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Otaru Aquarium

Name: Otaru Aquarium
Address: 3-chōme-303 Shukutsu, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0047, Japan
Rating: 4.3

4.3 (200)・Aquarium・Tourist Attraction・Point Of Interest・Establishment

Otaru Aquarium, nestled in the scenic city of Otaru, Hokkaido, stands as a beacon of marine education and entertainment. With its origins dating back to the 1958 Hokkaido Expo, this aquarium has evolved into a comprehensive marine life showcase. Housing over 70 different tanks, Otaru Aquarium offers an immersive journey through the underwater world, featuring a wide variety of fish, shellfish, and even playful marine mammals like dolphins and sea lions.

One of the aquarium's highlights is the Dolphin Stadium, where visitors can marvel at the grace and agility of dolphins and sea lions through engaging shows. But what truly sets Otaru Aquarium apart is its commitment to both education and conservation, providing insights into the lives of marine creatures and the importance of preserving their habitats.

For those seeking a unique experience, the aquarium’s seasonal events, such as the winter penguin walks and summer penguin shows, are a must-see. These adorable penguins capture hearts as they waddle around, offering a rare opportunity to observe these creatures up close.

Hours:

Summer Season (April to October): 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Winter Season (November to March): 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Closed:

February 26 - March 15, 2024
November 25 - December 13, 2024
(Closed for Maintenance)

Available:

All year, with seasonal variations in hours

Minimum Age:

All ages are welcome

Fees:

Adults (high school students and above, 16 years and above): 1,800 yen
Dwarf (elementary and junior high school students, 6-15 years old): 700 yen
Infant (3-5 years old): 350 yen

Hours

Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Phone

+81 134-33-1400

Website

otaru-aq.jp

The area

Address

3-chōme-303 Shukutsu, Otaru, Hokkaido 047-0047, Japan

Top ways to experience Otaru Aquarium

approx. 7-21 days

Ultimate JR Pass – Travel All of Japan Freely

From $193 /person

9.5hrs

Hokkaido Bus Adventures: Exploring Cape Shakotan's Splendors

From $57 /person

3-8hrs

Sapporo Custom Private Tour With Local Guide

From $170 /person

What other travelers are saying about Otaru Aquarium

highly recommend to visit during the winter period as it has penguin parade walking outdoors and close right next to you. There is no need to purchase a ticket in advance. I can easily buy at the counter without queue. Ensure to visit their website to get the show timing and watch them all in sequence. We watch seal feeding (outdoor), dolphins show (indoor), and the best penguins parade (outdoor). The penguin parade watching area is big, and penguins are walking one big round on the track, so you can choose a spot that has fewer people for your best view. Indoor aquarium is quite standard fishes.

Romeo Fox

Dec 30, 2024

We came during the winter season and this was a really memorable experience. We were able to see the dolphin show and penguin walk which were crowded but enjoyable to watch. There were also a lot of unique marine species such as the sea angels and lumpfishes which I have not seen before in other aquariums

cheezo

Dec 31, 2024

A decent aquarium experience. There was a good variety of animals on display and the sea mammal exhibits were especially good. The gift shops were also good and had cute merch. The major downside is the condition of the facility. The aquarium recently celebrated their 50th anniversary, and it looks like nothing has been maintained or renovated since they opened. The paint is faded, the habitats need cleaning, and there is rust everywhere.

Robert E

Nov 30, 2024

Simplicity at its best compared to other Aquariums around the world. I liked what I saw. The effort by the trainers, the sea lions and penguins shows were commendable. A decent place to visit. Take a bus from Otaru Station - about 20 mins - 1800 yen. Nice place!

S k

Aug 31, 2024

It’s ok, but a lot of the enclosures are too small for the sea creatures, from dolphins to the penguins in the sun, the otter living by itself… the overcrowding is quite severe and it can get a little depressing even if they’re cute. gift shop has many cute toys though, and the seal show was nice.