Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium — Attraction in Oarai

What a wonderful aquarium!

My wife, my sister, and I went on a Monday about 2ish hours before closing and we were still able to catch a show before the aquarium closed for the day. We missed the tank petting time though but mostly because we didn't realize there was one. It's nestled between the upper floors near the children play area. We saw you could pet small sharks along with the normal sea life they offer.

The aquarium is split between multiple floors and a sizeable outside portion with seals and penguins. Inside there's massive tanks with sharks, sunfish, and large salt-water sealife. The sharks are what I primarily looking forward to and it did not disappoint. They had some jellyfish but the tanks for them were lackluster. They had a few large crabs and other tidepool sealife available but the main attraction is the bigger fish and sharks. They also had a baby shark area that shows you how they take care of them.

The show itself was very entertaining. The seal was incredibly smart and intuitive and a joy to watch. The dolphins and their trainers were phenomenal as well.

I would say alott 2-3 hours for really seeing and learning about what's offered here. Maybe more if you're going to do all of the shows and petting part. Free parking and an expansion...

Lovely aquarium, perfect for a day trip from Tokyo. It's hugely popular with couples (i.e. good place to bring a date) and families with kids.

You can easily spend 3 hours there if you grab a snack at the food court inside. suggest

If you have the time, I suggest watching the sea lions show twice, once from underwater and lastly from above; it's a delight!

The venue itself is quite large, 5 floors with big tanks, a rest area with bar/restaurant and an external terrace towards the seaside, close to the penguins habitacle.

Definitely check the otters and penguins!

They have also a "touch" tank, where you can actually play with some sea animals (e.g. fish, sea stars, etc.), but right now it is closed off due to the pandemic; you can still see the animals inside the tanks, but can't touch them.

The buses from and to Mito Station are quite rare, but manageable with...

A Fantastic Experience at Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai

I recently visited Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai, and it was an unforgettable experience! The highlight was undoubtedly the impressive variety of sharks on display—seeing them up close was exhilarating and truly a dream come true for a shark lover like me.

The aquarium had a peaceful atmosphere, making it feel like we had the place to ourselves. I also enjoyed feeding the river fish, which provided a fun splash of excitement, and their enthusiasm was contagious!

The parking lot was conveniently located right by the water, and I was pleased to see that all the animals looked healthy and well-cared-for. With engaging exhibits for visitors of all ages, we happily spent about three hours exploring.

Overall, Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai is a must-visit, especially for those who share a passion for marine life. I can't...