racetrack
Tsukuba Circuit
Compact 2.045 km Ibaraki track that became the world benchmark for time attack, hosting legendary Hot Version and Best Motoring battles. A sub-minute lap here is the holy grail of tuner culture.
11 km · about 20 min drive
AsiaJapanIbaraki
Iwai
Ibaraki, Japan · Asia
About Iwai
Iwai is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Bandō, 38km from Sensō-ji.
Iwai is in Ibaraki, Japan, with about 42,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Bandō, about 4 km away.
Where to Stay in Iwai
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Iwai?
Within an hour or so of Iwai: Tsukuba Circuit (11 km), Sensō-ji (38 km), Tokyo National Museum (38 km), Kayaba Coffee (38 km).
Are there any good drives near Iwai?
The nearest famous roads are Irohazaka Winding Road, Yabitsu Pass and Mount Haruna Touge.
Where is Iwai?
Iwai is in Ibaraki, Japan, about 4 km from Bandō.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 42,497
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Ibaraki
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 36.0500, 139.9000
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Iwai
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
cathedral
Sensō-ji
Tokyo's oldest and most famous Buddhist temple, located in the historic Asakusa district.
38 km · about 45 min drive
museum
Tokyo National Museum
Japan's oldest and largest museum, with an unparalleled collection of Japanese art and Asian antiquities spanning millennia.
38 km · about 45 min drive
cafe
Kayaba Coffee
A 1938 corner kissaten in a converted machiya in Yanaka, saved from demolition and reopened with its original layout. Known for the tamago sando and a coffee-and-cocoa mix called Rousseau.
38 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Tokyo Skytree
Tallest tower in the world at 634 metres, a broadcasting and observation tower dominating the eastern Tokyo skyline.
39 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Akihabara Electric Town
Tokyo's vibrant electronics and anime district, famous for its neon-lit streets, manga shops, and otaku culture.
41 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Tokyo Imperial Palace
The primary residence of the Emperor of Japan, set within vast gardens and moats in the heart of Tokyo.
43 km · about 50 min drive
landmark
Shinjuku
Tokyo's massive commercial and entertainment hub featuring towering skyscrapers, neon-lit nightlife streets, and the famous Kabukicho district.
43 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Iwai
6 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 65 kmTokyo Bay Aqua-LineA 14 km highway crossing Tokyo Bay via the world's fourth-longest undersea road tunnel, surfacing at the Umihotaru rest-island. Drive under the bay, then sip coffee mid-ocean with skyline views.
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