Oarai Town is located in the center of Ibaraki Prefecture, the Pacific Ocean side. Many people visit this town for sightseeing such as surfing, swimming, and aquariums, but some anime fans fell in love with Oarai Town and moved there after the town became a sacred place for the TV anime “Girls und Panzer” ,which led to regional development. “Panzerfor” a pilgrimage to the holy place!

Oarai Station, Kashima Rinkai Railway

Since my residence is in Mito, I departed from JR Mito Station to Oarai Town. We arrived at Oarai station after about 13km.
There is a lot of traffic on the road, but the route is easy to follow, so you will not get lost.

A large marlin monument stands out.

Right next to the station, there is a bike rack at “Umimachi Terrace”, Oarai Town tourist information exchange center.
The rack was made by a group of bicycle lovers in the image of driftwood.

There were also rental bicycles with electric assist. Even though it was a weekday, there were a number of people renting bicycles.
There was also a café and souvenirs for sale inside Umimachi Terrace.

There is also a manhole with an anime motif, of which there is only one in the town. Please look for it when you visit.

There is a cute retro station-style rest area called Ekimae Kaigan Line Pocket Park.
It is located on the former trackbed of the Ibaraki Kotsu Mizuhama Tramway, which ran until 1966. There are also cycle racks, so stop by.

Oarai Marlin Museum

Oarai Marlin Museum opened in 2017 in Higama shopping street.
Admission is free. It is marked by a 4m marlin monument so large that you can look up at it.

Once inside, the museum is filled with photos, paintings, and trophies of marlins.
Oarai is so famous as a marlin fishing ground that a marlin fishing tournament is held there every year in late August. This August, for the first time in Japan, an international tournament was held, inviting competitors from abroad.

On the first floor is the Terakoya Restaurant, which offers a menu featuring marlin.
I had a marlin hamburger and a fried marlin burger. The marlin was refreshing but tasty.
There were many other menu items using marlin. They also have a free-cafeteria for children on Saturdays.

After the meal, we went to see the symbol of Oarai, Oarai Marine Tower.

The tower is 60m high, and the observation deck offers a panoramic view of Oarai town and the Pacific Ocean.
On the second floor of the 50m-high tower, there is “Galpan Café,” which is officially recognized by the anime company. Oarai Seaside Station (former outlet) and Marine Tower, which are located next door, are also featured in the anime.

After cycling around the area, head to the shopping street.

Nagamachi Shopping Street and Magarimatsu Shopping Street

The anime “Girls und Panzer,” which goes by the abbreviated name “Galpan,” tells the story of high school girls who compete in a national tank battle using tanks in the martial art of “tank driving,” which, along with flower arrangement and tea ceremony, is considered an appropriate pursuit for young ladies.
The main characters attend a fictional school, Oarai Girls’ Academy, located in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture. The streets of Oarai appear many times in the story.

You can meet life-size panels of the characters in the town’s shopping street.
The anime started airing in October 2012. The panels were set up in time for Kairaku Festa the following year.
Since then, many anime fans have been visiting the shopping street.

The first place I visited was “Aji no Mise Takashashi”.
They sell “Mitsu-dango,” a snack that has been eaten since olden times, for 60yen a piece.

The dumplings made of wheat flour are so fluffy in texture that you can eat as many as you like.

The dumplings are covered with a special dense kinako (soybean flour) coating. They are very tasty.
Tables, chairs, and bike racks are set up on the side of the store.

There was a panel of characters at the storefront welcoming us.

The store across the street also has a panel.

You can meet them as you proceed down the shopping street.

“Kappo Ryokan Sakanaya Honten” is located on the curve. It appears in one of the famous scenes in the movie version.

There was also a bike rack.

There are more than 55 panels in the town, which cannot be introduced.
Sometimes birthday parties are held for the characters’ birthdays. The fans who visit to see the panels and the people in the shopping street get to know each other.
The number of people who visit Oarai Town and become fond of the town and come back again and again has increased.

Passing through the shopping street, we head for the seaside.

Kamiiso Torii of Oarai Isosaki Shrine

The large torii of Oarai Isosaki Shrine standing right in front of you after passing through the shopping street is a powerful sight.

The torii gate of Oarai Isomae Shrine is a powerful sight. It has long been famous as a scenic spot.

Many tourists were visiting and taking pictures.

You can enjoy the sacred atmosphere of this beach.

Oarai Park

Oarai Park stretches from Oarai Isomae Shrine to around Aqua World Oarai. On the way, you can enjoy the scenery through the pine trees.

We took our time to relax and enjoy the sea breeze. People walking, surfing and relaxing in this park.

ROMII DONUT STORE

About 3km away from the park, there is a doughnut specialty store.

As you enter, you will see many doughnuts lined up in a showcase in front of you.

After much consideration, I bought an old fashioned, raspberry & white chocolate, blueberry, and matcha green tea.

The raspberry and white chocolate was delicious, with the tartness of raspberry in the sweetness.
The texture of the crispy dough was also good.

Course Introduction

▼Umimachi Terrace
https://www.oarai-info.jp/page/page000533.html

Summary

It is about 38km from Mito Station. After arriving at Oarai, we enjoyed pottering slowly.
Please take a look at the work and make a pilgrimage potter to the holy place.
I think you will enjoy it even more if you look around while remembering the scenes that appeared in the anime.