This was really impressive and definitely worth going to. We came with both or kids (ages 9 & 13) and spent a little over 2hrs there. The layout is quite unique, with the walking path wrapped around the HUGE main tank that features the whalesharks and other large fish.
We arrived at 10am (doors open) on a Monday and had no problems buying tickets on arrival. Only a very short line.
The aquarium itself was quite busy - but not annoyingly so. Easy to get to on the train. All up, everyone in our group really enjoyed this and rated it as one of the best aquariums we've visited.
An Amazing Day at Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan!
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan was one of the highlights of our trip! From the moment you step inside, you’re immersed in a beautifully designed journey through the wonders of the ocean. The layout is brilliant — starting from the top floor, you slowly spiral your way down around a massive central tank, getting different views of the incredible marine life from every angle.
The displays are spectacular, featuring a huge variety of sea creatures, from giant whale sharks and graceful manta rays to adorable penguins and playful otters. Each zone is themed around different regions of the Pacific Rim, making it feel like you’re travelling the world’s oceans in a single visit.
The aquarium is spotless, well-organized, and easy to navigate. It’s also very family-friendly, with lots of interactive exhibits that younger visitors will love. That said, it’s just as enjoyable for adults — we were amazed by the scale and quality of every exhibit.
We highly recommend visiting early or later in the day if you want to avoid the bigger crowds. And definitely allow a few hours — there’s so much to see!
If you’re in Osaka, the Kaiyukan is an absolute must-visit — a world-class aquarium experience that’s both educational and unforgettable.
The biggest aquarium I’ve ever been to. Filled with amazing wildlife from all corners of the Earth. My wife and I went here just to see whale sharks. But we ended up seeing so much more as well that made it incredibly worthwhile.
My main piece of advice would be to Nakia the first couple of windows when you get to the whale sharks tank. They have nearly a dozen different spots to view the tank for a variety of angles and heights as the walkway spirals around their massive tank. You can get a much better view later on.
Very nice aquarium. We were able to purchase tickets and go in right away. However, they do have time slots for when people can enter so if they're busy you may need to wait if you didn't buy tickets in advance. Close to the metro. Wonderful displays with a special display discussing reef building. The two whale sharks are amazing but so are the dolphins.
We love going to aquariums around the world, and this might be the best one we've ever visited. It has a lot of different views of the same huge tanks, but that is good because yoy are guaranteed to see the cool things in there like Hammerheads, whale Sharks, rays, dolphins, seals, etc. So it was a good experience. It lasted us two hours overall which is far longer than most and I really liked all the information about sustainability and conservation at the end, it really felt like these animals are well looked after and that the profits from this place are going to really important causes. Cannot speak more highly of this place. The cafe mid-way also made great drinks!
