Toba City: How to Enjoy the Toba Aquarium!

"Toba Aquarium" in Toba City, Mie Prefecture. It is a very popular aquarium with over 60 million visitors, celebrating its 65th anniversary in May 2020.

With the catchphrase "the largest number of species kept in Japan," the aquarium exhibits about 1,200 species of creatures, ranging from the only dugong in aquarium in Japan to a variety of unusual creatures. It is the aquarium that keeps the largest number of species of living creatures in Japan!

However, Toba Aquarium does not only have a large number of breeding species. There are plenty of attractions that will make you want to visit Toba, such as a showtime full of laughter and a large-scale exhibition space! ! This time, I will report on Toba Aquarium.

*Please check the latest information on the Toba Aquarium website before visiting.

https://www.aquarium.co.jp/

*Interview date: February 20, 2020

How to get to Toba Aquarium

Toba Station

Isewan Ferry is also recommended from the Mikawa area! You can feel like you are on a short trip.

・By car
About 2 hours 30 minutes from Nagoya

・By train
About 1 hour 35 minutes by Kintetsu Limited Express from Kintetsu Nagoya
About 1 hour and 40 minutes from JR Nagoya by JR Rapid Mie

▼ Click here for details on how to access
https://www.aquarium.co.jp/eigyou/access.html

Look for the sea otter post!

It is located about 10 minutes on foot from Toba Station. It's a route that goes along the road, so you won't get lost. You will arrive in no time while gazing at the beautiful sea.

About Toba Aquarium

A large aquarium welcomes you in the entrance hall

The only dugong in Japan. It is said that it became a model of the mermaid legend.

Toba Aquarium is divided into 12 areas that reproduce the natural environment according to the type of creatures and the areas where they live, and approximately 1,200 species and 30,000 creatures are bred.

The inside of the museum is a free passage with no order, so you can enjoy your favorite exhibitions as much as you like! You can enjoy it slowly while taking a break, so it is also recommended for families with small children.

Now let's go to the aquarium!

Unique Show & Meal Time

Observe the powerful meal time from inside the transparent tube! (Kingdom of Sea Monsters)

First, go to the "Kingdom of Sea Monsters" where sea lions and Steller's sea lions live.

In this zone, which was renewed in July 2018, you can observe from the world's first transparent tube on the water so close that you will be surprised, "Is it so close?!"

During the feeding time, Steller's sea lions weighing more than 700 kg dive powerfully for food!

You can observe how the sea lions and Steller's sea lions are eating so close. It's amazing!!

By the way, you can see sea lions and Steller's sea lions swimming in the pool from the first floor.

A very popular event! Walrus Fureai Time (Water Corridor)

Walrus Fureai Time is a must-see at Toba Aquarium.

Po-chan the walrus appeared with a light talk by the staff brother! The audience was instantly excited by the exchange, which was almost like a comic dialogue.

Po-chan is a 14-year-old boy. He weighs over 1020 kg.

Such a powerful Po-chan is a very talented performer! Even soap bubbles are a thing of the past.

At the end of the show, the long-awaited contact (fureai) time! I got it up to the camera's line of sight. There are not many opportunities to touch a walrus.

The stadium can hold nearly 800 people at maximum, but it is a very popular show, so please come early on weekends and holidays.

Over 50 years of history! A sea lion show that is very popular with children

Speaking of aquariums, the sea lion show is indispensable. The sea lion show at Toba Aquarium is a very popular show with a history of over 50 years!

This time, South African fur seals, San-chan and Riko-chan, showed a splendid performance.

Pass the ball and shoot at the end! Beautifully!

Jump or do hoops. The trainers are also in perfect sync with each other. The sea lion show is a relaxing and soothing experience.

The idol of Toba Aquarium! Feeding time for Mei the sea otter

In this interview, the sea otter Mei-chan instantly captured my heart. I have never seen a sea otter with such charm! I can't get enough of the cute gestures.

Sea otters bred in Japan's aquariums were often kept at 100. However, due to aging and the protection of wild animals, there are currently less than 10. Being able to meet sea otters in Japan like this is actually very precious.

Mei-chan's meal time has started. Immediately, she begged the trainer for shellfish. Sea otters are so tall!

Of course, the meal is a shellfish on its belly while swimming. She dexterously remove the contents of the shellfish. The sight of them munching on the shells is a sight to behold.

After eating, put your hands together and say, “Gochisousama! (Thanks for the meal)”

The finished shells are given to the trainer! She is a very clever girl. Mei-chan eats three times a day.

Click here for each show and meal times. Some of them are only held twice a day, so be sure to check the times before starting your tour.

▼ Show time
https://www.aquarium.co.jp/eigyou/show.html

▼ Feeding time for animals
https://www.aquarium.co.jp/eigyou/mealtime.html