A short walk from the World Heritage site of Himeji Castle is an aquarium that is highly valued by the citizens of Himeji City. They do not have large tanks or glamorous shows, but instead focus on ‘enjoying sea creatures’. You can visit this aquarium to learn about the local aquatic creatures, perhaps in conjunction with a visit to the Himeji Castle.
Contents
Creatures from the Harima Sea
On display here are many creatures from the sea and land that have enjoyed the blessings of the Harima Sea. It is an ideal place for school children as a part of their environmental studies. The ‘Ammodytes personatus’ is a traditional local fish of this region with an interesting exhibition here. We often see them sold as souvenirs, but it is unusual to see a live exhibit of them in an aquarium. There is also the rare opportunity to watch them at feeding time.
Put a turtle on your shoulder!
This aquarium has a long history of turtle research with a focus on sea turtles, making it an excellent place to improve your understanding of these creatures. You can see, touch and feel a turtle by carrying it by its shell. You can see the popular African spurred tortoise and sea turtles during their feeding time and hear an informative commentary by the keepers.
Play with the fish in the rooftop stream
A popular attraction at this aquarium is the stream on the rooftop. There are fish inside the stream and it is possible to touch them, making this a popular exhibit with children.
Be soothed by the flowers in the biotope
Next to the rooftop stream is a biotope that recreates a satoyama (the border zone or area between mountain foothills and arable flat land). While there is certainly aquatic life to be found here, there are also beautiful flowers that bloom across the four seasons. In autumn you can enjoy the bright red blooms of the red spider lily.
Getting here
| Address | 440 Nishinobusue | Tegarayama Chuo Park, Himeji 670-0971, Hyogo Prefecture |
| ☎ | 079-297-0321 |
| Access | The aquarium direction page (Japanese) |
Access Map
Admission Tickets, Price
| Fees | General |
|---|---|
| Adult | 510 yen |
| Primary & middle school student | 200 yen |
Opening Hours & Calendar
| Hours | |
|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Last entry 4:30 p.m. |
|
| Days closed |
Tuesday (if a Tuesday is a national holiday, then the next day)
Dec 29 – Jan 1 |
Official website
Himeji City Aquarium (Japanese)
FAQs
Nursing Lounge
There are two nursing rooms in the aquarium.
Coin lockers
There is a coin-operated lockers.
Baby stroller rental service
Baby strollers are available free of charge.
Wheelchair rental service
Wheelchairs are available free of charge (Total number: 3). Reservation is not possible.
