A one-minute walk from the station! Entertainment that takes you on a journey around the world's waterfronts
Go, see, and experience the world of art
File.29 Kawasaki Aquarium (Kawasui)
Miyuki Inoue (Magcal Editorial Department)
It's the season when I long for the water's edge.
I'm not particularly good at swimming, but watching the fish swimming comfortably underwater somehow calms my mind.
For those of you who share this sentiment, I'd like to introduce you to a newly opened aquarium. It's located inside Kawasaki LeFRONT, a commercial complex just a one- minute walk from JR Kawasaki Station. First, head to the 10th floor where the ticket counter is located!
There are daytime and nighttime sessions, and the nighttime session is open until 10 pm (last entry is one hour before closing), so you can easily stop by after work. The cafe next to the entrance sells original soft serve ice cream, popcorn, and Kawasaki craft beer. Eating and drinking are allowed inside the building, so it would be fun to enjoy a stroll along the waterfront with a beer in hand.
The "prologue" leading from the entrance features a monochrome rainforest depicted in chalk art. Suddenly, a tiger appears from between the trees, and brightly colored birds take flight, making me involuntarily exclaim, "Wow!" The performance, utilizing cutting-edge lighting, sound, and video technology, is truly captivating!
The first of the six zones in the exhibition is the "Tama River Zone." That's right, the theme is the creatures of the familiar river that flows through Kawasaki, the local area.
The first three tanks that catch your eye display organisms from the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Tama River. In other words, it realistically recreates the current ecosystem of the Tama River.
The Tama River was once severely polluted, but in recent years, ayu (sweetfish) have started swimming upstream again. On the other hand, invasive species have also started swimming in the river, which made me think about the impact that human life has on the river's ecosystem.
The video playing in the background is footage of the Tama River, actually filmed by a drone. From the lush green headwaters down the stream to the area near the river mouth where buildings stand, it's truly moving to see how the flow of the Tama River is a "journey."
The following "Oceania & Asia Zone" features not only freshwater fish such as the Mekong giant catfish, one of the world's largest, but also animals like the three-horned leaf frog and sugar glider.
Africa, often called the world's oldest landmass, is home to some truly unique creatures. From fish that swim upside down to those that can survive without water, you can truly experience the wonders of life.
Incidentally, instead of explanatory panels, the exhibits feature QR codes. Scanning these with a smartphone or tablet will display the names and characteristics of the exhibited creatures.
In South America, home to the Amazon River which nourishes the world's largest rainforest, one area worth noting is the Pantanal region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as a "treasure trove of biodiversity." The aquarium features footage filmed in the Amazon River basin as its background, and the lighting and sound change according to the time of day—morning, noon, evening, and night—creating a truly magical atmosphere.
The gigantic aquarium, holding 40 tons of water, displays approximately 8,000 creatures that shimmer in the water, including neon tetras. Because it is U-shaped, standing in the middle makes you feel like you are underwater.
Before moving on to the next zone, take a break at "Komorebi Cafe." They offer a variety of photogenic dishes, including colorful original sweets and "Pirarucu Coconut Curry" made with Amazonian fish.
A "kids' room" is also available next door.
Next, we moved to the panoramic screen zone, where a dynamic 200-degree wide-angle screen unfolded. There, river dolphins and manatees, native to the Amazon River, were swimming comfortably.
Although it's a digital image, when you get close to the screen, the river dolphins come closer, wave their hands, and spin around! Cutting-edge technology is amazing! Try it yourself and imagine you're a dolphin trainer to see what movements they react to.
Next up is the Lençóis area. This is a vast area of sand dunes that actually exists in Brazil, where countless emerald-green lakes appear only during the rainy season. What's strange is that when the lakes appear, fish also appear. How do they spend the dry season...? I gazed at the beautiful fish standing out against the white sand and let my thoughts wander to this mystical world.
"Agua Lab," a unique feature of Kawasui Aquarium, offers a glimpse behind the scenes. It's fascinating to see the various pieces of equipment on display, including breeding supplies, spare tanks, a rain mist water dispenser for the Amazon zone, an Amazon rain mist unit, and filtration pumps. Backstage tours are also planned for the future, so stay tuned!
The "Amazon Zone" is an open and airy space that takes advantage of the atrium between the 9th and 10th floors. Watering holes for the animals have been created among the trees, and visitors can see capybaras bathing in aquariums. The jungle animals are currently getting used to their environment, but once the exhibit opens, visitors can expect to see birds soaring through the jungle. Events such as capybara feeding experiences are also planned.
*Please check the official website for information on event dates and times.
In the five tanks, the world's largest freshwater fish, the arapaima, and piranhas swim leisurely.
They say that the torrential downpours that hit the rainforest and the mist that envelops the plants will also be recreated, so I want to "experience" the Amazon with all my senses.
Touchscreens are installed next to the tanks, not just in the Amazon zone. This is the "LINNÉ LENS Screen" (developed and provided by Linne Inc.), an exhibition system in which AI analyzes underwater camera footage in real time and automatically displays the species name and explanation of the creatures in the tank. KAWASUI is the first in the world to introduce this cutting-edge technology.
Currently, the touch function is unavailable due to COVID-19 precautions, but being able to check information about the creatures swimming in the tank in real time is truly groundbreaking!
The final treat is the "Kawasaki Aquarium Official Shop".
The shop is packed with unique original products and other carefully selected goods that are characteristic of Kawasui. Even those who don't enter the aquarium can use the shop, so it would be fun to visit and look for new souvenirs from Kanagawa.
Kawasui has introduced the "Congestion Lamp" service ( developed and provided by Locoguide Co., Ltd. ) , which displays the aquarium's congestion status in three stages: "Not crowded," "Slightly crowded," and "Crowded," in real time on the official website, the Kawasui app, and the LED screen on the first floor of "Kawasaki LeFRONT." In addition, other measures will be taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For details, please refer to the official Kawasui website .
*Image of the "Congestion Lamp" display on the official Kawasui website.
