Oarai
Kanto, Japan · Sea / Beach, Town / small city
A coastal town with the Oarai Isosaki Shrine torii standing directly on the rocks in the sea (Kamiiso no Torii), the large Aqua World aquarium (one of Japan's most complete shark collections), Oarai Sun Beach, a seawater hot spring with an open-air bath facing the Pacific, and a working fish market right at the port.
The essentials
Getting there
Train — Limited express Hitachi/Tokiwa Tokyo-Mito + transfer to the private Kashima Rinkai Railway (Oarai Kashima Line) to Oarai, ~1h40min, ¥4,420 with a reserved seat. The JR leg dominates the distance (about 117km) versus the final Kashima Rinkai stretch (11.6km, not covered by any JR pass).
Frequently asked questions about Oarai
How many days do you need in Oarai?
1 day minimum for it to be worth it. There are 17 documented activities in Oarai, so it keeps giving with more time.
How do you get to Oarai?
Train: Limited express Hitachi/Tokiwa Tokyo-Mito + transfer to the private Kashima Rinkai Railway (Oarai Kashima Line) to Oarai, ~1h40min, ¥4,420 with a reserved seat. The JR leg dominates the distance (about 117km) versus the final Kashima Rinkai stretch (11.6km, not covered by any JR pass).
Can you visit Oarai in a day?
Yes. Oarai works well as a day trip, usually from Tokyo, with no need to change accommodation.
What must you see in Oarai?
What is marked as a must-see: Oarai Isosaki Shrine (Kamiiso no Torii).
Is Oarai expensive?
Spend level mid by Japanese standards. Factor in the per-night tourist tax as well, which varies from city to city.
What to do in Oarai: 17 activities
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Oarai Isosaki Shrine (Kamiiso no Torii) 1 h must-see
A torii gate standing directly on the rocks in the sea in front of the shrine, one of the most photographed sunrise spots on the Kanto coast.
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Aqua World Oarai 2.5 h
One of Japan's largest aquariums, with one of the country's most complete shark collections.
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Girls und Panzer pilgrimage through the town 2.5 h
Oarai is the setting of the anime 'Girls und Panzer' and has built half its tourist economy around it: some 50 life-size panels of the characters, each one 'adopted' by the real shop in town that hosts it, spread along the Magarimatsu shopping street.
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Anko-nabe and dobu-jiru 1.5 h
Monkfish stew is the winter dish of this coast; dobu-jiru is the fishermen's version, thickened with the liver of the fish itself.
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Isosaki shrine: buildings and forest 1 h
Beyond the famous torii on the rocks: the shrine was founded in the year 856 and its current buildings, rebuilt between 1690 and 1730 by Tokugawa Mitsukuni, are a prefectural cultural property.
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Monkfish festival (Anko Matsuri) 3 h only one weekend in mid-November
In November, some 130,000 people fill the port to watch the 'tsurushigiri' (butchering of the monkfish hung from a hook, because its flesh is too soft for the board) and to eat hot stew.
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Port fish market 1 h
A working fish market next to the fishing port, with stalls selling fresh seafood to eat on the spot.
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Beach camping and clam digging 3 h
Camping area next to the sand and clam digging in spring; Sun Beach was also a pioneer in Japan as a barrier-free beach, wheelchair accessible since 1997.
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Dried sweet potato (hoshiimo) and the Maiwai market 1 h
Ibaraki produces almost all of Japan's hoshiimo (sweet potato boiled and dried in the sun); it is bought alongside fish and vegetables at the Maiwai market in the port.
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Fireworks over the sea 2 h only one Saturday in September
Some 20,000 fireworks launched over the Pacific in September, outside the high pyrotechnic season of the rest of the country.
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Fossil seawater onsen facing the Pacific 1.5 h
Thermal bath of fossil seawater with a rotenburo looking out over the open ocean, also accessible to day visitors.
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Garupan gallery 1 h
Free room in the ferry terminal with dioramas, fan illustrations and objects from the series, plus a themed café in the port tower.
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Hassaku Matsuri at Isosaki shrine 3 h only around 25 August
August festival with mikoshi, floats and the Isofushi dance, tied to the myth of the deities arriving by sea.
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Kairaku Festa and tanks in the street 2 h only one weekend in March
Spring festival at which real Self-Defense Forces tanks are displayed in the middle of the street, the physical extension of the anime phenomenon.
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Oarai marine tower 0.75 h
A 60-metre lookout over the port, with views as far as Mount Tsukuba and, on very clear days, Mount Fuji.
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Oarai Sun Beach 2 h
A wide, family-friendly beach with marine activities in summer and views of the Isosaki Shrine torii from the shore.
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Surfing and paddleboarding on the Oarai coast 3 h booking
Surf and SUP schools on the beach; in July the Ibaraki Surfing Classic is held here, along with beach volleyball tournaments.
What only happens on specific dates
- Kairaku Festa and tanks in the street one weekend in March
- Hassaku Matsuri at Isosaki shrine around 25 August
- Fireworks over the sea one Saturday in September
- Monkfish festival (Anko Matsuri) one weekend in mid-November
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