Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture

[Joshu, Echigo, SadoMito, Oarai, KasamaMito, Oarai, Kasama]

Festivals and traditional events

Universal ID：jp-tourism/7a0c9cf8-4d8b-4b6c-a9b0-0abd4357fc51

Mitonodarmichitohatsuichi

official name：Mito Darumaichi Market and Hatsuichi Market

English name：Mito Darumaichi Market and Hatsuichi Market

Daruma City and Hatsuichi City in Mito

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last updated：2025.12.12

2026.01.08（Thu.）

Festivals and traditional events
Events
Winter

Mito refers to the high western plateau as Kamichi (“Upper Town”) and the lower eastern plain as Shimoichi (“Lower Town”). Shimoichi—originally a merchants’ quarter founded by the Tokugawa clan—served as the commercial hub of the Mito Domain. To this day, the district still sells traditional items such as daruma dolls and New Year decorations. The year’s first market is therefore nicknamed the “Daruma Market,” where deals are struck to the spirited cries of the vendors. ・Admission:Free ・Date:8 January 2024 (held on the same day every winter; dates may change depending on public-health conditions) ・Venue:Honchō district