Ōarai, Ibaraki

Ōarai 大洗町
Town
Ōarai town hall
Flag Seal
Location of Ōarai in Ibaraki Prefecture
Land	Japan
Region	Kantō
Prefecture	Ibaraki Prefecture
District	HIgashiibaraki
Area
• Total	23.74 km2 (9.17 sq mi)
Population  (September 2015)
• Total	16,823
• Density	709/km2 (1,840/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+9 (Japan Standard Time)
- Tree	Pine
- Flower	Azalea
- Bird	Common gull
Phone number	029-288-3111
Address	6881-275 Isohamacho, Ōarai-machi, Higashiibaraki-gun, Ibaraki-ken 311-1392
Website	Official website

Ōarai coast

Ōarai (大洗町, Ōarai-machi) is a town located in Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki Prefecture, in the northern Kantō region of Japan. As of September 2015, the town had an estimated population of 16,823 and a population density of 709 persons per km². Its total area was 23.74 km². The Japan Atomic Energy Agency operates a research center in Ōarai with a number of nuclear research reactors, including the Jōyō and HTTR facilities.

Geography

Located on the coast of central Ibaraki Prefecture, Ōarai is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east. The Naka River flows through the town. Ōarai and Sun Beach bathing beaches were first to introduce barrier-free bathing beaches for the disabled in Japan.

Surrounding municipalities

• Ibaraki Prefecture
  • Mito
  • Hitachinaka
  • Hokota
  • Ibaraki

History

The villages of Isohama and Ōnuki within Higashiibaraki District and the village of Natsumi within Kashima District were created with the establishment of the municipalities system on April 1, 1889. Ōnuki was elevated to town status on January 26, 1894. Ōnuki and Isohama merged on November 3, 1954 to create the town of Ōarai. A portion of Natsumi was annexed by Ōarai on July 23, 1955.

Economy

The nuclear industry and government largess form the basis of the local economy. Main agricultural products include rice, sweet potatoes and Japanese radish. Main fishery products include whitebait, sardines, flounder and clams. Marine food processing includes salted and dried horse mackerel, smelt and sardines and boiled octopus.

Bildung

• Ōarai has three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.

Transport

Train

• Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line
  • Ōarai Station

Highway

• Japan National Route 51

Seaport

• Port of Ōarai (A ferry company operates two ferries to Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, a day)

Local attractions

Ōarai attracts 3 million visitors a year. Tourist attractions include bathing beaches, yacht and cruiser marina, marine sports, camping site, fishing, aquarium, and a famous golf course. It is known for its monkfish.

• Oarai Beach
• Aqua World (formerly Oarai Aquarium)
• Oarai Marine Tower
• Oarai Sea Museum
• Oarai Museum of Art
• Oarai Museum of Bakumatsu-Meiji History
• "Kurumazuka-kofun" and "Kagamizuka-kofun"
• Ōarai Isozaki Jinja

Noted people from Ōarai

• Kei Igawa – professional baseball player
• Hiromoto Okubo – professional baseball player

In popular culture

The main characters of the animated documentary series Girls und Panzer study in a huge ship originally based in Ōarai. Real locations in the city are depicted with unerring accuracy in the series which drew fans to visit it, giving a boost to local commerce.

External links

• Media related to Ōarai, Ibaraki at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website Template:Jp icon