Otaru Aquarium: A Charming Coastal Escape with Unforgettable Animal Shows!
If you're heading to Otaru, the Otaru Aquarium is a must-visit, especially for families and animal lovers! It might not be the biggest or most modern aquarium you've ever seen, but its charm truly shines through, especially with its unique seaside location.
The real stars here are the animal shows. Seriously, don't miss them!
* Penguin Walk: This is legendary, especially in winter when they waddle through the snow! The penguins often go off-script, which makes for hilarious and unforgettable moments.
* Dolphin Show: Energetic and always a crowd-pleaser.
* Sea Lion & Seal Performances: These guys are incredibly clever and entertaining.
* Walrus Feeding Show: Prepare to laugh! The walruses are huge and their antics during feeding time are pure comedy.
They've also got a fantastic Marine Mammal Park that uses a natural inlet, letting seals and sea lions live in a more natural environment. It's fascinating to see them by the actual sea, and sometimes even wild visitors drop by!
You'll also get to see some unique local species, like the rare harbor porpoises, and various fish from Hokkaido's cold waters. Plus, there's a "Sawatte Ezone" petting area where you can touch sea urchins and starfish. You can even buy food to feed the adorable spotted seals – a definite highlight!
The aquarium is perched on a hill, offering beautiful views of the sea, which adds to the whole experience. It's super family-friendly, with plenty to keep kids entertained, including a small, old-school amusement park right next door.
A couple of tips: The animal shows can get super crowded, so try to arrive early for a good spot. Getting there involves a short bus ride from JR Otaru Station, but it's well worth the trip.
Overall, Otaru Aquarium offers a genuinely fun and memorable day out. If you love engaging animal performances and a bit of quirky charm, add it to your Otaru itinerary!
Very busy with a lot of tourists, so plan to be here for a while in order to see everything. Some of the animals definitely need more space, but this is one of the better aquariums i’ve seen around Japan. The penguin walk and dolphin show are extremely busy so get there early to nab a spot
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.
