Cities north of Tokyo welcome the world by going local

A bar-equipped bus, sake tours and farm stays offer new flavors for far-flung visitors

Kitakanto Ibaraki Top 2025-1

Kiuchi Brewing and Distilling's bar-equipped sightseeing tour bus. (Photo by Naho Kondo) 

NAHO KONDO, ATSUSHI KATO and YUTARO TAHARA, Nikkei staff writers

MITO, Japan -- On a winter afternoon at JR Hitachi-Daigo Station located just north of Tokyo in Ibaraki prefecture, a bus pulls up ready to serve beer and whisky to the thirsty passengers boarding for their tour of local breweries.

The wood-paneled interior of Bar Bus Hitachino features leather chairs for its 25 passengers -- but most importantly, in its center is a U-shaped bar equipped with taps for draft beers, setting the perfect mood for the day ahead.

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