Japan may have a reputation for exemplary public transit systems
but small towns such as Oarai in Ibaraki prefecture present the perfect opportunity for a weekend road trip with the family
Oarai is 9 square miles with a population of approximately 15,000 people
but holds a wide variety of entertainment for anyone interested in Japanese food
The town’s premier attraction is Aqua World
213,000-square-foot aquarium that’s home to 68,000 fish and other sea creatures for a total of 580 different species
The aquarium is also home to Japan’s largest variety of sharks
For families more interested in eating fish than looking at them
Oarai boasts a highly popular open-air fish market that’s just a 15-minute walk from Aqua World
visitors may purchase freshly caught fish or try authentic Japanese cuisine such as sushi or takoyaki
Traveling farther south along Oarai’s coastline
visitors may find the town’s most picturesque attraction
a site much older than anything else in town
the Oarai Isosaki Shrine is a Shinto temple dedicated to Daikoku-sama
A short walk from the shrine is Oarai’s famous Kamiiso no Torii
marks the entrance to a shrine or other sacred site
The Kamiiso no Torii is built on a series of oceanside cliffs
Mornings at the location are awash with photographers
who hope to catch the dramatic scene of the sun rising alongside or within the gate itself
Oarai is a 1 ½-hour drive from Tokyo or 2 ½ hours from Yokosuka
just the right destination for a weekend getaway or a daytrip
the easiest option is to take the JR East Line from Shinagawa Station to Mito Station
and then transfer to the Kashimarinka Tetsudo Oarai-Kashima line
Oarai’s expansive topography makes an ideal setting for a drive
but pedestrians may easily find a bus or taxi
And the small-town scenery makes for a great view while walking too
Ibaraki prefecture (Google coordinatates: 36.315730
Directions: Shinagawa Station’s JR East Line to Mito Station
Kashimarinka Tetsudo Oarai-Kashima Line to Oarai Station
Cost: Aqua World admission: 2,000 yen ($13.51) for adults; train fare: 4,220 yen
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Hokkaido’s Nagamare Kaikyo train takes riders on a leisurely run past the Tsugaru Strait and Mount Hakodate
The beautiful dark-blue sightseeing car that allows passengers to enjoy singular regional hospitality and cuisine was named Japan’s best train journey of the year for 2016
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