The sun doesn't 'sleep' in Ibaraki.

After a whole day climbing mountains or wandering through gardens and solemn temples, I still see the 'sun' shining brightly, as if it never sleeps. That 'sun' is the color of autumn, when thousands of leaves change color from orange, yellow, and red, creating striking patterns amidst the vast landscape.

Fukuroda Falls: Ablaze with the vibrant red of maple leaves.

Located in Daigo Township, Fukuroda District, Fukuroda Falls is one of the three most beautiful and famous waterfalls in Japan. The waterfall is 120 meters high and 73 meters wide, with four tiers, formed approximately 15 million years ago by layers of sedimentary rock. It is also known as Yodo no Taki. If you visit in autumn, you can enjoy the continuous flow of water, adorned with a vibrant palette of colors from the maple trees, their leaves turning golden and red. We all patiently waited in long lines just to get the best vantage point to admire the falls and capture these captivating images.

To reach the waterfall, visitors will have to walk through bustling streets and shops selling eye-catching souvenirs. Don't buy any of those pretty trinkets just yet; instead, take some time for a short stroll along the beautiful path lined with simple houses, enjoying the scenery and completely relaxing in nature. A signature dish you absolutely must try here is Ayu, grilled fish considered the most delicious and expensive in Japan. The fish is marinated in salt and grilled to perfection, leaving you wanting more.

The "tunnel" in the Hananuki Valley

Stretching from the Tsuchitake Bridge along the Hananuki River to Torisone, the Hananuki Valley is one of Ibaraki's most beautiful natural landscapes in all four seasons. However, be aware that the 60-meter-long suspension bridge spanning the valley is always a "traffic jam" spot due to the large crowds of tourists who flock there to admire the scenery and take pictures.

In autumn, the bridge transforms into a tunnel, surrounded by branches dyed in eye-catching shades of red, orange, and yellow. From the bridge, you can see Shiomi Waterfall and the Hananuki River winding through the small valleys below. It's a truly peaceful and serene scene!

Bungee jumping from Honshu's longest suspension bridge.

Located in northern Ibaraki, the emerald green Ryujin Bridge, spanning Ryujin Gorge in Okukuji Natural Park, is considered the highest bungee jumping spot in Japan, with a jump platform over 100 meters high. It's a thrilling challenge for adventurous travelers. At 375 meters long, Ryujin is also the longest pedestrian bridge on Honshu Island. Walking across it to enjoy the natural scenery, especially in autumn, is simply ideal.

The color red not only paints the forests of Japan, but also permeates the cities, where you can easily witness the magical transformation in parks and temples. Ibaraki has countless such destinations.

Hitachi Park: Step into a paradise of Kochia flowers.

Strategically located next to Ajigaura Beach and boasting a year-round floral paradise, Hitachi Seaside Park is always bustling with visitors seeking to enjoy the flowers and relax on weekends. In autumn, visitors to Hitachi Seaside Park will be delighted by the vibrant red Kochia flower fields covering the hills. The pathways around the hills are cleverly and subtly arranged, making it easy for visitors to stroll and enjoy the fresh air. Alternatively, visitors can rent bicycles to cycle along the breathtaking flower-lined paths and capture memorable photos.

Besides Kochia, many other flowers are planted interspersed among the hills, such as Cosmos (butterfly flower), lily, zinnia, and many others. The park also features an amusement area with a large Ferris wheel, an ideal spot for visitors to admire panoramic views of the park, the coastline from above, or the carpets of flowers in countless colors.

Delicious street food: Salt-grilled Ayu fish – Japan's "Sweetfish".

One of my favorite street foods in Ibaraki is salt-grilled Ayu fish. Among many types of fish, Ayu is very expensive and highly prized by the Japanese. Despite being considered a premium dish, the preparation and enjoyment of the fish is very simple: salt-grilled. After being caught, the fish is marinated in salt, skewered onto bamboo sticks, and grilled over charcoal.

When enjoying it, you can eat it immediately without any dipping sauce. The golden-brown, crispy crust, the firm and sweet fish meat, and the rich, savory seasoning are irresistible. If you enjoy grilled ayu in September (the ayu's breeding season), you'll get to eat grilled fish full of rich, sweet roe. The price of each grilled ayu is from 400 JPY to approximately 85,000 VND.

Additional information:

+ Journey:Currently, there are no direct flights from Vietnam to Ibaraki. Travelers can:

Option 1: Fly from Vietnam to Narita Airport, then take the Tsukuba Express high-speed train to Tsukuba, which takes about 45 minutes.

Option 2: Fly from Vietnam to Haneda Airport, Tokyo. From there, travelers can choose to travel from Akihabara, Tokyo to Tsukuba, which takes about 45 minutes by Tsukuba Express, or from Ueno to Mito (the capital of Ibaraki), which takes about 1 hour by Express train.

+ Other attractions:The world's largest bronze Buddha statue, Ushiku Daibutsu; Oarai Isosaki Shrine; Kodokan, Japan's largest school during the Edo period; Aqua World Oarai Aquarium…

+ Language:English is not widely spoken in Japan, so you should go with a tour guide for assistance when needed, or carry a business card from your hotel in case you get lost.

+ Currency:The currency of Japan is the Yen (JPY). It's advisable to exchange money before arriving in Vietnam. The exchange rate is approximately 1 JPY ~ 220 VND. Tourists can exchange money at the airport or use credit cards when shopping at malls; however, it's still recommended to prepare a certain amount of cash.

+ Dishes you should try:Hitachi grilled beef, enjoyed with sake or plum wine produced by Ibaraki farmers, is a perfect match; other dishes include Anko fish hot pot, Hitachi Aki Soba noodles, Rose pork, fermented soybeans, and netted melon. Japanese food is relatively bland, so you can bring your own dried shrimp paste and chili-lime dipping sauce to suit your taste.

+ Suggested tours:Ibaraki - Mito - Fukushima - Hakone - Tokyo (6 days), price from 30,900,000 VND. Contact information: Vietravel - Hanoi, 03 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi. Tel: 04.3933 1978. Website: www.travel.com.vn.

Text: Que Lan. Photos: Various sources.

The Thanh