Excited school children gazing at sting rays at Osaka Aquarium.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyūkan

Osaka


Kaiyūkan is among Japan's best aquariums. An 800m-plus walkway winds past displays of sea life from around the Pacific 'ring of fire': Antarctic penguins, coral-reef butterflyfish, unreasonably cute Arctic otters, Monterey Bay seals and unearthly jellyfish. Most impressive is the ginormous central tank, housing a whale shark, manta rays and thousands of other fish. Note there are also captive dolphins here, which some visitors may not appreciate; there is growing evidence that keeping cetaceans in captivity is harmful for the animals.

There are good English descriptions, but the audio guide (¥500) gives more detail. Expect lots of families and school groups.

The Osaka Kaiyu Ticket (www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/kaiyu.html; adult/child ¥2550/1300) combines entry to the aquarium with one-day unlimited transport on city subways and discounted admission to other sites. Purchase at any subway station. Check the schedule online, as the aquarium closes for a couple of days in January and February.

Transportation

  • subway: Chuō line to Osaka-kō, exit 1

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Osaka attractions

1. Giant Ferris Wheel

0.05 MILES

Among the biggest in the world, this 112m-high Ferris wheel offers unbeatable views of Osaka Bay and the seemingly endless Osaka/Kōbe conurbation. Give it…

2. Liberty Osaka

3.29 MILES

Japan's first human rights museum began in 1985 as an archive of documents relating to the burakumin – the lowest caste under the old feudal system …

3. Triangle Park

4.11 MILES

In the middle of Ame-Mura is Triangle Park, an all-concrete 'park' with benches for sitting and watching the fashion parade. Come night, it's a popular…

4. Amerika-Mura

4.12 MILES

West of Midō-suji, Amerika-Mura is a compact enclave of hip, youth-focused and offbeat shops, plus cafes, bars, tattoo and piercing parlours, nightclubs,…

5. Imamiya Ebisu-jinja

4.19 MILES

Nicknamed 'Ebessan', this famous shrine is said to have been founded by Japan's most revered historical figure, the priest-prince Shotoku-taishi, c AD 600…

6. Ebisu-bashi

4.24 MILES

This bridge has the best views of Dōtombori's famed neon nightscape.

7. Kani Dōraku Honten

4.25 MILES

You can't miss the giant animated crab that marks the entrance to Kani Dōraku Honten, which is, of course, a crab restaurant. The shop sells tasty crab…

8. Kamigata Ukiyo-e Museum

4.27 MILES

This narrow two-storey museum is worth a visit for anyone with an interest in ukiyo-e (woodblock prints). It mainly displays prints of famous kabuki…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "japan/kansai/osaka/attractions/osaka-aquarium-kaiyukan/a/poi-sig/423385/356704",
      "destination": "Osaka",
      "continent": "Asia",
      "country": "Japan",
      "city": "Osaka",
      "position": "superzone"
    }