Central Lifelong Learning Center

The Ushiku Central Lifelong Learning Center is a twenty minute walk to the east from Ushiku Station. The parking lot, which also serves the neighboring community center, can accommodate up to 400 vehicles.

The Central Lifelong Learning Center is open from 9:00a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. In addition to Mondays, the center is closed the day after a national holiday, and during the New Year's holiday. If a holiday falls on a Monday, the center will be open that day, but closed the next.

The Culture Hall in the Central Lifelong Learning Center, where events,such as concerts,plays, movies and lectures are taking place,can seat 1198 people, including 4 seats for the physically disabled. It is very modern with professional sound, stage, and lighting equipment.

There is also a multi-purpose room which can accommodate up to 255 people. It is used by the community as a class room, lecture hall, and exercise room.

For more information, please come to the Central Life-long Learning Center or call 029-874-3111.

Escado Lifelong Learning Center

Escado Lifelong Learning Center is located in the Escado Building on the west side of Ushiku Station. This building also contains Izumiya Department Store. On the fourth floor, you will find a multi-purpose hall, a meeting room and a Japanese-style room. All of them can be rented for various events, including conferences and seminars. Please note that this facility has no parking associated with it.

For further information, please contact the Escado Life-long-Learning Center at 029-874-3131.

Public Libraries

There are 4 public libraries in Ushiku City. The Central Library is located in the eastern area of Ushiku, near the Central Lifelong Learning Center, about a 20 minute walk from Ushiku Station. Escado Library is 1ocated on the fourth floor of the Escado Building on the west side of Ushiku Station. The Mikazukibashi Library is in the Mikazukibashi Lifelong Learning Center. The Okuno Library is in the Okuno Lifelong Learning Center.

≪Hours≫
The Central Library : 9:00am ~ 9:00 pm
Escado Branch Library : 10:00am ~ 7:00pm
Mikazukibashi  Branch Library :9:00am ~ 5:00 pm
Okuno Branch Library : 9:00 am~ 5:00pm

≪Closed≫
(1) the second and fourth Monday of the month
(2)the next Tuesday when a Monday is a national holiday
(3)during the New Year Holiday season (January 1st 2nd and 3rd .)
*Okuno and Mikazukibashi branches are also closed at the end of the year (December 28 through 31).
*Escado Library is also closed when the Escado building is closed.

≪Borrowing≫
Up to 10 books and/or magazines, 3 CDs, 2 picture-story shows（kamishibai）per person.
Borrowing period is up to 2 weeks. Video tapes cannot be borrowed.

≪Return≫Please return any checked out items to the counter. If the Library is closed, you can place the items in the “Return Post Box.” (Henkyaku posuto)

≪How to borrow bookds and CDs≫
You need a user's card, which can be obtained by showing one piece of identification such as your alien registration card or a driver's license.

*The libraries also offer a book delivery service for the handicapped.
*If you fail to locate a book, the library staff would be happy to place an order at your request.

For further information, please contact your local library at the following numbers:

*Central Library 029-871-1400

*Mikazukibashi  Branch Library 029-874-1340

*Okuno  Branch Library 029-875-1133

*Escado Branch Library 029-874-3132

Ushiku Public Library Website http://library.city.ushiku.ibaraki.jp/

Atheletic Facilities

There are seven atheletic facilies in Ushiku.
≪Name of Facility≫　　　　　　　　≪Main facilities ≫
・Ushiku Athletic Park　(Tel:029-873-2486) ・・・ Baseball Park, Multi-purpose plaza, Tennis court
・Ushiku Athletic Park Gymnasium(Tel:029-873-2486) ・・　Main arena, sub-arena, ping-pong court, training room, shower rooms
・Ushiku Athletic Park Swimming Pool (Tel:029-873-2486)・・・Open/Close Dome 50m swimming pool, Children’s pool (May - Sept)
・Ushiku Athletic Square (Tel:029-874-7572)・・・　Multi-purpose square, Tennis court, Japanese Archery (Kyudo) Range
・Sakaecho Athletic Square(Tel:029-873-2486)・・・ Multi-purpose square
・Onabake Athletic Square(Tel:029-873-2486) ・・・Multi-purpose square
・Okuno Athletic Square(Tel:029-875-0456)・・・ Multi-purpose square, Tennis court, Croquet / Gateball Court

≪Closed≫ Second and fourth Monday of the month, year-end holidays (December 28 - January 4)

≪Hours≫ 9:00 〜 21:00（varies according to season and facility）

≪Use Fee≫ Please inquire at individual facility.

≪How to use the faciliies≫
・ Apply at application counter to receive approval.
・ If registered in “Ibaraki Prefecture Sport Facility Reservation System,” a tentative reservation can be made over the Internet or cell phone. However, please obtain official approval from the application counter at least one day in advance.

Nature Park

The Ushiku Nature Park (or Shizen Kantsuno Mori), is a protected area where we can observe birds, insects, and plants in their natural habitat. The park is located about 20 minutes by car from the east exit of Ushiku Statin.

In the park, there is a two kilometer observation path, along which you will find pine forests, dense wooded areas, and ponds. There are also signboards which offer explanations and quizzes.

At the Nature Center in the park, rangers are available to instruct you in your observation and answer any question you might have. Information about the change of seasons in the park can also be found here. If you wish to observe nature more closely, binoculars and small magnifying glasses can be borrowed from the park office.

The park is closed on Mondays and the day following a national holiday.
In case a national holiday falls on a Monday, the following Tuesday and Wednesday are closed. It is also closed during the New Year Holiday season.The park is open from 9:00am to 4:45pm( February 1st~October 31st) from 9:00am to 4:00 pm( November 1st ~January 31st).
Entrance to the park is free.

For the monthly events schedules or for further information, please contact the park office at 029-874-6600

The General Welfare Center (Sougou Fukushi Center)

Sougou Fukushi center is composed of three sections, the elderly welfare section, which serves as a relaxing/comforting place for the seniors, where they sit-back and enjoy themselves. The day care section, which operates during the day,and takes care of the elderly who are weak and bedridden and can not look after themselves. The handicap welfare section  which offers mental and physical rehabilitation for those with special needs, encouraging them to lead a normal life. Inside the Sougou Fukushi Center building you can find the main hall, audio visual room, kitchen, conference room, etc. There are other facilities outside the building,e.g, a gate ball coat, playground, and the rehabilitation walkway. This facility is mainly used by elderly people who are over 60 years old and by handicapped people.

The center opens from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30p.m.. It's closed on national holidays as well as at the end and beginning of the year.
Community bus as well as Shuttle bus run from Ushiku station to Welfare Center.

For further information please consult; Ushikushi Sougou Fukushi Center. 859-3 Onabake-cho,Ushiku-shi tel.029-871-0294

Ushiku Clean Center

Ushiku Clean Center consists of three main parts: the incinerator, the recycling facility and the recycling plaza.

The incinerator is capable of treating 135-tons of refuse a day, is equipped with state-of-the-art pollution prevention equipment to inhibit dioxin generation to a minimum less than 0.1ngTEQ/N cubic meter, and can remove flue dust, hydrogen chloride, sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides-all of which will be regulated under the auspices of a most advanced and computer-controlled, pollution prevention system.

The recycling facility has the capacity to deal with large items, bottles, pet bottles and both steel and aluminum cans.

The recycling plaza is a community-oriented center where people are not only enlightened on what items can be recycled but are also educated about environmental issue as well. Apart from the conference room in the recycle plaza, there is a wide space where one can read books and watch videos on environmental problems, a workshop where you can enjoy pottery, and glass handiwork, a gallery, and an art museum too. It's a facility where you can have fun while familiarizing yourself with environmental problems.