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Otaru Aquarium
Journey to the ocean
Check out our video!
When an aquarium is within the ocean, that's exactly what you'll discover at Otaru Aquarium. Whereby the marine mammal park's pools are literally part of the sea itself! Here you can feel the salty air, see peeling paint, slightly weather railings, which show the power of the ocean. You might even witness cheeky seagulls or crows trying to snatch fishes from the seals. This aquarium truly embraces its natural surroundings, offering visitors an immersive experience where you can genuinely feel connected to marine life.
🐚 Diverse Marine Life
This aquarium is home to approximately 250 species, totaling around 5,000 individual marine creatures.
The most attractive part of this aquarium: Marine mammal park Animals like seals and sea lions live in natural pools that are directly connected to the ocean. This allows you to observe their behaviors and habits in an environment that closely resembles their natural habitat.
🎪 Animal Performances
During summer, visitors have the opportunity to watch the Humboldt penguins hike to the sea. Watching these charming penguins waddle to the shore and hop into the sea for swimming. After their stroll, feel free to head over to the nearby penguin enclosure to witness the staff feeding them.
The sea lion show is also truly impressive. Five sea lions completed their performance under the guidance of their trainers. We were so amazed when all five of them climbed up to the diving platform and dive into the water together.
The performance areas are located right by the sea, so on a clear day, you can enjoy a stunning backdrop of the azure sky and ocean. However animal performance schedules may vary depending on the season and the animals' condition, so it's a good idea to check the Otaru Aquarium's official website before your visit.
Beyond entertainment, Otaru Aquarium emphasizes visitors' understanding and awareness of marine conservation.
One of the moments that truly touched me was seeing a display dedicated to the animals that had recently passed away at the aquarium. Visitors had left messages of condolence and toys, reflecting the deep respect and care the facility has for its inhabitants.
If you enjoy collecting stamps, remember to bring your notebook! The aquarium offers eight unique designs scattered throughout the venue.
✨ Highlight species
Red List in Otaru Aquarium
Species (Sc. name / taxonomic) | IUCN Red List | Ministry of the Environment (Japan) | Hokkaido Red List |
|---|---|---|---|
Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus, mammal, marine mammal) | LC | - | - |
Steller's sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus, mammal, marine mammal) | NT | VU | VU |
Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus, mammal, marine animal) | VU | - | - |
Gomphid seal (Phoca largha, Mammalia margaritacea) | LC | VU (Hokkaido) | VU |
Bearded seal (Phoca vitulina, mammal, marine mammal) | LC | NT (Hokkaido) | NT |
Ringed seal (Histriophoca fasciata, mammal, marine mammal) | LC | VU (Class II) (Hokkaido) | VU |
Chin bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus, mammal, marine mammal) | LC | NT (Hokkaido) | NT |
Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti, bird) | VU | - | - |
Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua, bird) | NT | - | - |
Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta, Reptilia) | VU | EN | EN |
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Least Concern (LC): Taxa for which evaluation has determined to be of relatively low risk of extinction.
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Near Threatened (NT): Taxa that are close to qualifying for or are likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
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Vulnerable (VU): Taxa facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
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Endangered (EN): Taxa facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
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Critically Endangered (CR): Taxa facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
General Information
Address
📍 3-303 Shukutsu, Otaru City, Hokkaido 047-0047, Japan
Contact
＋(81)134-33-1400
Opening Hours
18 Mar - 15 Oct
09:00 - 17:00
16 Oct - 26 Nov
09:00 - 16:00
27 Nov - 15 Dec
Closed
16 Dec - 25 Feb
10:00 - 16:00