Category:Ibaraki Prefecture

Ibaraki Prefecture is located in the **Kantō region** of eastern Honshū, facing the Pacific Ocean. The prefecture is marked by wide plains, coastal fishing towns, and agricultural landscapes, alongside industrial centers and historical waterways such as Lake Kasumigaura. Proximity to Edo/Tokyo shaped Ibaraki as both a supplier region and a cultural corridor.

The capital, Mito, is known for its scholarly heritage under the Mito branch of the Tokugawa family, and for **Kairaku-en**, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens. Other regions of the prefecture maintain strong ties to rural life, seasonal festivals, and community-based craftsmanship.

Culturally, Ibaraki is known for **crafts that emphasize natural texture, subdued color, and everyday utility**. The prefecture is especially associated with the Mashiko region and its long pottery tradition, which developed forms suited to daily use and, later, to modern studio craft movements.

Signature Crafts of Ibaraki Prefecture

• Kasama ware (笠間焼) – versatile ceramics produced in a wide range of styles, from rustic to contemporary.
• Kasama-Inashiki shibori (かさま・いなしき絞り) – traditional tie-dye techniques passed down in rural communities.
• Bamboo and woodcraft – everyday tools and household items shaped from local materials.
• Folk toys and seasonal crafts – reflecting agricultural life and regional festivals.