Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium: An Unexpectedly Massive Aquarium (2026)

Disclaimer: I am not sponsored for this post. I just decided to visit Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium 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 Apr 2026 I visited Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium and it was a little bit like Takashimaya but instead of commercial products it was all sorts of aquariums with all sorts of sea creatures.

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium is one of Japan’s largest and most prominent aquariums featuring about 580 species and 68,000 individual types of sea creatures. They are put in 60 tanks and are housed in a massive 7 story complex.

Anyway, I will let you know what my experience was like visiting Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium and why you should consider visiting it on your next trip to Japan.

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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 Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium

If you are traveling from Tokyo, you want to get to either Oarai Station or Nakaminato Station. It is slightly faster to travel to Nakaminato Station and the bus from the station to the aquarium has slightly higher frequency as well.

Take the Hitachi Limited Express Iwaki from Tokyo to Katsuta Station. This would take about 1hr 22mins. From there switch to the Local Ajigaura line to Nakaminato Station. That would take about 14mins.

From Nakaminato Station you want to take the Ibaraki Kotsu Bus No. 50 and it would take less than 10 minutes to reach the aquarium. The total travel time would be about 2hr 30mins and would cost roughly ¥4,350.

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium Parking

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium has a large car park and it is completely free. There is an adjacent parking lot that is free but becomes paid (around ¥800–¥900) during the summer vacation period (mid-July to late August).

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium Ticket Prices

The annual passport is great if you want to visit multiple times per year and gives you priority entry during crowded times. Probably more appropriate if you live in Japan.

You can purchase tickets via their ticketing machines. They have English options and accept cash and card payments. You can also buy tickets online via their website.

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium Opening Hours

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium does not have fixed closed days and are open during New Year Holidays. There might be some maintenance closure days in June and December, have to check their website before you visit. 

Main Exhibits

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium is an enormously huge complex full of exhibits to see. They do have signs that guide you through all the exhibits but we still got lost at some point and had to circle around to look for the stuff that we might have missed.

Here are some of the highlights:

Eternal Sea Zone

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium is known (according to the aquarium) to have the largest number of shark species in Japan with around 55-60 of them. In this section you can see Sand tiger sharks, Lemon sharks, Hammerhead sharks amongst other types of sharks.

I don’t think I have ever seen so many types of sharks and so many of them in a singular tank before. They don’t seem very menacing when you watch them swim around but they look absolutely huge.

The aquarium tanks are really huge as well so it sort of “simulates” what it would like when there are so many sharks together in the ocean. Although some of the sharks were put together with other fish and I wonder how they can co-exist together…

They also have the largest dedicated Ocean Sunfish (Mola) Tank that is 270 tons and houses many Ocean Sunfish. I have never seen this fish before so it was really interesting but also really weird looking.

Nagomi Sea Zone Heartwarming Sea

This is probably the cutest section of the aquarium as you can see sea creatures like the Tufted Puffin, Spotted Seal and the Canadian Otter. The otter was probably the one that everyone was looking for as they were cute but very energetic and were moving around the exhibit a lot. It was quite difficult to get a photo of it as it just couldn’t stay still for very long. 

I have never seen a Tufted Puffin before, so it was a really interesting experience. They look like birds but are also able to swim at the same time. It was certainly something my brain was not used to seeing.

Wonderful Sea zone

Probably the section that we were looking forward to the most was this section as there were penguins.

There were quite a few of them in this exhibit but for some reason they were standing incredibly still. They were basically statues and hardly moved the whole time we were there. It was certainly quite a strange experience.

There was also a fur seal in this exhibit although it looked pretty tired and was just chilling on the dry areas not doing much.

Shark Daddy’s Room

Shark Daddy’s Room is a special shark themed exhibition area on the 3rd floor of the aquarium. Why Shark Daddy you might ask? Well it’s the name of a fictional imaginary shark character who is a shark expert and researcher. So the exhibits that you see in this area are the stuff that he has collected and researched.

Some stuff that you can see in this area includes sea creatures that have been taxidermied, shark jaws and skulls and lots of shells and bones of different sea creatures. The thing that really stood out to me was the size of these creatures. We all know they were huge but for some reason the sense of scale really hits different when you are standing in front of their bones or taxidermied animal.

Dolphin & Sea Lion Shows

One of the more popular shows since the aquarium opened is the Dolphins and Sea Lions Ocean Live show. One of the highlights of the show include the dolphins and sea lions jumping in unison.

The timing of the show depends on the day but there should be a board just as you enter the aquarium with the timings of the show.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to catch it this time as we arrived after the last show. But it will be another thing on the shortlist when we visit again next time.

Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium Food

Relax Cafe Mermaid (リラックスカフェ マーメイド)

There are two main food areas in the aquarium. The first one is the Relax Cafe Mermaid on the third floor near the Collector’s Shop Galeos Gift Shop and it probably has one of the more interesting menus you can find.

In this cafe you can actually eat shark related food such as shark curry and shark nuggets. Unfortunately it was closing when we were there. But this is one place that I would like to try if I come back again.

Food Court

There is also a food court with about 12 different stalls. They sell standard Japanese food like ramen, sushi, soba, yakisoba, seafood rice bowls and so on.

Collector’s Shop Galeos Gift Shop

There are gift shops at the aquarium, one is on the third floor next to the Relax Cafe Mermaid and Shark Daddy’s room. You can find all sorts of souvenirs especially shark themed ones. Things like soft toys, key chains, magnets and stationery. We got some stickers from the shop as they looked really interesting.

Souvenir shop Moramora

The other gift shop is right by the entrance so you can visit it without needing a ticket. It is much bigger than the one inside and has a lot of soft toy plushies, omiyage food stuff and sweets. It’s more like a traditional gift shop that you would find at tourist attractions.

Girls und Panzer Stamp Rally

If you are into the Girls und Panzer anime, there is an on going stamp rally in the town of Oarai. The Girls und Panzer stamp rally location in Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium is on the first floor next to the ticketing machines.

Some Tips

• You might want to bring a jacket during the cooler periods if you are going to the open air parts of the aquarium. The breeze from the sea is quite strong and is quite chilly.
• You can take photographs in the aquarium. Flash photography is mostly not allowed depending on the exhibits.
• I didn’t see any English brochures or maps available but it shouldn’t be a problem navigating the aquarium.

Should you Avoid, Shortlist or Visit Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium?

I have been to aquariums before but the Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium was just on another scale that I have not experienced before.

There were so many different sea creatures on exhibit and I got to see lots of sea creatures that I have never seen before. I have also never seen so many sharks in one tank at the same time. If you are in Ibaraki and are looking for things to do, I would recommend putting the aquarium on your shortlist of places to visit.

Nearby Attractions

Hitachi Seaside Park

Just up the road about 20 mins away by car is the Hitachi Seaside Park. It is a must go especially during the nemophila season from April to May. The nemophila flower hill is extremely beautiful and magical and is probably one of the most iconic scenery in Japan.

It is one of the few places I’ve been to where the marketing material looks great, but the in person experience far surpasses that. 

For everything you need to know before visiting, read our complete Hitachi Seaside Park visitor guide including ticket prices, parking tips, best photo spots and a first-hand account of the nemophila season.

Oarai Isosaki Shrine

No trip to this part of Ibaraki 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 nearby 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.

Things to do in Oarai

There’s plenty more to see and do in Oarai. Check out our guide on Things to do in Oarai for the full breakdown.

Where to Stay Nearby

R9 The Yard Hotel Hitachinaka Ichige

There are quite a number of hotels near Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium. 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 30 minute drive from the fish market 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 – Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium