Living in Ushiku

A quiet residential area in southern Ibaraki, known for the Ushiku Daibutsu, listed by Guinness as the world's largest seated Buddha statue, and for Ushiku Chateau, Japan's first full-scale wine brewery. Its strengths are rents clearly cheaper than in Tokyo and a quiet environment. However, it is a small provincial city with a gently declining population, and daily infrastructure around the station is often built on the assumption of using a car.

Ushiku is a satellite city in southern Ibaraki Prefecture on the JR Joban Line. It is famous for the 120 m bronze Buddha, the Ushiku Daibutsu, for Ushiku Chateau, the first full-scale winery, and for the kappa legend. It is about 1 hour to Tokyo by rapid service, and apart from the area around the station, a car is essential. With cheap rents, it is a good fit for families who want relaxed living in nature and for office workers who own a car.