VIDEO: Okukuji in Japan’s Ibaraki Prefecture a great tourist attraction year-round

Fukuroda Falls (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Hidden away at the northeastern end of Kanto Plain, Ibaraki Prefecture’s Okukuji area boasts beautiful waterfalls, the country’s largest pedestrian suspension bridge and plenty more.

In the fall season, Okukuji is teeming with visitors wanting to enjoy the peak crimson and golden foliage on the surrounding landscape. However, there are many other reasons to visit Okukuji no matter what time of year.

While driving along the area made up of mountains and valleys, you can drop by one of the small restaurants or souvenir shops dotted along the road to sample local delicacies, such as soba noodles and shishamo chicken dishes.

In the center of the Okukuji area, Tsukimachi Falls is an impressive 17-meter-high and 12-meter-wide waterfall. Maple trees surround this roaring attraction which look brilliantly colorful in the fall, but also stunning in the spring and summer.

Tsukimachi Falls (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Nearby is another impressive attraction, the Ryujin Bridge. This suspension bridge stretches 375 meters and is the longest pedestrian bridge in the country. As you walk across, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Hitachi Mountain Range and the Namase River. If you’re a thrill-seeker, there is bungee jumping off the 100-meter-high bridge, too.

Ryujin Bridge (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

If you still didn’t have your fill of waterfalls, check out another Okukuji attraction, Fukuroda Falls. This is one of Japan’s three most majestic waterfalls and at 120 meters tall and 73 meters wide, you’ll be able to see why. This waterfall is often called “yodo no taki” (literally, a waterfall to visit four times a year), as its beauty is different every season. Here you can enjoy the waterfall with cherry blossoms in the spring, lush greenery in the summer, gorgeous colors in the fall and icy beauty in the winter. Additionally, in the winter, Fukuroda Falls has illuminations to add an opportunity to experience its beauty at night.