What to Eat in Mito: Natto, Monkfish Hotpot, Eating Areas and Ibaraki Souvenirs

Ask anyone about food in Mito and natto comes first, which is fair, but the city offers more than that. Mito is the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, surrounded by farmland producing vegetables and fruit, while the nearby Pacific coast supplies fresh seafood. It is a place to eat both everyday home-style food and seasonal dishes. Those who dislike natto's smell or texture still have plenty of other things to choose from.

Signature foods

Mito natto is known across Japan, especially the small-bean type usually eaten over hot rice. Some restaurants turn it into other dishes, such as fried natto or a topping for soba. There is also ankō nabe, a hotpot of monkfish simmered in miso or soy-based broth, linked to the Ibaraki coast in winter, and Hitachi-gyu beef raised in the prefecture. Check whether a restaurant serves these in the season you visit.

Where to eat

The main eating area is around Mito Station, with restaurants underground, inside the station-linked buildings and along the streets out front. It suits those short of time or wanting only a short walk. The area around Kairakuen garden also has local-style restaurants and souvenir shops, especially during the plum festival when it is crowded and some shops open specially. Fresh seafood lies farther out on the coast, such as in Oarai, reachable by local train.

Dish and restaurant types to try

• Teishoku set-meal restaurants where natto features or comes with rice, soup and side dishes.
• Local soba shops; the Hitachi-Ota area of Ibaraki has a reputation for soba.
• Seafood or ankō nabe restaurants in winter, mostly nearer the coast.
• Izakaya for dinner, where you can try Ibaraki sake.

Cafes and sweets

Mito has small cafes in the older districts and near the station. A local flavour worth trying is sweets made with plum, since the city is known for Kairakuen and its many plum trees. There are also ice creams and desserts using dried sweet potato or chestnuts from nearby areas such as Kasama. Choose a cafe by atmosphere and how close it is to your sightseeing route rather than by rankings, because places change hands often.

Shopping and souvenirs

The Mito Station area has station-linked shopping buildings and everyday-goods stores, convenient for picking up souvenirs while waiting for a train. Good buys are packaged natto, plum sweets, dried sweet potato and products made from Ibaraki ingredients. As for outlets and drugstores, there are pharmacies and discount shops in the centre, but Mito is not a big shopping destination; it suits small purchases rather than a trip centred on shopping.

Ekonomik

Meal budgets in Mito are moderate to low compared with Tokyo, as set-lunch places and soba shops come at various price levels. Seafood or hotpot dinners cost more. Exact figures change with the restaurant and season, so check the menu on the restaurant's website or outside before going in, and look for lunch sets, which are often better value than dinner.

Halal and vegetarian notes

Halal options in Mito are limited, and you should not expect to find certified restaurants easily. Halal eaters should bring some food or rely on convenience stores for ingredient lists. For vegetarians, natto is fermented soybeans and seems safe, but the sauce packets often contain bonito, so read the label. Most Japanese restaurants use fish stock, so ask before ordering.

Japonya eSIM planlarına bakın

In places without an English menu, a translation app or photos from reviews help a great deal. An eSIM activated before departure lets you find restaurants that are still open, check closing times and look at menu pictures while standing at the door.

Practical points

• Some restaurants close fairly early and have regular weekly closing days, so check before going.
• Some small places accept cash only, so carry some in reserve.
• Check whether a well-known shop has moved or closed, because popular places can relocate.