Ise Sea Paradise: A Place where You can Interact with Sea Animals!

"Ise Sea Paradise" is located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture.

As the name "Fureai (interacting) Aquarium" suggests, it is an aquarium where you can enjoy interacting with marine mammals, such as shaking hands with otters, getting up close to walruses, and touching spotted seals.

This time, we will give a thorough report on the highlights of "Ise Sea Paradise".

Access to "Ise Sea Paradise"

I came to Ise Sea Paradise! It is located next to the tourist attraction "Meotoiwa" in Futami-cho, Ise City.

It takes about 2 hours by car from Nagoya. It takes about 15 minutes by car from Ise Jingu, so it is recommended to visit it together with your visit to Ise.

▼ Click here for access
https://ise-seaparadise.com/access/

Buy your ticket!

First, buy a ticket at the ticket office.

If you purchase an admission exchange ticket on the website in advance, you can enter at a great price!

<Click here for details>
https://ise-seaparadise.com/ticket/

"Todo Pool" where Todo family lives

First, go to "Todo (northern sea lion) Pool" next to the entrance.

Here you will be greeted by the Todo family.

Northern sea lions are the largest pinniped animals living in Japan. Northern sea lions are also called "gangsters of the sea", but if you look closely, they have cute eyes.

The event "Todo's Meal Time" will also be held at Todo Pool. You can even see the food being served and the children performing right in front of you!

* Depends on the physical condition of the animal.

Enjoy the feeling of exploring! "Cave Aquarium Area"

Next, head to the “Cave Aquarium Area” where you can enjoy an adventurous mood.

At the entrance to the area is the Meotoiwa Water Tank. Red and white lucky fish swim around Meotoiwa.

Futami Town, where Ise Sea Paradise is located, has become a power spot as a place of purification before visiting Ise Jingu.

In addition, in the "cave tank area", there are many fish that bring good luck, such as Kotobuki fish and color fish corners!

The handwritten pop is also interesting.

Penguins actually live on the beach or in the forest? !
"Penguin Forest"

Once you pass through the cave, you will find yourself in a jungle-like space! In this area, which was originally a botanical garden, you can meet penguins, small-clawed otters, and spurred tortoises.

First, let's go to "Penguin Forest"!

Cape penguins and Humboldt penguins live in the Penguin Forest.

Most people think of penguins as living on ice in Antarctica, but actually most penguins live on the ground, in forests and on the coast!

You can see these penguins at such a distance that you could almost touch them. The way they walk is adorable!

If the timing is right, you might be able to meet the penguins walking around the museum! ?

It's like a jungle! "Tropical Square"

Small-clawed otter

Spurred tortoise

Small-clawed otters and spurred tortoises live in the Tropical Square. Surrounded by greenery, it is a very relaxing space.

There is a waterfall in the center of "Tropical Square", and you can enter behind the waterfall. Exciting as if you are adventuring in the jungle!

Let's interact with sea animals! "Sea Animal Square"

Next, let's head to the main attraction of Ise Sea Paradise, the Sea Animal Square. Walruses, spotted seals and clawed otters live here.

There are plenty of events such as "Goma-chan Touch", "Walrus Walk Time", and "Shake Hands with Clawless Otters"! Check the event schedule in advance.

Punipuni (squishy) feeling! "Shake hands with a clawless otter"

We would like you to experience the handshake with a clawless otter, an event where you can shake hands with a clawless otter. You can experience the otter's unique habit of catching prey by searching for gaps with its hands.

There are only 3 facilities in Japan that keep clawless otters! Moreover, you can shake hands only at Ise Sea Paradise!

As its name suggests, it has almost no claws on its hands, and is characterized by its white and brown two-tone color and large tail.

First of all, Hirari-kun, who won the best in Japan in the "2nd Otter Election". He is a skillful boy who learns new things quickly.

I can't get enough of the squishy feeling without nails!

Next is Kirari-kun. When I put my finger in the hole, he grabbed me.

You can also take pictures together! "Goma-chan Touch"

Next, go to the event "Goma-chan Touch" where you can touch Goma-chan, also known as the "spotted sea" up close. At the designated time, the Goma-chans will appear in droves!

It was more plump than I imagined. It looks small, but when it becomes an adult, it weighs over 100 kg. You can take a commemorative photo together as well as a touch!

A spoiled walrus appears! "Walrus Walk Time"

Himawari-chan is a very spoiled walrus. I was overwhelmed by the size beyond my imagination when I saw it nearby.

They will appear in the square and show off their performance. You can also touch it!

Let's interact with sea animals! "Sea Lion House"

At the Sea Lion House, energetic sea lions put on a lively show. The venue was filled with laughter at the unique interaction with the staff.

California sea lions are amphibious and have excellent reflexes, and they are also good at jumping underwater!

It is a show that both children and adults can enjoy, such as ring toss that audience can participate in.

Take a break for a while at the "Undersea Gororin Hall"

When you feel a little tired, go to the "Undersea Gororin Hall" on the 2nd floor. While rolling around, you can take a break while sitting on the sofa.

A large horse mackerel swims in the largest migratory tank in the museum.

Take a short break "Interactive Aquarium"

Next, go to the Interactive Aquarium.

You can carefully observe the ecology of fish such as seahorses and mudskippers.

The events such as "Seahorse Wrapping Experience", "Spotted Garden Eel Mystery Feeding Experience", and "Hand-riding Mudskipper Touching Experience" are also very popular!

Spotted Garden Eel Mystery Feeding Experience

This time, we tried the "Spot the Garden Eel Mystery Feeding Experience (300 yen per person)"! I will solve the quiz while feeding the garden eel.

* Age limit 4 years old and over
*Admission tickets are not sold, so please ask the local staff on the day of the event to participate.

This is the rice of garden eel! Suck it up with water with a dropper.

When I dropped it on the water tank, the spotted garden eel ate them. They stretched their body and it's so cute!

You don't have a lot of chance to feed the spotted garden eels.

Relax and watch the fish

There is also an area where you can sit and relax while observing the fish, such as table tanks and tanks with counters. Picture books of creatures and a guidebook of Ise-Shima are also available, so you can spend a relaxing time.

Number one breeding species in Japan!
"Seahorse Land"

Next, go to "Seahorse Land".

Ise Sea Paradise has the largest number of seahorse breeds in Japan. This is the only place in Japan where you can see more than 10 kinds of seahorses!

Various seahorses from all over the world are on display. The appearance of swimming with pukapuka is very soothing.

The last stop is “Ise Meotoiwa Meoto Yokocho”
Get a souvenir!

After enjoying the aquarium to the fullest, get some souvenirs at Ise Meotoiwa Meoto Yokocho! There are also plenty of Ise Sea Paradise limited items, such as otter goods.

The distance to the creatures was closer than I imagined, and I was surprised that I could interact with them so close. It's no surprise that it's ranked No. 1 in the Kinki area in TripAdvisor's 2019 Popular Aquarium Rankings in Japan. For those who like aquariums and those who like living creatures, this is an aquarium that you should visit at least once.