Get to know Kanagawa by interacting with marine life at the aquarium!
Kanagawa Prefecture boasts many fascinating aquariums. These aquariums offer a variety of concepts and unique attractions, including those where visitors can interact with animals, those themed around Kanagawa's seas and nature, and those focusing on freshwater fish from Kanagawa and around the world. Today, we'd like to introduce some of the aquariums in Kanagawa Prefecture, along with their distinctive features.
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise has four aquariums: Dolphin Fantasy, Aqua Museum, Fureai Lagoon, and Umi Farm. (In addition to the aquariums, there are also many other attractions.)
At Dolphin Fantasy, you walk through an arched aquarium as you enter.
A baby dolphin was born on June 3rd, and the sight of it swimming close to its mother is truly heartwarming. The baby dolphin is growing rapidly, so this may be a precious sight that can only be seen now.
The Aqua Museum is home to approximately 700 species and 120,000 animals, including deep-sea fish and animals from cold seas. There are plenty of attractions, such as polar bears, seals, a large tank housing the largest number of sardines in captivity in Japan (50,000), and dolphin shows.
At Umi Farm, you can learn about the importance of nature, the environment, and efforts toward the 5DGs in a fun and easy-to-understand way through "sea education" experiences. At the Interaction Lagoon, you can interact with a variety of animals, including bottlenose dolphins, beluga whales, penguins, and otters. Perhaps the biggest feature is the wide variety of animals you can interact with. The Interaction Lagoon offers many unique experiences, such as shaking hands with dolphins and feeding them.
[Official Website] Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise
Enoshima Aquarium
The Shin-Enoshima Aquarium is located just a 3-minute walk from Katase-Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Line, right in front of Katase Kaigan Nishihama, a beach famous for swimming. It opened in July 1954, giving it a long history of 67 years.
Originally called Enoshima Aquarium, it was renovated in 2004 and renamed "Shin-Enoshima Aquarium." The building has two floors above ground and one basement floor, and exhibits dolphins, penguins, sea lions, numerous colorful fish and fantastical jellyfish that inhabit the Pacific Ocean, as well as creatures that live in the deep sea.
One of the most distinctive features of the Enoshima Aquarium is the exhibit on Sagami Bay located right at the entrance. The exhibit showcases the marine life of Sagami Bay, which stretches out before the aquarium, introducing the characteristics and inhabitants of each depth, allowing visitors to learn in detail about what kind of place Sagami Bay is. In addition, the large Sagami Bay tank, which houses a collection of fish that inhabit Sagami Bay, is filled with so many fish swimming leisurely that you'll want to watch them forever.
The second feature is that many materials related to the research of Emperor Showa and Emperor Emeritus Akihito are on display. Materials related to Emperor Showa's research on organisms in Sagami Bay and Emperor Emeritus Akihito's research on gobies are exhibited.
This aquarium offers both fun and educational experiences, including dolphin and sea lion shows, fish feeding, and craft workshops.
[Official Website] Enoshima Aquarium
Kawasaki Aquarium (Kawasui)
Kawasaki Aquarium (Kawasaki Suisan) is located on the 9th and 10th floors of Kawasaki LeFront, about a 1-minute walk from JR Kawasaki Station.
The aquarium features zones that recreate various waterways, including the Tamagawa River Zone, Oceania/Asia Zone, South America Zone, and Amazon Zone, showcasing the fish and animals that inhabit these areas. Rather than displaying a single species, the aim is to create the impression that the creatures native to each region live in the recreated waterways.
The museum's concept revolves around creatures that live in freshwater rather than the ocean, and it features exhibits and detailed explanations of creatures that inhabit the Tama River basin, which flows through the local Kawasaki City.
Due to space limitations, there are no large animal exhibits, but in the panoramic screen zone, dolphins and whales appear via projection mapping, creating an immersive experience as if you were underwater. There are also events where staff members provide detailed explanations about their ecology, allowing visitors to learn about aspects of their behavior that are not usually accessible to the public.
[Official Website] Kawasaki Aquarium (Kawasui)
Aburatsubo Marine Park
Aburatsubo Marine Park opened in April 1968 as part of Keikyu Railway's 70th anniversary celebrations. In its "Fish Kingdom" exhibit, there's a large circular tank called the "Donut Sea." Visitors can see many fish, including sawfish, sand tiger sharks, and bull sharks, swimming leisurely around. The sight of so many fish swimming around you is truly breathtaking.
The museum also displays specimens of megamouth sharks, giant squid, and other creatures, along with the results of their scientific dissections.
Another must-see attraction is the dolphin and sea lion show at "Fantasia." The program is rich in storytelling, and the one I saw was about conquering the world from Aburatsubo. To achieve this, the dolphins and sea lions performed in perfect unison.
There are also exhibits based on the local Sagami Sea and the nature of Miura, allowing visitors to learn about the characteristics of the Sagami Sea and the natural environment of Miura.
Please note that Aburatsubo Marine Park is scheduled to close on September 30, 2021, due to the significant deterioration of its buildings and facilities. Aburatsubo Marine Park has a history of 53 years, and many people likely have fond memories of it. We want to say "thank you" to Aburatsubo Marine Park for creating so many wonderful memories.
[Official Website] Keikyu Aburatsubo Marine Park
Kanagawa's aquariums offer exhibits that are deeply rooted in the local community. Many facilities allow visitors to learn about the local sea, nature, and ecosystems, giving them insight into Kanagawa's geographical and natural characteristics. Interacting with fish and animals while learning about Kanagawa and the Earth is a truly valuable experience. I highly recommend you visit one!
