KUJIRAGAOKA

Located on a hill in the centre of Hitachiota City, the Kujiragaoka Shopping area is full of historical charm. Buildings from the Meiji (1868 - 1912) and Showa (1926 - 1989) Eras lend the area a peaceful and nostalgic atmosphere. The historical buildings and narrow hilly streets house a diverse array of independent shops and cafes popular with young people. The area is also home to Japanese-style dessert shops and traditional sweet shops - grab a sweet treat to take out and enjoy a stroll through the area.
In Japanese, 'kujiragaoka' means 'whale hill' - visit Kujiraya sweet shop to try a stuffed whale-shaped pancake, a twist on Japan's traditonal taiyaki, stuffed pancakes shaped like sea bream.