Harman Patil (Editor)

Ōarai, Ibaraki

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Country
  
Japan

District
  
HIgashiibaraki

- Flower
  
Azalea

Population
  
16,823 (Sep 2015)

Bird
  
Common gull

Region
  
Kantō

- Tree
  
Pine

Area
  
23.74 km²

Local time
  
Monday 12:55 AM

Prefecture
  
Ibaraki Prefecture

Ōarai, Ibaraki imagessgcafenet201411B2hC9I3CAAAZ08Osjpg

Time zone
  
Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)

Weather
  
4°C, Wind N at 11 km/h, 70% Humidity

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.

Contents

Map of Oarai, Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan

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.

    Education

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

    • 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

    • The main characters of the animated series Girls und Panzer study in a huge ship originally based in Ōarai. Real locations in the city are depicted faithfully, prompting fans to visit the town and giving a boost to local commerce.

    References

    Ōarai, Ibaraki Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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