Osaka Aquarium: Fun For All Ages?

There are things to do in Japan that might make you think, "I don`t want to go there, I can do that stuff at home." But then you do go and you`re really glad you went.

Well Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan Aquarium), in the Osaka Bay area, is one of those places to go in Japan that is just like that.

With its distinct shape and colorful exterior its hard to miss the building, which if nothing else makes for a good Japan holiday "been there, done that" photo op.

But don`t let its interesting appearances deceive you. The inside of the aquarium has an amazing design.

Instead of starting at the bottom and working your way to the top, you actually take an impressively steep escalator up to the 8th floor and work your way down.

Running through the center of the building is the main tank around which the pathway corkscrews down.

The dual themes of Osaka Aquarium are the volcanic and concentrated ocean life areas encircling the Pacific Ocean. These are called the "Ring of Fire" and "Ring of Life" respectively.

The creatures that inhabit these regions are displayed in fifteen tanks that surround the center tank, so you get the feeling of being in some kind of awesome underwater station with huge windows on either side.

Although the main attractions are the two whale sharks that live in the main tank, there are about 580 different species.

Some of the highlights include everything from sea otters, sea lions, penguins, turtles and dolphins to amazing creatures of the deep that look like they are actually from an episode of Star Trek or a Godzilla movie.

With so many, its hard to choose a favorite.

Most of the displays have descriptions in English and Japanese.

“Voice Guidance Systems” (wireless earphones) are available for 300 yen and provide an audio guide to the attractions. There are guided tours, but only in Japanese.

Naturally, Osaka Aquarium is a great place to go with your kids, but since it`s so popular, weekends and public holidays are good times to avoid if you don`t like crowds.

Opening Hours:

10:00am - 8:00pm

Last Admission:

One Hour before closing

Closed:

Entry:

2000 yen Adults and High School Students

900 yen Children

400 yen Infants 4-6 years old