Unravel the mysteries of Ibaraki Prefecture at the equally historic Kairakuen Garden and Kodokan Mito Han School.

While Ibaraki Prefecture played a vital role in the cultural development of the country, outside Japanese circles it remains relatively unknown. Which is what makes it such an exciting place to explore! And two key spots to consider are Kairakuen and Kodokan. Kairakuen, one of Japan's most famous gardens, was built for feudal families and commoners. On the other end, Kodokan was once revered as an institute of education for the feudal elite and their families. If you're interested in diving a little deeper into the legacy of Ibaraki, Kairakuen and Kodokan are two complementary destinations that'll set you on a path of historical wonder.

Kodokan opened a year before Kairakuen as a school for the Mito clan's feudal domains. From the age of 15, feudal warriors and their children would attend to acquire the skills needed to become a powerful member of the feudal class. The school taught military arts, medicine, astronomy, and horseback riding, and Kodokan was specially designed to accommodate those activities. The school shut down in 1872, and the building was repurposed as a regular school and temporary office. But in 1964, the sections of the building were declared a historic national cultural property and remain today a key piece of Ibaraki history.