Shinagawa Aquarium

In short

Shinagawa Aquarium is located inside Shinagawa Kumin Park in Shinagawa City. It opened on October 19, 1991. Visitors can follow aquatic life in sequence, starting from the rivers flowing into Tokyo Bay, through the tidal flats of Tokyo Bay and the sea of Shinagawa, to the open ocean of the Tunnel Tank.

• ​Tunnel Tank​​: A 22-meter-long underwater walkway where an open ocean of 500 tons of water spreads completely overhead.
• ​Seal Building​​: A large 240-ton tank where spotted seals swim. Its seal tunnel tank is introduced as Japan's first.
• ​Dolphin and Sea Lion Stadium​​: Hosts dolphin shows, which have continued since the aquarium opened in 1991, as well as sea lion shows.

History and Highlights

​Shinagawa Aquarium​ is located inside Shinagawa Kumin Park in Katsushima, Shinagawa City. It opened on October 19, 1991. Since then, areas such as Penguin Land, Shark Hall, the Seal Building, and the Jellyfish World have been added at various milestones.

Exhibits inside begin with the rivers flowing into Tokyo Bay. A giant Japanese oak (mizunara) tree stands at the center of the viewing walkway, recreating nature's flow: "trees make forests, forests make rivers, and rivers make bountiful seas." This is followed by the tidal flats and rocky shores of Tokyo Bay, a diorama recreating the modern Shinagawa coast, and familiar marine creatures.

Even the small tanks have noteworthy stories. The Musashi-tomiyo, a stickleback species endemic to Japan, faces a high risk of extinction and now lives only in the Moto-Arakawa River in Kumagaya City. Additionally, the "Dream Tank" based on the theme of "Earth" was created as part of the 25th-anniversary project, gathering ideas submitted by residents of Shinagawa City.

Viewing and Experience Points

• ​Tunnel Tank​​: A 22-meter-long underwater walkway where an open ocean filled with swimming fish spreads completely across the ceiling. You can look up at swimming fish from below, and you might even make eye contact with a leisurely swimming sea turtle.
• ​Seal Building​​: A large 240-ton tank created with the image of spotted seals arriving on the coast of Hokkaido with drift ice from the cold Sea of Okhotsk. The seal tunnel tank is introduced as the first in Japan, and seal shows are also held in the Seal Building.
• ​Dolphin and Sea Lion Stadium​​: Features dolphins jumping against the backdrop of the blue sky, as well as sea lion shows in sync with their trainers. The dolphin show has continued since the opening in 1991. The underwater movements of dolphins, which cannot be seen from the stadium, can be viewed through the aquarium's Dolphin Window.

Tips for Exploring

It takes about 15 minutes by free shuttle bus from the East Exit bus rotary of JR Oimachi Station. From Tachiaigawa Station and Omorikaigan Station on the Keikyu Line, Shinagawa Kumin Park is a 5-minute walk from each. Shinagawa Kumin Park is a ward park built on reclaimed land from the Katsushima Canal, featuring an artificial lake called "Katsushima Sea" spanning about 6,500 square meters. After your visit, take a walk through the greenery of the park. Walking about 840 meters to the northwest leads to Omori Shell Mound Ruins Garden, which has deep ties to Japanese archaeology.