Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium: An Aquarium where You can Meet Sea Friends from All Over the World
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Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is located at the Port of Nagoya Garden Pier. For people in the Tokai area, it is a popular spot that is familiar as a destination for outings and excursions.
The aquarium offers the dolphin performances in one of the largest pools in Japan. Also, there are public training of killer whales, which are currently kept in only two locations in Japan. Visitors can encounter as many as 50,000 marine creatures of about 500 species. A school of about 35,000 Japanese pilchards can be seen swimming in the Kuroshio large tank!
This time, we will introduce how to enjoy Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium.
*The information in this article is as of the time of the interview (Interview date: September 2020)
Access and Fees to Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
"Nagoya Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium" station on the subway Meiko Line. It is divided into a south building and a north building, and boasts the largest total floor area in Japan.
Get an admission ticket and let's go right away! There is also an "electronic ticket" that allows you to enter without lining up, so please use it.
<Admission Ticket>
Adult: 2,030 yen
High school students: 2,030 yen
Elementary and junior high school students: 1,010 yen
Infant (4 years old and over): 500 yen
You can re-enter the museum as many times as you like on the same day. There is also a bargain ticket (adult: 1,620 yen) that allows you to enter the aquarium at night from 17:00! The night aquarium is usually held during GW and summer vacation.
"North Building" Where You can Meet Dolphins and Killer Whales
The theme of the North Pavilion is "North Pavilion: A Journey spanning 3.5 Billion Years - Animals that have returned to the sea". It introduces the world of cetaceans, marine creatures that adapted to life in the water and developed intelligence during the evolution of life.
You can meet killer whales, dolphins, belugas, and more! The killer whales and dolphins will be introduced later along with their performances.
"Aurora Sea" Where You can be Healed by Lovely Belugas
In the wild, beluga whales live in the Arctic waters. Also called beluga whale. It is characterized by a pure white, stocky body and a round, swollen head called a "melon". Surprisingly, beluga whales can only be seen in four aquariums in Japan.
On this day, four cats, Tanya, Nana, Hodoi, and Mirai, welcomed us.
"Hodoi", the oldest beluga at Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. Looking straight at the camera! You will be healed by its gentle appearance.
This is Tanya and her daughter Nana. The two are always together. It is said that she is so dignified that he is called "Tanya-sama (Ms. Tanya)" among the staff.
Let's go to the back of the North Building!
Could Whales Walk on Land 53 Million Years Ago? ! "Sea of Evolution"
What did dolphins and whales look like long ago?
The "Sea of Evolution" exhibits the process by which mammals that lived on land evolved into the whales that live in the sea today.
This is what a whale looked like 53 million years ago. It could even walk on land with four legs. It's completely different from what it looks like now.
It has the largest number of precious fossil replicas and whale skeletal specimens on display in Japan. Illustrations and videos explain things in an easy-to-understand way, so children can learn together.
"Underwater Viewing Seat" Where You can slowly Observe Dolphins Swimming
Next to it is the "Underwater Viewing Seat".
You can see dolphins swimming leisurely through a large underwater observation window measuring 4 meters long and 29 meters wide. The floor is carpeted, so you can sit back and relax. It's a cozy space that makes you forget about time.
Let's go to the outdoor "Shiokaze Square" from the North Building.
Surprisingly Close!
"So Close! Goma-chan Deck"
When you go outside through the door on the 2nd floor of the North Building, you will find the Shiokaze Plaza. It's a space where you can eat and drink, so it's perfect for lunch and breaks!
The "So close! Goma-chan Deck" is located in Shiokaze Square. Established in July 2017. Spotted seals and Cape penguins are on display here.
The Cape penguin was in the place just after entering. As the name suggests, you can observe it really close.
Are penguins okay outdoors? I was worried, but Cape penguins live in southern Africa, so they don't mind the heat of Nagoya. There are many different types of penguins.
The neighbor is a spotted seal. The spotted seal got its name from its black sesame-like fur. It is said that this pattern is different one by one.
He was very clever and showed us various poses.
Being able to see spotted seals so close is fantastic! ! I can't say anything about their facial expression.
Adults and children are sure to get excited, so please stop by.