Construction on this vast, 70,000-square-meter landscape garden began in 1629 by members of the Mito Tokugawa family. The garden presents visitors with a series of walks over bridges and ponds and artificially constructed hills, offering vistas of miniature versions of famous landscapes of Japan and China.

The most popular times of year are late November (when the leaves change color) and late February (when plum flowers are in bloom), but it's also quite lovely in May (wisterias) and June (irises). After you've finished your tour you can enjoy a cup of tea or a snack in the teahouse located at the garden's entrance.