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Handicapped Accessibility Information

The photos and descriptions on this page show the present accessibility conditions in and around the aquarium. We prepared this page to answer potential questions visitors may have about “physical barriers” before they come to our facility. If you have any inquiries that are not covered on this page please contact the aquarium by email or telephone.
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★ The aquarium parking lot provides 750 regular/20 bus parking spaces.
　 Additional parking: Prefectural Oarai Park parking lot (there is a parking fee during the summer)
The parking lot attendants will do all they can to assist those with special physical needs or those who are providing care services for others. Please inform the attendant at the entrance of the parking lot if you will be using a wheelchair or have other questions about accessibility. Those in need of handicapped parking will be directed to the appropriate area (*handicapped parking spaces are limited).


※ Parking lot attendants can be found both at the entrance of the general aquarium parking lot and at the entrance of the tourist bus parking lot (entrance with a traffic light).
※ When speaking to a parking lot attendant, please be sure to check the surrounding traffic conditions to avoid an accident.
館内へのスロープ 車椅子専用駐車場
① Wheelchair ramp from the parking lot to the aquarium ② Emergency vehicle and handicapped parking lot next to the entrance

★ Borrowing wheelchairs

Wheelchairs are loaned out at no cost, but we do not accept reservations. (Ten wheelchairs and 25 strollers available)
When checking out a wheelchair from the “information desk,” please be aware of the following:
-Name, address, and phone number will be asked at the time of borrowing.
-Wheelchair must be returned to the information desk during the aquarium operation hours. You may not take the loaned wheelchair outside of the facility grounds.

　
入場口 総合案内
①Ticket gate (The information desk is past the gate and to the left.)

② Information desk (Wheelchairs are available here.)
☆　Restroom/ infant nursing room/ first aid room

Four wheelchair-accessible "multipurpose restrooms" are available in the aquarium. There is one infant nursing room.
○ Multipurpose restrooms are located next to the men’s and women’s restrooms throughout the aquarium.
○ The infant nursing room is located on the ocean side of the “Sea Life Museum.” For safety purposes, hot water is not available in the infant nursing room.
○ If absolutely necessary, hot water can be requested at the information desk.
○ Notify the staff at the information desk if you need to access the first-aid room. Nurses are on-call on Saturdays and Sundays to tend to certain medical needs.


多目的トイレ ４階多目的トイレ
①Multipurpose restroom next to the men’s and women’s restrooms on the 3rd floor ②Multipurpose restroom in the “Sea Life Museum.” (4th floor)
授乳室 救護室
③Infant nursing room next to the men’s and women’s restrooms on the 3rd floor ④　First aid room (please inquire at the information desk)
☆"Route" signs and wheelchair ramps
The aquarium is a 5-story building made from steel-reinforced concrete (the “scenic dome” is 7 stories high). The main entrance is on the 3rd floor. From this entrance wheelchair ramps and elevators are available making it possible to access every exhibit throughout the aquarium. If you veer off the designated route, there may be areas of the aquarium that you will not see. Please reference the aquarium guide-map located near the main entrance.
　
★ General Aquarium Guidance
① Please observe the designated route.
② Please use the elevators located next to the stairs and escalators.
③ When an exhibit (penguin and sea lion hall, etc.) requires you to leave the designated route, please return to the route once you are ready to proceed forward.
④ Please inform aquarium staff if you have any questions or concerns.

〇 Click here for exhibit information and floor guide.

★ Route information

The entrance is on the 3rd floor. When you pass through the entrance gate, you will approach the “A,” or “Encounter Sea” zone, which is the start of the designated aquarium route.

To go directly to the dolphin and sea lion show (4th floor), please use the elevator near the aquarium entrance (10 meters past entrance on the right side). The dolphin and sea lion show hall is located up one flight of stairs from the stairway on the right side of the entrance. To get to the aqua hall, take the elevator to the 2nd floor. When you are ready to see the rest of the aquarium please return to the 3rd floor and start from the “A - Encounter Sea” zone.


☆ “Route” signs, wheelchair ramps, elevator, etc.
順路サイン 順路サイン補助案内
① Route signs start from the aquarium entrance (A～H) ② Route signs between the “A～H” signs
出会いの海付近スロープ 世界の海付近スロープ
③ Ramp passage (indoor-near the “Encounter Sea” zone) ④ Ramp passage (indoor-near the “Seas of the World” zone)
スロープ 館外スロープ
⑤ Ramp passage (outdoor-near the “Oceanfront” penguin area) ⑥ Ramp passage (outdoor- near the “Oceanfront” sea lion area)
館内エレベータ 館内エレベータ
⑦ Elevator (2F～3F) zone B～C. ⑧ Elevator (3F～5F～7F) zone D, E and “The Observation Deck”
館内エレベータ 館内エスカレータ
⑨ Elevator (2F～3F～4F) zone F～Ａ ⑩ Escalator (there is one more escalator in the aquarium)
★As the pictures show, there are sections of the aquarium that cannot be accessed only by using a wheelchair ramp.
If you have any questions about accessing different exhibits throughout the aquarium, please ask aquarium staff.
Ibaraki Cultural Foundation
Aqua World Ibaraki Prefectural Oarai Aquarium

8252-3 Isohama, Oarai-Town, Ibaraki, JAPAN
TEL: 029-267-5151 FAX: 029-267-5920
E-mail: shark@aquaworld-oarai.com

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