Kushimoto Marine Park was the first ‘underwater park’ in Japan (now ‘Marine Park’) and is a place where visitors can enjoy both the aquarium and the underwater observation tower. It is open every day of the year and has an extensive program of experiences to try.
Contents
It might be in Honshu, but the underwater scenery is very colorful
The town of Kushimoto in Wakayama Prefecture is in a temperate climate, but due to the effect of the Kuroshio current (a north-flowing ocean current) the sea in front of the town contains tropical and subtropical corals and tropical fish. This aquarium is a wonderful place to enjoy the colorful Kushimoto sea. Inside the aquarium there is a realistic recreation of the sea of Kushimoto, and here you find around 500 species and 5,000 sea creatures from the area. Take the time to observe the lively fish swimming around in clear water pumped in from the sea of Kushimoto.
The Sea Turtle Park and underwater tunnel are recommended
The Sea Turtle Park is a recommended stop. There are many varieties of turtles to see here, from large sea turtles weighing more than 100kg to small baby turtles born in the aquarium. You can even interact with adorable baby turtles. Visitors can touch baby sea turtles in an event held every day, so be sure to take part! There is also a turtle feeding event every day. Another recommendation is the underwater tunnel. This is a 24-meter long underwater tunnel located in a large tank weighing 1250 tons, allowing you to really enjoy the full presence of the fish as they swim around above you. It is really compelling to watch a large ray or bluefin tuna pass above your head. In fact, there is even an event here where you can feed the bluefin tuna! This is a limited event, so be sure to check the website for details.
The world’s most northerly coral colony
In the underwater observatory, visitors can enjoy the sea of Kushimoto at a distance of 140 meters offshore and 6.3 meters deep. The sea of Kushimoto is located at the southernmost end of Honshu, and the Kuroshio current brings with it coral and tropical fish to make you feel as though you are in a southern sea. Here is the world’s largest and most northerly coral colony, full of colorful clownfish, butterflyfish and more. There many different kinds of fish to see here depending on the season and the time of day. Up to 270 kinds of fish have been observed here. Even on cold days there are 20 kinds of fish, and in autumn it has been possible to observe more than 70 kinds of fish in one visit!
Getting here
| Address | 1157 Arita Kushimoto-cho Higashimuro-gun Wakayama 649-3514 Japan |
| ☎ | 0735-62-1122 |
| Access | The aquarium direction page (English) |
Access Map
Admission Tickets, Price
| Fees | Aquarium only | Aquarium & Underwater observatory | Aquarium, Underwater observatory & Glass-bottom boat tour | One-year pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | 1,500 yen | 1,800 yen | 2,600 yen | 3,800 yen |
| Primary & middle school student | 700 yen | 800 yen | 1,400 yen | 1,800 yen |
| Child (Ages 3+) | 200 yen | 200 yen | 200 yen | 500 yen |
Opening Hours & Calendar
| Hours | |
|---|---|
| General | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Last entry 4:00 p.m.) |
| Summer, Golden Week holiday, New Year’s Holiday, consecutive holidays during May to October | There may be an extended operation hours. Please check the official website upon visiting. |
| Days closed | Open throughout the year |
Official website
FAQs
Nursing Lounge
Not available.
Coin lockers
Not available.
Baby stroller rental service
Strollers are not available for rent. Strollers are allowed in the aquarium but not in the underwater observatory and on the tour boat.
Wheelchair rental service
Wheelchairs are available free of charge.
