10 recommended family outing spots in Hekinan - you can go on a day trip from Nagoya!  

Reopened in March 2019!
"Hekinan Seaside Aquarium"

"Hekinan Seaside Aquarium" reopened in March 2019.

About 260 types of fish, mainly from the coast of Japan, are on display, including fish that can be seen in the local area such as Ise Bay, Mikawa Bay, and Yahagi River. Since opening in 1982, the aquarium has been popular with locals and families.

<Admission fee>
Adult: 500 yen (high school students and older)
Children: 200 yen (pre-K to junior high school students) *Admission is free for younger children

Put on your favorite paper cap and say cheese!

Once inside the aquarium, first try your hand at making Hekinan Seaside Aquarium's original paper caps! (100 yen per cap, 6 types in total). The staff is so confident in their work since they put a lot of thought into every detail of the creatures. Since we're here, let's take a walk around the aquarium wearing our handmade caps!

You can observe living creatures around you! creature display area

Right at the entrance, a special exhibition "Look at my face (until January 26, 2020)" was being held. Fishes with big eyes, sharp teeth, funny mouths, and unusual faces are displayed, carefully selected by the staff. Each one was unique and fun! Special exhibitions and planned exhibitions are held three times a year.

The school of horse mackerel is a masterpiece!

Next is the "Large Tank" that displays fish that can be seen in Mikawa Bay and Ise Bay. In the renewal, the artificial rocks on the display have been renewed, and the types of fish on display have also changed.

You can observe how the fish that appear on the dining table, such as horse mackerel and sea bream, swim in the sea. Even if you know the name, there are probably many fish that you have never observed carefully while swimming.

There are also benches, so it's fun to look around and relax.

There is a kids corner next to the large aquarium. Even small children can enjoy this!

A corner displaying creatures without bones, such as shrimp, crabs, and jellyfish.

An exhibition based on the image of the sea around Noma Lighthouse on the Chita Peninsula. Pretty real! Saltwater fish unique to Ise Bay were swimming. If the scenery is familiar, children will be more likely to be interested in it.

This is the freshwater fish corner of Aichi. There are many familiar creatures that can be seen in ponds and rivers.

Amphibians and reptiles, which were previously on display for a limited time, are now on permanent display. You can see giant salamanders, common toads, red-bellied newts, and Japanese rat snake. Hekinan City is the only facility in the Mikawa area where giant salamanders are on display!

In addition, creatures in various environments such as deep sea, tide pool, coral reef seas, cold seas, and warm seas were introduced.

Such a rare exhibition!

The Dragon's Baby (Japanese name: Horimori) is said to be exhibited only here in Japan. It is designated as a protected species in Croatia and lives in the water in caves around Croatia.

Biotope area created with the reopening

A biotope area of approximately 2,000 square meters was created with the reopening. In addition to rare freshwater fish such as the bullhead and kawabatamoroko, visitors can observe seasonal plants, flying wild birds, dragonflies, and other insects.

You can eat and drink in the biotope area, so if the weather is nice, you can bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic!

Science museum area on the second floor

On the second floor, there is a science museum area. There is a quiz rally about water, a corner where you can learn about Aburagafuchi in Hekinan City, creatures in the tidal flat, development and history of Hekinan City. You can freely read picture books and books about sea creatures and nature!

This is an aquarium that the whole family wants to visit! Please enjoy learning about familiar creatures such as Mikawa Bay and Ise Bay at the Hekinan Seaside Aquarium.

[Hekinan Seaside Aquarium]
Address: 2-3 Hamacho, Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture
Phone number: 0566-48-3761
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Last admission is until 16:30)
Closed: Every Monday (If Monday is a holiday, the next weekday), December 29th to January 1st
Parking lot: 200 free parking lots

http://www.city.hekinan.lg.jp/aquarium/

"Kokonoe Mirin" - the oldest mirin brewery in Japan, which has continued since the Edo period.
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Hekinan City is also known as a brewing town.

This time, we will introduce Kokonoe Mirin which was founded in 1772 and continues to make mirin using traditional methods. At the head office in Hekinan City, there are guided tours that let you step inside (a part of) the mirin storehouse, the "Kokonoe Mirin Jidaikan" where you can learn about the history, the "Restaurant & Cafe K-An" where you can enjoy meals and cafes, and the direct sales store "Ishikawa Hachiroji Shoten" where you can shop is attached.

In the Kokonoe Mirin guided tour, you can visit part of the factory and visit the Kokonoe Mirin Jidaikan, a museum that exhibits valuable materials such as the history of Kokonoe Mirin and mirin.

<Guided tour>

Tour date and time: Weekdays ①10:00~, ②15:00~ (requires about 30 minutes)
Number of visitors: 1 to 40 people
Fee: Free

At the Kokonoe Mirin Jidaikan, old tools and ancient documents handed down by the Ishikawa family, the ancestors of Mikawa mirin and Kokonoe mirin, are on display.

Direct sales shop "Ishikawa Hachiroji Shoten"

At the direct sales store "Ishikawa Hachiroji Shoten", you can purchase Hon Mirin Kokonoe Sakura and Mirin foods, sweets, and gifts made with Mirin. There are products that can only be purchased here, so be sure to check them out!

"Hon Mirin Kokonoe Sakura" 999 yen (tax included)

You can also taste mirin in the store!

“Restaurant & Cafe K-An” where you can taste dishes using Hon Mirin

A variety of dishes that expand the "potential of hon mirin" are offered, from Japanese cuisine to Italian to sweets.

"Mikawa Pudding ~Nikiri Mirin Syrup~" 440 yen (tax included)

"Moist mirin lees cheesecake" 660 yen (tax included)

▼Click here for the article on Kokonoe Mirin
https://life-designs.jp/webmagazine/kokonoe_mirin/

[Kokonoe Mirin]
Click here for the guided tour
https://kokonoe.co.jp/kengaku
TEL: 0566-41-0708

 

[Ishikawa Hachiroji Store]
Business hours: 9:30-17:30
Closed: Mondays, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month
https://kokonoe.co.jp/directstore

[Restaurant & Cafe K-an]
Business hours: 11:00-17:00
(Lunch 11:00-14:00 (LO 13:30), Cafe 14:00-17:00 (LO 16:30)
Closed: Mondays, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month
https://kokonoe.co.jp/k-an