Tsuchiura Port 土浦港

Heritage boats, wide views, and cycling paths

Tsuchiura City on the Joban train line to Mito City is worth a visit any time of year. It's got a row of antique shophouses on the old Mito Kaido and a castle with some fine preserved and restored gates. The city is on the edge of Kasumigaura, one of the biggest freshwater lakes in Japan. One way to enjoy it in the summer is on a jetfoil or ferry to observe the hobikisen, white-sailed fishing boats. My preferred way to appreciate the lake is to ride the cycling paths around it. It's flat and meanders through villages, past historical spots and natural landscapes.