Aqua Marine Fukushima

AquaMarine Fukushima is one of the largest interactive aquariums in the Tohoku region, located in Onahama, Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture. Its theme is the “sea where the tides meet,” where the Kuroshio Current and the Oyashio Current meet off the coast of Fukushima. Here, around 800 species and 80,000 living creatures are on display, including fish found in nearby waters, colorful tropical fish that live on coral reefs, and animals such as seals and Steller sea lions. Rather than simply displaying organisms in tanks like a conventional aquarium, AquaMarine Fukushima focuses on “environmental reproduction exhibits” that recreate natural habitats themselves, allowing visitors to experience up close how living creatures behave in their natural state.

The facility’s signature exhibit, the “Sea of Tides,” is a huge tank where fish from the Kuroshio and Oyashio Currents coexist. Passing through the triangular tunnel in the center, visitors can see a wide variety of fish swimming above and beside them, creating the thrilling sensation of walking through the sea. There are also exhibits that recreate nature according to region and environment, such as the Sea of Okhotsk, tropical Asia, and the seas, mountains, and rivers of Fukushima Prefecture. Its unique use of natural light in the exhibits makes it especially distinctive among aquariums in Japan and abroad.

AquaMarine Fukushima also offers a wide range of hands-on programs in addition to its exhibits. At the children’s learning center “AquaMarine Egg,” visitors can try fishing and even have the fish they catch cooked and eaten on the spot. Other popular food education programs include charcoal grilling experiences, canned food making, and bonito flake shaving. There is also a “backyard tour,” where visitors can see areas normally closed to the public, and “Snake’s Nose Beach,” one of the world’s largest touch pools, where people can interact with living creatures barefoot. These activities allow children and adults alike to connect with nature through all five senses. Seasonal events are also held, such as the “Night Tour,” which explores the aquarium after dark, and “Egg Forest Animal Play,” a program that teaches through movement and play.

At the same time, AquaMarine Fukushima also serves as a place that conveys the memory of the earthquake and tsunami disaster. During the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the aquarium suffered severe damage, losing power due to the strong shaking and flooding caused by the tsunami, and approximately 90 percent of its marine life was lost. However, through the tireless efforts of its staff, it reopened just four months later. Today, it has been reborn as one of Fukushima’s leading tourist attractions, drawing about 610,000 visitors a year (based on fiscal 2023 results).

The aquarium also offers advance-reservation “Disaster Guidance” and “Disaster Learning” programs, using photos and videos to show how the staff responded at the time and how the aquarium managed to reopen. More than 2,500 people participate in these programs each year, and children often share impressions such as, “The story about the tsunami was frightening,” and “I was amazed that it reopened so quickly.” In Japan, where earthquakes and tsunamis occur repeatedly, it plays an important educational role as a place to learn from disaster and prepare for the future.

At AquaMarine Fukushima, the lives of living creatures, the lives of visitors, and the lives of the staff all come together. Through its exhibits and experiences, the facility hopes to inspire interest in nature and living creatures while helping visitors create joyful memories. The sight of fish swimming energetically is also a symbol of Fukushima’s recovery from the disaster. This is a special place that continues to share the beauty of the sea and living things, the preciousness of life, and the strength of reconstruction.