Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, Kyoto

- September 12, 2018

My son is too young for Universal Studio so I decided to take him to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Kaiyukan is one of Japan’s most spectacular aquariums, world-renowned for its innovative presentation. Kaiyukan shows the aquatic animals of the Pacific Rim at their most vibrant and dynamic, by recreating the natural environment of their habitats.

The ticket price is:

Over 60 years old: 2,000 yen
Over 16 years old: 2,300 yen
7 - 15 years old: 1,200 yen
4 - 6 years old: 600 yen
3 years old and below: Free

Once again my son is enjoying a free entrance! There are too many benefits to bring your 3 years old kid for travel!

At the beginning of the tour, we will pass through a 5m long tunnel which is known as the Aqua Gate. After that, we were bring to a miniature Japan Forest. The forest absorbs rainwater, and the rainwater goes on to form small rivulets in crevices among the rocks. In time, it flows onward to rivers and ultimately the sea. This exhibit recreates a Japanese forest, complete with river fish and creatures that live near water. Next is the Monterey Bay which is the cliffs of California’s coastline are home to numerous species of aquatic mammals. Visitors to this exhibit can observe the coastal sea lions and seals on both land and sea.

Gulf of Panama is the next section. Even a nation once largely covered with tropical rainforest like Panama now retains only a few areas of that environment. This exhibit showcases tropical fish and other living beings native to Panama. The fifth area is the Ecuador Rain Forest, a South American tropical rain forest located directly on the equator. The river basins in this region likely hold more diverse plant and animal life than anywhere else on earth.

The ice-shrouded continent of Antarctica. They have recreated the harsh Antarctic environment of rocks and ice in this exhibit, letting them present penguins’ humorous behavior on land alongside their swift movements in the water.

Although it only covers a relatively small area, the sea around New Zealand has a very sharp water temperature gradient between hot and cold areas. Seawater temperature variances have a major impact on coastal aquatic animals. This exhibit reveals the ecology of the Pacific white-sided dolphins spread across its warm areas. This is the Tasman Sea. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is a collection of over 5,000 connected coral reefs, extending 2,000 kilometers in length. This exhibit features vibrantly colored fish swimming among an exquisite reproduction of the reef that mirrors both its form and coloration.

The best part of all is their Pacific Ocean section. The Pacific Ocean, a massive body of water surrounded by five continents and covering one third of the earth’s surface. In this exhibit, an aquarium 9 meters deep and 34 meters long at its longest represents the ocean with a total of 5,400 tons of water.

You get to see all kinds of marine life including the whale shark. As a diver with 135 logged dives, I have not seen a whale shark yet.

Same goes to Manta Ray. I get to see them all here.

Hammersharks too! I am kinda envy with the divers who are inside busy cleaning the tank while having all kinds of sharks and rays swimming around him.

The best way to keep your kids occupied is to give them a camera. Just let them have their own ideas and creativity to take the pictures they want. You can see his effort below.

Not in the picture, there is a section which called Seto Inland Sea. The Seto Inland Sea, a name known globally as the starting point of aquaculture fisheries. A huge variety of fish are carried to this sea by the currents from surrounding areas. This exhibit presents a few representative examples from among that variety.

They have a special Seasonal Exhibit. These aquariums are exhibited from time to time throughout the year in order to highlight creatures for extra attention. At this time, they have Mola-Mola or more known as the Sunfish in the aquarium. Next is the Coast of Chile, when currents from the south bring cool, nutrient-rich waters to the coast of Chile, they also generate massive amounts of both plant and animal planktons. This exhibit showcases species of sardines as they gather and swim around the rocks in search of that plankton.

The 14th section is the Cook Strait. The Cook Strait divides New Zealand into its North and South Islands, and is sometimes subject to strong winds. It also receives a cyclical current of cool seawater that is rich in nutrients. This exhibits displays the sea turtles native to the Cook Strait alongside indigenous species of fish.

Japan Deep, the ocean depths are full of life. This exhibit centers on the inhabitants of a sloping section of ocean floor beneath the Sea of Japan, at about 200 – 400 meters in depth. The Japanese spider crabs that live here are the largest variety in the world.

Last but not least is the Jellyfish exhibit. This new area gives the impression of gazing into a galaxy of jellyfish floating in space. Visitors will find that the remarkable movements of the jellyfish inspire various sensations of beauty, transparency, floating, tolerance, tranquility, and connected with life.

This place is creepy but at the same time it is gracefully amazing.

You will see all kinds of jellyfishes but you just want them to stay away from you.

The above are all under their "Permanent Exhibition". What's next is their "Interactive Exhibition". This is the exhibition you will get really close with the animals. There are 3 regions and one of it which is The Arctic Ocean, adrift with frigid ice floes. Venture beneath the ice floes for a fascinating encounter with ringed seals. Ringed seals peek through one of the largest ceiling-dome aquariums in the world. Another section is the separator panels only come up to chest height, giving you an up-close experience of the cold that the ringed seals live among and the sounds of their digging at the ice.

At Maldives Region, one of the largest touch pools in Japan, where you can actually feel sharks and rays. Gently stroke their backs to find out how scratchy shark skin is, and how slimy ray skin is. You never would’ve guessed just by looking. A fun experience for children and adults alike. At first my son was scared but after he saw other kids were having fun touching them, he took up the courage and try. One he tried, he no longer want to leave this place.

Another region which is not in the picture is the Falkland Islands. The dividers come up to your chest, so the penguins will play right before your eyes. Experience penguin life up close. Watch as the rock-hopper penguins live up to their names and hop off of rocks enthusiastically, swim with incredible speed, and call out to each other happily. Experience penguins’ unique smell firsthand. Enjoy taking in the looks on the penguins’ faces from an immersive vantage almost within arm’s reach.

Another special exhibition is The Face - Secret About Face of Fish, which explains the strange ecology of certain fish while highlighting their peculiar facial features.

This exhibition has roughly 70 fish from 20 different species with unique faces in addition to the first ever Megamouth Shark (specimen) exhibit in Kansai. Also featured is the “Face Camera,” which combines the faces of the visitor and a fish into a photo, letting visitors have fun while learning about the unique characteristics of certain fish faces and the great diversity of sea creatures.

This is a must visit place for your kids to get to know about marine life and also to increase the knowledge about your own understanding about marine biology. It is way better than Aquaria KLCC so take good advantage of it whenever you are in Osaka.

Total Damage: 2,300 yen

Ambiance: 5/5

Cleanliness: 5/5

Service: 4/5

Price: 3/5

Recommended?: Yes

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

1 Chome-1-10 Kaigandori,

Minato Ward, Osaka,

Osaka Prefecture 552-0022,

Japan

Tel: +81-6-6576-5501