out prices in the style of an auction add to the market's lively, hands-on atmosphere.

Source:Nakaminato Fish Market

Correct answerthe Satake clan

Ota Castle was the residence of the Satake clan for about 470 years. It is also called 'Maizuru-jo' (Dancing Crane Castle) from a legend that cranes danced in the sky when Satake Takayoshi, the third-generation head, entered the castle. Today the site is preserved as Maizuru Park, where surviving earthworks and moats still let visitors trace the outline of the old castle.

Source:Ruins of Maizuru Castle (Ota Castle)

Correct answerSeizanso

Seizanso (Seizan Goten) was Tokugawa Mitsukuni's retirement residence. Mitsukuni lived there from 1691 until his death in 1700, devoting himself to compiling 'Dai Nihonshi.' It is designated a National Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty. It remains open to the public today, and its modest, unadorned buildings give a vivid sense of how simply Mitsukuni lived in his final years.

Source:Seizan Goten (Seizanso)

Correct answerKasama Tokitomo

Kasama Castle is said to have originated when Kasama Tokitomo, during his conflict with the warrior monks of Tokuzo-ji Temple, built a fortress on the mountain summit around 1219. The Kasama clan then governed the area for about 18 generations. The summit offers sweeping views over the city below, and a maintained trail now makes the climb an easy way to explore the site's history.

Source:Kasama Castle RuinsContinued Top 100 Japanese Castles: Kasama Castle (Ibaraki)

Correct answerGolden Week (late April to early May)

Kasama no Himatsuri is a pottery fair held every year during Golden Week, from April 29 to May 5, at Kasama Geijutsu no Mori Park, with many potters and kilns exhibiting their work. Stalls run by everyone from seasoned kilns to first-year potters line the grounds, drawing bargain-hunters eager to find a hidden gem.

Source:Kasama no Himatsuri Executive CommitteeKasama no Himatsuri

Correct answerKatsuta Station and Ajigaura Station

The Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway Minato Line is a local line connecting JR Katsuta Station to Ajigaura Station, about 14.3km, with all 11 stations located within Hitachinaka City. Along the way it passes near Nakaminato Fish Market and the beaches at Ajigaura, making it a convenient option for sightseeing as well as daily commuting.

Source:Local Line Feature: Hitachinaka Kaihin Railway

Correct answera decorated tumulus with colored murals

Torazuka Kofun is a 56.5m-long keyhole-shaped tumulus built in the early 7th century. Its stone chamber preserves murals painted in red pigment depicting geometric patterns and weapons, making it a representative decorated tumulus of eastern Japan. The murals remain in good condition, and the person buried there is thought to have been a powerful local chieftain of the time.

Source:Permanent Exhibit: Torazuka KofunTorazuka Kofun

Correct answer2 sailings

The "Sunflower" ferry from Oarai Port to Tomakomai runs two sailings a day, an evening departure and a midnight departure. It plays an important role connecting the greater Tokyo area and Hokkaido by sea, carrying both passengers and cargo. The crossing takes about 18 hours, and onboard facilities such as observation baths and restaurants help passengers enjoy the long voyage.

Source:MOL Sunflower

Correct answeraround November to March (winter)

Kitaibaraki City is known as the birthplace of ankou-nabe (anglerfish hot pot). Anglerfish caught off the Joban coast are in season from November to March, in winter, when the cold concentrates the flavor of the fish, traditionally enjoyed in a miso-based hot pot. The fish is also known for a distinctive butchering method called "tsurushi-giri," in which it is hung and carved, a winter sight that draws its own share of visitors.

Source:Birthplace of Ankou-Nabe!! Kitaibaraki's Anglerfish Feature

Correct answerTenpo 12

The Kodokan held its provisional opening ceremony on August 1, 1841 (Tenpo 12), and after more than 15 further years its formal opening ceremony took place in 1857 (Ansei 4). Instruction of domain samurai continued throughout this interval as a center of Mito Gaku learning, carrying directly into the school's eventual formal opening.

Source:About KodokanHistory and Timeline - Kodokan

Correct answerAbout 100 varieties

Kairakuen has about 100 varieties and 3,000 plum trees planted throughout the garden, which reach their peak during the Plum Festival. Because early- and late-blooming varieties are mixed together, the blossoms in fact stay in season for more than a month each year, and visitors can compare their subtly different shapes and scents side by side.

Source:Kairakuen - Mito Tourism Convention Association

Correct answer1829 (Bunsei 12)

Nariaki became the 9th lord of Mito Domain in 1829 (Bunsei 12) and subsequently launched his domain reforms. The domain's finances were in urgent need of repair at the time, and the reforms he began, including the eventual founding of the Kodokan, were largely carried forward under his successor, Yoshiatsu.

Source:Tenpo Reforms (Mito Domain)

Correct answerMito ronin and a Satsuma samurai

On March 3, 1860, Ii Naosuke was attacked outside Sakuradamon Gate by 17 Mito domain ronin and Satsuma samurai Arimura Jizaemon, with Arimura reportedly taking Ii's head. The killing shocked the shogunate and is widely seen as a turning point that accelerated the political turmoil of the final years of Edo rule.

Source:Sakuradamon Incident - Wikipedia (Japanese)The Sakuradamon Incident: Ii Naosuke vs. Mito and Satsuma Ronin

Correct answerThe rebels surrendered to Kaga Domain, and over 350 members including Takeda Kounsai were executed

After marching west, the Tengu-to force surrendered to Kaga Domain. The following year Takeda Kounsai, Tamaru Inanoemon and over 350 members were executed in a tragic end to the rebellion. The loss of so many capable retainers left a lasting mark on the domain's later governance.

Source:Tengu-to Rebellion - Wikipedia (Japanese)

Correct answerAbout 54m

About a third of the Great Chimney collapsed in 1993, but the surviving portion, standing about 54m tall, remains in use today. Its original height on completion was about 155.75m. Because full demolition would be costly, discussions continue about preserving and repurposing the remaining stack as a local landmark.

Source:The Great Chimney of Hitachi Mine - Wikipedia (Japanese)

Correct answer1910

Hitachi, Ltd. was founded in 1910 (Meiji 43), growing out of the manufacture of electrical machinery in a small workshop inside the Hitachi Mine. It began by repairing and building motors and other electrical equipment, and has since grown into one of Japan's leading manufacturers, spanning everything from social infrastructure to home appliances.

Source:The Founder's Spirit: Odaira Namihei - City of Hitachi

Correct answer651 (Hakuchi 2)

According to shrine tradition, Kasama Inari Shrine was founded in 651 (Hakuchi 2) during the reign of Emperor Kotoku, making it an ancient shrine counted among Japan's three great Inari shrines. With well over 1,300 years of history behind it, the shrine has remained a center of local devotion across the centuries.

Source:About Kasama Inari Shrine

Correct answerThe monk Saigyo

Ranked among Japan's three great waterfalls, Fukuroda Falls owes its nickname "Falls of Four Visits" to a legend that the wandering monk Saigyo praised it, saying its true beauty could only be appreciated by visiting once each season. The falls also tumble in four dramatic tiers down a roughly 120-meter rock face.

Source:Fukuroda Falls: National Scenic Site, One of Japan's Three Great Waterfalls

Correct answerKegon Falls and Nachi Falls

Fukuroda Falls is counted among Japan's Three Great Waterfalls alongside Kegon Falls in Tochigi Prefecture and Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture. All three have long inspired religious devotion and literature, and each is admired as much for how its character shifts with the seasons as for its sheer volume and height.

Source:Fukuroda Falls and Namase Falls - National Scenic Site - Daigo Town

Correct answerGeographical Indication (GI) registration

Okukuji Shamo is known as the first jidori (native chicken breed) in Japan to receive Geographical Indication (GI) registration. Raised carefully for more than 100 days, the birds develop a firm texture and deep flavor, and the meat appears locally in everything from sashimi to grilled skewers.

Source:No. 71: Okukuji Shamo - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Correct answerArata Isozaki

Art Tower Mito, a complex for contemporary arts that opened in March 1990, was designed by architect Arata Isozaki. It combines a concert hall, theater, and museum under one roof, functioning as Mito's cultural hub, and the spiraling tower has become a familiar city landmark in its own right.

Source:Symbol Tower - Facility Guide - Art Tower MitoArt Tower Mito - Wikipedia (Japanese)

Correct answerSakanoue no Tamuramaro

Hanazono Shrine is said to have been founded in 795 (Enryaku 14) by shogun Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. Its grounds sit right at the entrance to Hanazono Valley, surrounded by lush forest, and the shrine has long been a focus of local devotion, with its rituals carefully preserved to this day.

Source:Hanazono Shrine (Kitaibaraki City) - Wikipedia (Japanese)

Correct answerIt is a production center for Kasama ware / Kasama Inari Shrine is regarded as one of Japan's three great Inari shrines / Kasama Castle is said to have been built by Kasama Tokitomo / The Makino family served as Kasama domain lords

Kasama ware, Kasama Inari Shrine, Kasama Castle, and the Makino family (Kasama domain lords) are all associated with Kasama City. The Izura Rokkakudo pavilion, linked to Okakura Tenshin, is in Kitaibaraki City, not Kasama. Together they make Kasama a city where ceramics, religious devotion, and castle-town history are woven tightly into one distinctive local identity.

Source:About Kasama Ware - Kasama CityKasama Castle - Wikipedia (Japanese)

Correct answerThe open area of Hitachi Seaside Park → The height of the Great Chimney of Hitachi Mine when completed → The height of Fukuroda Falls → The height of the Art Tower Mito's symbol tower

From largest to smallest: the open area of Hitachi Seaside Park (about 237ha) > the height of the Great Chimney when completed (about 155.75m) > the height of Fukuroda Falls (about 120m) > the height of the Art Tower Mito's symbol tower (about 100m). Comparing these figures side by side gives a quick sense of scale for each of the area's best-known landmarks.

Source:Overview of Hitachi Seaside ParkThe Great Chimney of Hitachi Mine - Wikipedia (Japanese)Fukuroda Falls and Namase Falls - National Scenic Site - Daigo Town