Enjoy premium Hitachi beef in a century-old mansion – "Ogi no Chaya" limited-time only

As soon as you step into the Hozumi Family Residence, you’ll notice it’s much larger than your average farmhouse. In addition to the main building covering over 100 tsubo (approximately 330 square meters), the surrounding Japanese garden features small bridges and flowing water—comparable to a modern luxury villa. In fact, the Hozumi Family Residence was built in 1789 by a wealthy landlord who made his fortune through rice farming, which explains why it’s significantly larger and more opulent than typical modest farmhouses.

▲A lush Japanese garden.

After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, tourism in northern Ibaraki plummeted. To revitalize the area, the region launched the "Ogi no Chaya" restaurant within the Hozumi Family Residence starting in 2012, coinciding with the autumn foliage season as a limited-time offering. The concept was a huge hit, attracting 12,600 visitors in just two months. During the Ogi no Chaya's operation, the sounds of lively cooking and guest conversations brought newfound vibrancy to the usually tranquil and serene old residence.

▲This unique dining environment draws many tourists.

▲Traditional Japanese interior decor preserved.

The Ogi no Chaya primarily serves dishes featuring the locally famous Hitachi beef. A crowd favorite for both adults and children is the hamburger steak. Sitting inside this residence, designated as a cultural property by Ibaraki Prefecture, take a bite of juicy, aromatic Hitachi beef, while gazing out at the peaceful Japanese garden—such an indulgence is truly a rare treat.

▲Renowned and delicious local Hitachi beef dishes.

This year also marks the inaugural Ibaraki North Art Festival. As part of the event, the prefecture invited renowned ceramic artist Kimio Itō to create an installation titled *"Pearl Blue no Haba 0? Shoji ni... Kakeru Utsuroi"* (Pearl Blue Folds 0? Slits in the Shoji… Rippling Transition) in one corner of the garden. The artwork features 1,000 locally famous Kasama-yaki pottery pieces arranged in a ring, their pearl-blue glazes reflecting irregular rays of light under the sun. The earth represents *chi* (earth), and the reflections from the Kasama-yaki symbolize light from the heavens, together depicting the intersection of life in the universe.

▲Kasama-yaki pottery shimmering in the light.

Ogi no Chaya
Operating period: September 17 – December 4
Ibaraki North Art Festival exhibition period: September 17 – November 20
Address: 2337-1 Kamitatezu, Takahagi City, “Hozumi Family Residence”