Steep Your Own Umeshu in Oarai, See the Ume in Mito: Two Days with Ume Sonare OARAI, Kairakuen and Kodokan

Why not add steeping your own ume to a plum blossom trip? Ume Sonare OARAI in Oarai, Ibaraki, is an ume experience park opened by Yoshidaya, a long-established umeboshi maker. It is about 25 minutes by train from Mito, so you can pair it with the ume at Kairakuen and Kodokan on a two-day trip.

Prices, opening days and bookings can change. The activities are reservation only, so check availability on the booking site as soon as your dates are set.

The trip at a glance

• Day 1 (Mito): see the ume at Kairakuen and Kodokan. Stay in Mito or Oarai.
• Day 2 (Oarai): steep umeshu or ume syrup at Ume Sonare OARAI, then visit Oarai Isosaki Shrine.
• When: Kairakuen is usually at its best from mid-February to mid-March, when the Mito Plum Festival is held (dates on Plum festivals). Ume Sonare OARAI is closed on Wednesdays, so make sure Day 2 is not a Wednesday.

Day 1: ume in Mito

Kairakuen

One of Japan's three great gardens, and famous for its ume. About 20 minutes by bus from the north exit of JR Mito Station. During the festival, a temporary station, Kairakuen Station (down trains only), opens on holidays and selected weekdays. Access, usual season and bloom reports are on the Kairakuen page.

There are evening illuminations during the festival (in 2026, "Kairakuen UME The Lights" ran Fridays to Sundays and holidays, February 13 to March 15).

Kodokan

The former domain school of Mito, with about 800 ume trees of around 60 varieties. Like Kairakuen, it is a venue of the Mito Plum Festival, and it is within walking distance of the north exit of Mito Station.

In March: an umeshu festival

Mito holds the "National Umeshu Festival in Mito" in March (the 11th was March 13–15, 2026). A good chance to find the taste you like before making your own the next day.

Day 2: steep your own ume in Oarai

Getting there

• Train: from Mito Station, about 25 minutes on the Kashima Rinkai Railway Oarai-Kashima Line to Oarai Station. Then about 20 minutes on the town loop bus to "Yakuba Iriguchi" and about 5 minutes on foot, or about 15 minutes by taxi from Oarai Station.
• Car: about 10 minutes from Mito-Oarai IC. Parking for 10 cars.

Make umeshu or ume syrup at Ume Sonare OARAI

Choose the ume, sugar and alcohol and steep your own bottle: 25 combinations for syrup, 125 for umeshu. It takes about 50 minutes.

• Prices (from November 5, 2026): ume syrup M from ¥2,640, L from ¥3,630; umeshu M from ¥3,080, L from ¥4,950.
• It is not ready on the day: you take it home to mature. Syrup is ready in about 2 weeks, umeshu in about a month. Alcohol rules mean no tasting on site.
• Hours: 10:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00), closed Wednesdays (see their calendar).
• Booking: on the booking site.

The bottles are heavy, so bring a bag if you are travelling by train. Umeshu is for ages 20 and over.

A factory viewing corridor and an ume grove are still being prepared (the official site says 2027, the booking site says 2028).

Oarai Isosaki Shrine

Known for the Kamiiso no Torii, a gate standing on a rock in the sea. It faces east, which makes it a famous sunrise spot. The shrine is about 2.5 km from Oarai Station, by bus or taxi. The rocks are off-limits, so watch from the seawall.

Where to stay

• In Mito: walk Kairakuen early in the morning, then take the train to Oarai on Day 2.
• In Oarai: stay by the sea and catch the sunrise at the torii.

Find places to stay near the gardens on the Kairakuen page.

Ume at home

When your umeshu is ready and you want to make more, see Ume syrup from green plums and Four ways to enjoy umeshu. For ume experiences elsewhere in Japan, see Make your own umeshu and tour an umeboshi factory.