Oarai Seaside Station & Garupan Gallery: Visitor Guide (2026)

Disclaimer: I am not sponsored for this post. I decided to visit Oarai Seaside Station because it looked interesting. Some links on this page are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.

In Feb 2026 I visited Oarai Marine Tower and discovered that there was an anime about girls driving tanks set in the town of Oarai. And it seemed to be all over town as I drove through it.

Intrigued by the premise of the anime and how linked it seemed to be to the town, I decided to visit again in April 2026 and this led me to Oarai Seaside Station, one of the places that was featured in the anime.

And it was literally a ghost town…

But then I discovered Oarai Garupan Gallery (大洗ガルパンギャラリー),an official themed shop and gallery dedicated to the anime Girls und Panzer where they sell all sorts of anime themed merchandise and fan memorabilia from the anime.

It was one of the more interesting things I have seen in Japan and I will let you know what my experience was like visiting Oarai Seaside Station and Oarai Garupan Gallery.

Photos on this page are mine, shot on an iPhone 11 pro. Nicer photos were shot by Tessa Leong were shot with a Sony a7IV with Tamron 28-200mm lens.

How to get to Oarai Seaside Station

By Public Transport

If you are traveling from Tokyo, you want to take the Hitachi 19 Limited Express Iwaki to Mito Station (1hr 12mins & 2 stops). From there, change to the local Kashimajingu line to Oarai Station (16 mins & 3 stops). From Oarai station it’s about a 12 minute walk to Oarai Seaside Station.

The total travel time will be about 1hr 45 mins and would cost you about ¥4,420.

By Driving

Driving from Tokyo would have the same travel time although it would be more convenient. There are lots of parking spaces for free at Oarai Seaside Station.

Oarai Seaside Station as of 2026

So before visiting, my impression of Oarai Seaside Station was that it was a nice shopping area with food places near the Oarai beach. Unfortunately when we arrived, about half of the shop places were empty and deserted. The main shops that are open are the two supermarkets (Maiwai Market and Seimiya), ABC-mart and Oarai Garupan Gallery.

It was slightly disappointing although this is probably what you would expect of a shopping area in a smaller rural Japanese town. It’s really more of a functional utilitarian shopping area for locals then a “touristy” place. 

The Oarai Garupan Gallery

Oarai Garupan Gallery is on the 2nd floor of Oarai Seaside Station and when you first walk in, it’s almost as if you are walking into a mini museum. The shop is split into two main sections, the actual shop itself with all sorts of merchandise imaginable. The other is more of the museum section with fan art, memorabilia, the manga and props that were used in the creation of the anime.

The detail in Oarai Garupan Gallery is incredible and unlike anything I have ever seen. There are so many types of merchandise like key chains, shirts, magnets, badges, movie posters and so much more. There is an online store as well where you can purchase items from the shop.

And the museum section is unbelievable as well. Lots of fan art, drawings, collectibles and models of tanks that were used in the anime. They even have the manga and magazines that you can flip through.

You are allowed to take photos at Oarai Garupan Gallery although videos and live streaming are not allowed. The gallery is also where one of the Girls und Panzer stamp rally is at. There is an online store as well where you can purchase items from the shop.

There were quite a few people visiting Oarai Garupan Gallery as well even though Oarai Seaside Station itself felt like a ghost town.

Girls und Panzer Stamp Rally location

Girls und Panzer themed omiyage

If you head downstairs to Oarai Maiwai Market, you can find quite a few anime themed omiyage snacks. And as usual they are really nicely designed and packaged. Stuff like dried sweet potatoes (干し芋), monkfish related snacks, rice crackers, and Ibaraki melon pastries.

Oarai Garupan Gallery Practical Information

Oarai Seaside Station and Garupan Gallery are generally open from 10am to 7pm daily. 

Some Tips

• You may take photos of most things inside Oarai Garupan Gallery.
• However you are not allowed to take videos or live streaming.

Are Oarai Seaside Station & Garupan Gallery Worth Visiting?

If you are a fan of Girls und Panzer anime, I think this is a definitely must go for you. Oarai Garupan Gallery has all sorts of merchandise and fan art related to the anime that only a fan can truly appreciate. The supermarket at Oarai Seaside Station has some Girls und Panzer themed omiyage as well.

While Girls und Panzer is not the most mainstream anime out there, I find it really cool that there are dedicated attractions like this and there is a deep integration of the anime together with the town of Oarai as a whole.

I have visited some Kpop fan shops in Korea and while they are impressive in their own way, it does not feel as dedicated and as personal as this. It feels like the Girls und Panzer anime and Oarai and linked synonymously.

However if you are not a fan of the anime (or don’t watch anime in general), I don’t think it is worth going to Oarai Seaside Station as of right now in 2026 unfortunately. At most it will be a road trip pit stop where you stop for supplies at the supermarket. Hopefully that would change in the future.

Oarai Anglerfish Festival (大洗あんこう祭)

Every year in mid-November Oarai holds the Oarai Anglerfish Festival, a local food festival celebrating the monkfish that is one of Oarai’s famous winter delicacy. And since the anime Girls und Panzer was released, they have included lots of displays and exhibits into the festival.

In previous years the voices actors have even visited and done talk shows with other cast members. If you are a fan of Girls und Panzer anime, this is probably the best time to visit as other fans will all gather to visit as well.

Other attractions in Oarai

There’s lots of things to do near by in Oarai, check out our guide on Things to do in Oarai for a complete breakdown.

Here are some highlights:

Oarai Isosaki Shrine

No trip to Oarai is complete without visiting Oarai Isosaki Shrine and it is probably one of the more famous attractions (or photos) you may have seen online. With the Kamiiso no Torii gate on some rocks with waves crashing against it.

It is a beautiful spot to take photos especially when the sun rises as the sun would appear between the torii gate. It also appears in the Girls und Panzer anime and is another spot to collect the stamp rally.

Read our full guide to Oarai Isosaki Shrine including the best photo spots, sunrise tips, opening hours and how to get there.

Oarai Marine Tower

Another place to visit in Oarai is the iconic Oarai Marine Tower. It gives you 360 degree panoramic views of Oarai, the Pacific Ocean and wider Ibaraki including Mount Tsukuba. On clear days you can allegedly see Mount Fuji even.

Oarai Marine Tower also has the Panzer Vor Cafe, an anime cafe based on the Girls und Panzer anime. Together with the Girls und Panzer Stamp Rally it is a must go pilgrimage for fans of the anime.

Read our full review of Oarai Marine Tower including ticket prices, the best viewpoints, the Girls und Panzer café and tips for visiting.

Aqua World Ibaraki Prefecture Oarai Aquarium

Aqua World Oarai is a large aquarium that has 60 tanks with about 68,000 creatures from about 580 species of freshwater and saltwater creatures. The aquarium also probably the biggest collection of sharks in Japan.

I have been to aquariums before but I was still impressed with the sheer size of the aquariums and got to see many sea creatures that I’ve never seen before like the Sunfish, Puffins and so many breeds of sharks.

If you are looking for things to do in Oarai, Aqua World Oarai Aquarium is one place not to be missed.

Read about our experience visiting Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium including what’s inside all 60 tanks, ticket prices, opening hours and tips for making the most of your visit.

Where to stay Nearby

R9 The Yard Hotel Hitachinaka Ichige

There are quite a number of hotels near Oarai. But for me I stayed at the R9 The Yard Hotel Hitachinaka Ichige. They are a chain of container hotels that are quite affordable, clean, relatively new but really utilitarian.

It is about a 20 minute drive from Oarai and is fairly accessible to the attractions in the area.

Read our full review of Hotel R9 The Yard Hitachinaka Ichige including room details, nightly pricing and honest pros and cons from an 8 night stay.

FAQ – Oarai Seaside Station & Garupan Gallery