Stay in Mito and Visit Kairakuen in the Morning: Free Admission from Opening Until 9:00 AM

Kairakuen, one of Japan's Three Famous Gardens, features approximately 100 varieties and 3,000 ume trees. Kairakuen offers free admission from opening until 9:00 AM. Staying in Mito allows you to explore the garden leisurely in the morning. Access and admission fees are based on official information for each spot (verification dates and sources are listed on each page of the ume viewing map; verified on October 2, 2026). Fees and periods vary by year, so please check the official website before departure.

Basic Information on Kairakuen

• Kairakuen: The best time to view is generally from mid-February to mid-March. You can enjoy the blossoms for a long period, from early to late bloomers.
• Opening Hours: 6:00–19:00 from mid-February to September 30; 7:00–18:00 from October 1 to mid-February.
• Admission: Adults 320 yen, children 160 yen (during the ume festival: adults 500 yen, children 250 yen). Free from opening until 9:00 AM; half price for those aged 70 and over.

How to Visit in the Morning

• Bus: About 20 minutes by bus to Kairakuen from Bays 4 and 6 at the JR Mito Station North Exit Bus Terminal.
• On holidays and designated weekdays during the ume festival, temporary JR trains stop at "Kairakuen Station."
• Car: About 20 minutes from Mito IC on the Joban Expressway, or Ibaraki-machi Higashi IC and Mito Minami IC on the Hokuriku Expressway. There are several parking lots in the area.

Please check early morning bus schedules before departure. You can check the current blooming status on the Bloom Report and the schedule for the "Mito Ume Festival" on the Ume Festival page. You can find accommodations via "Nearby Accommodations" on the Kairakuen page.