Hitachi

Hitachi City is located at the northern part of Ibaraki prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean. The city has developed as an industrial city. The west part of the city is a mountainous area surrounded by the Abukuma Mountains. The Odaira Memorial Museum and Nippon Mining Museum, both founded by The Hitachi Group, exhibit historic materials that highlight the city’s characteristic as a manufacturing center of Ibaraki. Hitachi City is also famous for festivals. In Hitachi Sakura Matsuri, or cherry blossom festival, a 15m-high extravagant float called “Hitachi Furyumono” entertains many visitors. In Kamine Shrine Taisairei, a festival that is held every seven years, four giant floats, Hitachi Furyumonos, parade through the city, with string puppet shows are played on the top of them.