My father in law is from Ibaraki. Been there a number of times. Japan is not that big, if I kept riding the train that takes me to work further north, I would eventually get to Ibaraki. Mito, the capital is a nice place too. It is famous for natto (fermented soy bean) dishes. Yum.
here are pics from the minshuku. we (our surf crew, two cars) went up there once or twice a year.
i remember in this next one, papa-san was explaining how the US fighter planes would fly, he was a zero pilot!
you got me going now...
here's me in Chiba (can you see the lime green nose of my board under the lip?
finally, my Niijima trophy!
my son was born in Japan!