Toba Aquarium

Toba Aquarium, located in Toba City, Mie Prefecture, is one of Japan’s largest indoor aquariums. The vast facility stretches about 240 meters in length, with a total walkway distance of approximately 1.5 kilometers. It houses around 30,000 marine and freshwater creatures of about 1,200 species, the highest number of species kept by any aquarium in Japan. Although it is a long-established aquarium with a rich history since its opening, it is also known for continuously introducing new exhibits and initiatives.

One of its greatest attractions is that it is the only aquarium in Japan to keep and display dugongs, which are said to have inspired mermaid legends. Even more remarkably, it is extremely rare worldwide for a facility to keep both dugongs and African manatees at the same time, making Toba Aquarium truly exceptional. Visitors can also encounter a wide variety of animals, including the charming and popular sea otters, the black-and-white finless dolphins, and the finless porpoises that inhabit Ise Bay. In particular, Toba Aquarium achieved the world’s first successful captive breeding of finless porpoises, demonstrating its outstanding husbandry expertise.

The aquarium is divided into 12 themed zones, each recreating a different environment. For example, in the “Mermaid Sea” zone, visitors can observe dugongs up close, while in the “Kingdom of Sea Mammals” zone, sea lions and seals can be viewed from near the water’s surface. In “Jungle World,” a tropical rainforest setting is recreated and manatees and capybaras live there. “Polar Seas” features cold-region animals such as sea otters and finless dolphins, and “Coral Reef Diving” offers a vibrant world of colorful coral reefs. There are also diverse areas such as “Ise-Shima Sea / Sea of Japan” and “Japanese Rivers,” which recreate natural environments found in Japan.

The exhibits are also highly unique. In the “Ancient Seas” zone, visitors can see fossils alongside living ancient fish, and there are also creative viewing tunnels made of transparent material that allow close-up observation of sea mammals. In addition, there is no fixed route inside the aquarium, so visitors are free to explore at their own pace and enjoy the facility all day without getting bored.

The aquarium also offers a wide variety of shows and hands-on events. Sea lion shows and walrus shows are held daily, and interactions with walruses and penguin walks are also popular. Feeding times for sea otters, seals, and Steller sea lions are among the highlights, allowing visitors to observe the animals’ natural behavior up close.

There is also a shop inside the aquarium with a wide selection of souvenirs, including stuffed dugongs. With its rich exhibits, diverse experiences, and opportunities to encounter rare creatures, Toba Aquarium is a highly worthwhile destination for visitors.