10 Best Aquariums to Visit in Tokyo, Japan

Have you ever seen a whale shark? How about an orca? Or a polar bear? If you’re stuck planning your list of things to do in Tokyo, we’ve got an idea for you: visit aquariums in Tokyo and all over Japan!

Did you know that Japan is home to at least 17 aquariums? Japan’s historical and cultural connection to the sea and ocean lives on through its diverse aquatic facilities. Get to meet all kinds of marine animals, from adorable penguins to humongous whales, inside some of the best aquariums in and near Tokyo. 

Need more travel ideas for your trip to Japan? Here are nine destinations you should visit:

Ready to explore the underwater world? Time to know if it’s truly better down where it’s wetter with 10 of the best aquariums around Tokyo:

Start your marine adventure in the capital of Japan at  Tokyo Sea Life Park! This Tokyo aquarium is part of Kasai Rinkai Park, a large park on the shores of Tokyo Bay. It is home to a symbolic grass dome and a massive tank that stores at least 2,200 tons of water. If you want to be immersed in schools of bluefin tuna and penguins, this is the aquarium to visit! Aside from its marine animals, you can also meet avian buddies, thanks to its seabird sanctuary.

If you've run out of things to do in Tokyo, venture south to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, where the vast Kuroshio Sea Tank is! Make a day trip out of it to meet the largest fish in the world: the mighty whale shark. The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is a three-storey aquarium and is one of the most innovative and high-tech marine facilities in Japan—you can meet the world's first successful bred-in-captivity manta ray here!

Find yourself somewhere in Nagoya? One of the most exciting things to do in the Aichi capital is to visit the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. The aquarium is split into two main areas: the North and South Buildings. At the North Building, you can find the world's largest outdoor tank that offers excellent views of dolphins and orcas. For the rest of the aquatic critters, head to the South Building and meet sea turtles, tortoises, and schools of fish.

An extraordinary experience awaits you at DMM Kariyushi Aquarium in Okinawa, which only opened in 2020. Aside from its diverse array of creatures, which ranges from green turtles to giant guitarfish, this brand-new aquarium will also entertain you with its fascinating creative light and sound installations that showcase the beauty of the ocean and the life that lives in it.

Get the best of both worlds when you visit the Sunshine Aquarium. How? Well, it's located on a rooftop above the city buildings! This Tokyo aquarium will not only take you to the depths of the seas but also elevate your Japan experience with its SKY CIRCUS Sunshine 60 Observation Deck. Its Marine Garden features "Penguins in the Sky", which makes it seem like they are flying against a city backdrop, while its Sunshine Lagoon features graceful stingrays swimming around. Once you've explored the aquarium, you can head to the observation deck and soak in the sights of Tokyo from above.

Wanna experience exciting animal interactions? Have the chance to feed playful dolphins underwater and more at Shimoda Aquarium! It's a floating aquarium with a massive underwater deck that offers views of Japan's diverse marine life. This aquarium's main attraction is the Aqua Dome Perry. This aquarium-slash-ship experience recreates the seas of Izu and is home to 10,000 sea creatures. You'll be able to watch dolphins jump over your head from your seat!

Fancy seeing rare marine life, like the elusive jellyfish, up close? Kujukushima Aquarium in Nagasaki has enormous tanks for your enjoyment. Its Jellyfish Symphony Dome features mysterious smacks of jellyfish dancing around. You can be face-to-face (a glass wall in the middle) with dolphins when you go to the Dolphin Pool. Aside from exhibits, this aquarium also offers a pearl-picking experience, where you can extract pearls from Agoya oysters and take them home as souvenirs!

Find out how salmon thrives in the waters of Japan at the Salmon Hometown Chitose Aquarium. Chitose City has been the go-to place for hatching and raising salmon, so you're in the right place if you want to discover more about this freshwater fish and view the dynamic upstream salmon run that happens from September to October. By the end of the day, you might become a salmon expert yourself!

Make your Japan trip more memorable when you head to Umitamago Aquarium and watch its iconic walrus performances! Its 1,250-ton water tank on the first floor will give you a fantastic view of how diverse ecosystems work together and teach you how to help conserve and protect these habitats. After wandering around these exhibits, you can go to the second floor and enjoy different shows of various sea creatures, from friendly walrus to playful dolphins.

Another aquarium outside Tokyo is Kagoshima City Aquarium. This excellent aquarium is one of the largest in Kyushu. It is home to seven floors of local marine life that swims through the Kuroshio Current off the shores of Kagoshima, such as whale sharks, bonito, and tuna. They also have fantastic animal performances that keep you glued to your seat! If you're visiting in December, note that this attraction is closed for four days starting from the first Monday.

Can’t get enough wildlife encounters in Japan? Here are six other critters you can meet and more outdoor adventures in Japan: