Mito / Oarai / Hitachinaka

Top Things to do

• Hitachi Seaside Park

  3.5

  4 Reviews

  Ibaraki Pref. Hitachinakashi Mawatari Onuma 605-4

  A national park located in Hitachinaka City in Ibaraki Prefecture. The spacious grounds, totaling some 200 hectares, are filled with huge flower gardens. The nemophila in summer and bassia in autumn are particularly attractive seasonal plants. When in bloom, the park’s 4.5 million blue nemophila seem to bleed into the sky, creating a stunning sight. The fluffy bassia in autumn turning the area scarlet. The park also has a cycling course and barbecue area, making a perfect place for the whole family to enjoy an entire day together.

• Aqua World-Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium

  Ibaraki Pref. Higashibarakigunoaraimachi Isohamachou 8252-3

  This aquarium is located along the coast of Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County, Ibaraki Prefecture, and is among the largest in the country. Sea mammals and oceanic/freshwater fish from around the world and Oarai Sea are kept here. Exhibits are divided into nine zones, like “The Encounter Sea” and “Seas of the World.” You can watch a variety of living creatures, like popular penguins and sunfish, or see the impressive shark tank. The dolphin and sea lion shows are particularly lively and popular.

• Mentai Park Oarai

  4.0

  68 Reviews

  Ibaraki Pref. Higashibarakigunoaraimachi Isohamachou 8255-3

  Located in Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County, Ibaraki Prefecture, this is a theme park focusing on mentaiko (seasoned cod roe) and run by Kanefuku Co.—a well-established mentaiko shop. The interior includes a mentaiko plant that you can observe through glass, and a wholesaler where you can buy mentaiko directly. A great place for kids and adults to spend the day with mentaiko. The food corner has popular eats like “mentaiko onigiri” and “mentaiko ice cream.”

• Kasama Inari Jinja

  4.0

  104 Reviews

  Ibaraki Pref. Kasamashi Kasama 1

  Located in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture, this shrine has long been the object of adoration for the god of rich harvest and mercantile success. Considered to be one of Japan’s Top Three Inari Shrines, it hosts 3.5 million visitors every year, and is one of the prefecture’s best spots for New Year’s worship. A number of religious ceremonies like yabusame and bugaku are performed during the “Kasama Chrysanthemum Festival” held in autumn.

• Oarai Marine Tower

  Ibaraki Pref. Higashibarakigunoaraimachi Minatochuou 10

  This 60-meter-tall symbolic tower in Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County, Ibaraki Prefecture was opened in 1988. At 55 meters above ground, the observatory deck offers you a grand panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean, Nikko Nasu Mountains, Mt. Tsukuba, and Mt. Fuji. The tower interior includes souvenir shops, a marine theater, and a cafe themed on “Girls und Panzer” —an anime set in Oarai.

• Oarai Isosaki Jinja

  4.0

  151 Reviews

  Ibaraki Pref. Higashibarakigunoaraimachi Isohamachou 6890

  The Oarai Isosaki Jinja is a shrine in Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County, Ibaraki Prefecture, that venerates Ohonamuchi-no-mikoto and Sukunahikona-no-mikoto. The worship hall for the presiding god—a protector of domestic safety and safe naval passage—demonstrates the architectural style of early Edo period, and has been designated a prefectural cultural property. Also, the Kamiiso torii gate praised by Mitsukuni Tokugawa is first among big torii in the Kanto region, and is set on rocks in the sea, for a great view during sunrise and sunset. Shrine worship deals with the ocean, so the Oarai Sea Museum is located nearby.

• Kasama Geijutsunomori Park

  Ibaraki Pref. Kasamashi Kasama 2345

  This park integrating traditional Ibaraki crafts into the natural environs is located in Kasama City, Ibaraki Prefecture. In addition to the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, this expansive park is the setting for 17 artisanal works set in the hinoki cypress Tonomori grove, and the Crafthills Kasama where ceramic and craft workshops can be enjoyed.

• Oarai Sun Beach Resort

  Ibaraki Prefecture Higashi Ibaraki-gun Oarai-cho Harbor

  This beach spot is known for its spacious, clear and far-reaching shallow beach, located in Oarai Town, Higashiibaraki County. It’s quite popular with families, couples, and friends, as it has complete facilities including beach houses, restrooms, and showers. It is also a “universally-accessible” beach, with special wheelchairs for beach travel and life jackets, so handicapped and elderly persons can enjoy the beach too.

• Sun Green Asahi

  Ibaraki Pref. Hokotashi Momiyama 602-6

  A large farmers market boasting some 500 registered farmers located in Ibaraki, a prefecture with an abundance of agriculture. The market is located a 20-minute drive south along Prefectural Route 51 from the Mito-Oarai interchange on the Higashi-Mito Road. The market sells a variety of safe, healthy agricultural products from farms in Ibaraki Prefecture. Ibaraki grows the greatest quantity of melons in Japan, and, when in season, visitors to the market will find varieties such as Andes Melons and Quincy Melons sold at low prices. Accordingly, during this time, the market bustles with visitors come to buy tasty melons. The market is also conveniently located near Hokota Beach on the Otake Coast as well as Kashimanada Seaside Park.