The Itabashi Tropical Environment Plant Museum (Green Dome Tropical Museum) is a reproduction of a Southeast Asian rainforest. It is an energy-conserving facility that is powered by the heat from the Itabashi Cleaning Plant. The basement houses a mini aquarium, a greenhouse divided into three zones and a cold room that reproduces the fog of a tropical alpine forest. It is a journey from the ocean to the forest in this series of tropical environments.
Contents
An aquarium managed by the team behind the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Kanagawa Prefecture
The ‘mini aquarium’ might be small, but across the three areas (seawater, freshwater and brackish ? a combination of seawater and freshwater) about 150 species and 2500 creatures are bred and exhibited here. There is a Japanese spider crab that is more than 1 meter big, as well several huge freshwater rays. You can also find adorable clownfish, unusual garden eels and spotted garden eels and a variety of other interesting creatures.
On weekends, watch the fish eating and take a guided tour
Every Saturday, the museum runs an event called ‘Fish Meal Time’. Listen to a talk by the aquarist while watching the fish feed. Guided tours of the museum are held every Sunday and on public holidays. The tour allows you to explore the museum while listening to more detailed explanations about its tropical plants and fish. The first five guests also have the opportunity to feed the fish. Stay until the end of the tour to receive a photograph of a plant or animal to take home as a keepsake of your visit. In the past, this museum has also held special, limited-time exhibitions such as ‘Night at the Aquarium and Botanic Gardens’ and ‘Creatures of the Cold Seas’.
The many charms of tropical plants
A central characteristic of this museum is the way it links the many aspects of our tropical environment, from the mini aquarium to the warm and cool rooms. There is a village exhibition where you can find a mangrove-filled display of tidal vegetation, large banyan trees and malay-style houses with examples of tropical fruits. These three zones are inside a greenhouse so you can experience them even in the middle of winter. On the other hand, the foggy forest which houses the exhibition of alpine plants is in a cold room and contains Rhododendron and Ficus trees. It remains cool year-round making it popular during the summer months.
Getting here
| Address | 8-29-2 Takashimadaira, Itabashi 175-0082, Tokyo Prefecture |
| ☎ | 03-5920-1131 |
| Access | The aquarium direction page (Japanese) |
Access Map
Admission Tickets, Price
| Fees | General |
|---|---|
| Adult (over high school student) | 1,080 yen |
| Child (Ages 1 – junior high school students) | 600 yen |
| Senior (Ages 65+) | 600 yen |
| A child ages 3 or under per one adult | free |
Opening Hours & Calendar
| Hours | |
|---|---|
| General | 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Last entry 5:30 p.m. |
| Days closed | Monday (if a Monday is a national holiday, then the next day) Closed during New Year’s Holiday |
Official website
Itabashi Tropical Environment Plant Museum
FAQs
Nursing Lounge
The aquarium has a nursing room for babies.
Coin lockers
The aquarium has a coin-operated lockers.
Baby stroller rental service
Not available. The aquarium is stroller friendly.
Wheelchair rental service
Not available. The aquarium is wheelchair friendly.
