Meet the Freshwater Fishes From All Over the World "Aquatotto Gifu"

“Aquatotto Gifu” (hereinafter referred to as “Aquatoyto”) is located in Kagamihara City, Gifu Prefecture. The facility is one of the world's largest freshwater fish aquariums, recreating the natural environment under the themes of "From the source of the Kiso and Nagara rivers to the mouth of the river" and "Freshwater fish from around the world." You can see 25,000 creatures of about 250 species, including fish, amphibians, and aquatic plants.

This time, even if you are not familiar with freshwater fish, we will thoroughly report on the charm of "Aquatotto" that you can enjoy all day long!

Aquatotto is located in Kawashima Kasada-cho, Kagamihara City, Gifu Prefecture. It takes about 50 minutes by car from Nagoya. Because it is adjacent to the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, you can park your car at "Kawashima PA/Highway Oasis" and enter without getting off the highway. Of course, you can also enter from the general road.

4F: From the Kiso Three Rivers and the Source of the Nagara River to the World

At Aquatotto, the exhibition starts with the headwaters of the Nagara River and continues to the exhibition of rivers around the world. It reproduces the environment where waterside creatures such as reptiles, amphibians, and birds inhabit, with a focus on fish.

First, start from 4F.

Here, one of the sources of the three Kiso Rivers and the Nagara River, Takasu-cho, Gujo City, Kamasudani waterfalls and valleys have been recreated. Light pours in through the windows and real plants make you feel like you're walking through a real valley.

In this area, we could see Yamato iwana and amago swimming. These freshwater fish are not easily seen unless you are a mountain stream fishing hobbyist. Those that go down to the sea or lakes are called satsukimasu, and those that live in rivers are called amago. Satsukimasu are said to be a rare fish.

Main creatures that can be seen on the 4F Nagara River headwaters floor

・Yamato Iwana
・Freshwater crab
・Black salamander
・Azuma Toad

3F: Nagara River upstream to midstream

Next, we moved to the 3rd floor. Here, visitors can see the clear waters of the upper and middle reaches of the Nagara River and the river environments of Gujo City and Mino City. Visitors can observe living creatures in a space that looks as if it were cut directly out of the natural landscape.

In this aquarium, you can see Satsukimasu and Amago at the same time. Although they are originally the same fish, Amagomasu in the river and Satsukimasu in the sea are completely different in size.

"Otter feeding watch" was held just in time. In place of the Japanese otter, which has been designated as an extinct species, the small-clawed otter is bred and exhibited. It was lovely and cute to see how well it used its front legs to eat food.

"Otter Feeding Watch" is held three times a day (At 10:00, 13:00, and 16:00).

You can see the cute otters playing with each other on land and swimming powerfully in the water.

An otter couple snuggling and sleeping together. They were shown in love.

Schlegel green tree frog

Aodaisho

In addition, you can see the red snapper, the cute Schlegel green tree frog, and Gifu's famous sweetfish scraping off the moss and eating it.

Main creatures that can be seen on the 3F Nagara River headwaters floor

・Satsukimasu
・Giant salamander
・Forest tree frog
・Schlegel Green Tree Frog
・Oikawa
・Sweetfish
・Aodaisho
・Small-clawed otter

3F: From the midstream to the mouth of the Nagara River, where familiar waterside creatures live

Here, carp and gimbuna swim, and catfish and eels hide in their holes. Fish designated as an endangered species in Gifu Prefecture are also on display.

This is a tank that reproduces the rural scenery that was spread out in Gifu. It is said that many elderly people feel nostalgic because they can meet nostalgic creatures that used to be everywhere, such as Hariyo and Ushimotsugo.

When we pointed the camera at him, he looked at us! He is very fan service oriented.

The Nagara River trip is finally coming to an end. Here you can observe how mullet and motsugo swim and gobies touch the bottom.

There were many reed turtles basking in the sun and crabs living in the tidal flats.

3F Main creatures that can be seen on the estuary floor from the middle of the Nagara River                  ・Japanese eel
・Catfish
・Little egret
・Hariyo
・Shirohire Tabira
・Lord shrimp
・Spot-billed duck
・Tobi goby