Ōarai, Ibaraki

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Map of Oarai within the Ibaraki Prefecture

Ōarai (大洗町, Ōarai-machi^?) is a town located in Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki, Japan.

As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 19,606 and a density of 845.45 persons per km². The total area is 23.19 km².

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency operates a research center there with a number of nuclear research reactors.

1 Facts
2 Tourism
- 2.1 Major Places of Interest
- 2.2 Superlatives
3 Industries
- 3.1 History and Culture
4 Agriculture
5 Transportation
6 External links

[edit] Facts

Area:　23.19 k㎡ (231.9 hectares／5,730acre)
Population:　19,203 persons (6,981 households) 2005 national census
Mayor:　Takaaki Kotani
Assembly Chairman: 　Takashi Yamato
Oarai Town Office Location:

Telephone +81-29-267-5111(Ext.217) Facsimile+81-29-266-3084

E-mail: koushitsu@town.oarai.ibaraki.jp

[edit] Tourism

Important tourism places
Oarai Beach
Oarai Aquarium
Oarai Marine Tower
Oarai Sea Museum

Oarai attracts 3 million visitors a year. Tourist attractions include bathing beaches, yacht and cruiser marina, marine sports, camping site, fishing, aquarium, a famous golf course and Oarai Isozaki Jinja (Shrine).

[edit] Major Places of Interest

Port of Oarai (A ferry company operates two ferries to Hokkaidō a day)
- Two ferry wharves, and an “event” wharf
- Fishery Wharves
Oarai and Sun Beach Bathing Beaches (First to introduce bathing beach of barrier free for disability in Japan)
Oarai Culture and Environment Hands-on Learning Program“Oarai Umi-no-Daigaku”

[edit] Superlatives

Chosen as one of 55 best bathing locations in Japan
Chosen as one of 100 best beach in Japan
Chosen as one of 100 best new tourist spots in Japan
Chosen as one of 100 best nature in Japan

Chosen as one of 100 best wood bathing forest in Japan

[edit] Industries

Fisheries
Biggest inshore fishery port in Ibaraki Prefecture
Main fishery products include whitebait, sardines, flounder and clams
Marine Product Processing - Main products include salted and dried horse mackerel, smelt and sardines and boiled octopus

[edit] History and Culture

The birth place of Famous Folk song “Isobushi”
The biggest ancient tomb mound “Kurumazuka-kofun” and “Kagamizuka-kofun”

[edit] Agriculture

Main agricultural products include rice, sweet potatoes and Japanese radish

[edit] Transportation

From Tokyo

Train: Jōban Line Super or Fresh Hitachi limited express from Ueno Station in Tokyo to Mito (65 minutes) and Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo Line “Ōarai Kashima Sen” from Mito to Oarai (20 minutes)
Road: Jōban Expressway (70 minutes from Tokyo) exit Mito-Ōarai Interchange

From Narita International Airport