Kuji City in Iwate is home to the Moguranpia underground aquarium. After the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, it was fully destroyed but has since been rebuilt and opened back up since April 2016. On its grand opening, a special extravaganza utilizing projection mapping with the ideas of the locals of Kuji and Kesennuma high school students backed by a world class creator set a buzz!
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The survivor, “Kamekichi”
When the building collapsed during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, the green sea turtle “Kamekichi” managed to survive and continues to thrive in the aquarium today. In March 2017, he even got a makeover to his tank! In the new tank, amas(Japanese fish divers) will even come in to swim! It is a very classic Iwate view.
The origins of the aquarium was a petrol reserve location
This facility is a science center merged with an aquarium, where the underground floor is the aquarium exhibits, first floor being where the gift shop and souvenirs are located, and the second floor is dedicated to a science exhibit pertaining to petroleum. Kuji was originally known for its petrol reserves, and there are several tunnels from when that was a common trade item. The location of this aquarium is one of them. The third floor is dedicated to the disaster of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, the 4th floor a fish exhibit, and last but not least the 5th floor is an outlook space!
Getting here
| Address | 1-43-7 Samuraihamachoumugio, Kujishi, Iwate 028-7801 |
| ☎ | 0153-82-1141 |
| Access | The aquarium direction page (Japanese) |
Access Map
Admission Tickets, Price
| Fees | General | One-year pass |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 700 yen | 1,400 yen |
| High shool & College student | 500 yen | 1,000 yen |
| Primary & middle school student | 300 yen | 600 yen |
Opening Hours & Calendar
Note: The schedule may vary. Please check the official website.
| Hours | |
|---|---|
| Apr – Oct | 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Last entry 5:30 p.m. |
| Nov – Mar | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Last entry 5:30 p.m. |
| Days closed | Every Monday (If a Monday is a national holiday, then the next day) Dec 31 – Jan 1 |
Official website
FAQs
Nursing Lounge
The aquarium has a nursing lounge.
Coin lockers
Not available.
Baby stroller rental service
Not available. The aquarium is stroller friendly.
Wheelchair rental service
Not available. The aquarium is wheelchair friendly.
