Oarai (大洗) on the Ibaraki coast is one of Japan’s most compelling anime tourism success stories. The town — a quiet fishing and resort community facing the Pacific Ocean — was chosen as the setting for the 2012 anime Girls und Panzer (ガールズ＆パンツァー), which features high school girls competing in tank battles. The collaboration between the production company and the local community transformed Oarai into a pilgrimage destination that has sustained visitor numbers for over a decade.
Anime Town Walking
Oarai’s shopping street and seafront are dotted with Girls und Panzer character panels and merchandise shops. The local shopping centre Aeon Mall Oarai features an extensive Girls und Panzer merchandise corner. The town’s fish market, seafront hotels, and the distinctive Oarai Isosaki Shrine perched on the rocks above the sea all feature in the anime.
Oarai Isosaki Shrine
The shrine’s famous torii gate standing in the sea — the Grand Torii of Oarai — is one of Ibaraki’s most photographed sights and appears prominently in Girls und Panzer. The approach through pine forest to the cliff-top shrine is beautiful regardless of anime interest.
Access
Take the JR Joban Line from Ueno (Tokyo) to Mito station (about 75 minutes), then the Kashima Rinkai Railway to Oarai station (about 20 minutes). The town is walkable from the station or easily explored by rental bicycle.
Best Time to Visit
The Oarai Anime Festival in November is the dedicated Girls und Panzer event, drawing fans from across Japan. Summer is the beach season. The town’s fish markets and fresh seafood restaurants are excellent year-round.
