Hitachi Seaside Park and Oarai Coastal Course

This course links two leading spots on Ibaraki's coast: Hitachi Seaside Park and Oarai. In spring the park's hills glow blue with nemophila and in autumn red with kochia, scenery famous throughout Japan. At Oarai you can enjoy the Aquarium and fresh port seafood, spending a full day in the Pacific breeze.

Model Course Flow

9:30 Arrive at Hitachi Seaside Park Admission is 450 yen for adults (high school age and up), 210 yen for seniors (65 and over), and free for junior high students and younger. The vast grounds are best toured by rental bicycle. Head first for the famous Miharashi Hill.

10:00 Flower scenery at Miharashi Hill The hill, at 58 meters the highest point in Hitachinaka City, is blanketed with blue nemophila in spring and reddening kochia in autumn. The way sky, sea, and flowers blend together is breathtaking.

12:00 Lunch and the Ferris wheel Survey the whole park from the Ferris wheel Blue Eyes, which rises to 100 meters above sea level, then have lunch at a park restaurant.

13:30 Head to Oarai Drive about thirty minutes south to the seaside town of Oarai.

14:00 Tour Aquaworld Oarai Admission is 2,300 yen for adults, 1,100 yen for elementary and junior high students, and 400 yen for young children (ages 3 and up). It keeps the greatest variety of sharks in Japan, alongside a powerful main tank and dolphin and sea lion shows. Hours are 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:00).

16:00 Oarai seafood Savor fresh catch at a shop near the port, closing the day with anglerfish hot pot in winter or a local-fish set meal any time of year.

Highlights

The bloom timing of the nemophila and kochia hills shifts from year to year with the weather. Nemophila usually peaks around May and kochia around October, but checking the official bloom updates before you go is wise. The torii gate standing in the sea at Oarai Isosaki Shrine is especially mystical when lit by the morning sun, and popular with photographers.

Access and Getting Around

The nearest station to the park is JR Katsuta; from platform 2 at the east exit, an Ibaraki Kotsu bus toward the seaside park takes about 20 minutes. For Aquaworld, take a bus about 15 minutes from Oarai Station on the Kashima Rinkai Railway. Since the park and Oarai are some distance apart, driving is the smoothest option. The park grounds are very large, so a rental bicycle and comfortable clothing are recommended.

Practical Travel Notes

• Time needed: About 2 to 3 hours for the park alone and roughly 2 hours for Aquaworld. Allow a full day to tour both at a relaxed pace.
• Getting there: By train, transfer to buses from Katsuta or Oarai stations. By car, Mito-Oarai IC on the Kita-Kanto Expressway is convenient for both spots.
• Cost guide: Beyond the 450 yen park admission, rental bicycles and park rides cost extra. Aquaworld is 2,300 yen for adults, so combined admission for both places comes to a little under 3,000 yen as a guide.
• Good to know: Visitors concentrate at the nemophila and kochia peaks, so arriving right at opening is more comfortable. The park's hours change by season, so check in advance.
• Avoiding crowds: Weekends around the Golden Week nemophila peak and mid-October kochia are especially busy. Weekdays or first thing in the morning are the best times.

One Piece of Advice

The coast is often windy, so a light layer is welcome in any season. The flower hills photograph most beautifully in the soft light of the morning hours.