Nagoya Aquarium: one of the largest and best in Japan

The port of Nagoia, south of the center of the city, in Aichi province, is one of the largest in Japan.

Part of it, the Garden Pier, has been redesigned in recent years as a leisure district and offers an aquarium, shopping, amusement park, museums and green space.

The Public Aquarium of the Port of Nago is one of the largest and best in Japan.

Covering an area surrounding two large buildings are exhibits of marine mammals including dolphins, killer whales and beluga whales, as well as other creatures from five aquatic regions between Japan and the Southern Ocean.

Each of the buildings has a different theme.

The North Building is home to some of the most memorable animals, including killer whales, dolphins and beluga whales.

On the outside of the North Building is the most popular attraction, the Dolphin show.

The display is held in a large tank – one of the largest external tanks in the world – in fact, surrounded by bleachers that holds up to three thousand people along with a large screen. In this large pool is also where the orcas show happens.

The belugas show happens in another facility in the same place, closed, and there is no where to sit, so stay tuned for the hours to ensure a good place.

The South Building has separate marine areas that recreate the natural environment of particular areas around the world.

Not only several fish tanks but also habitats above water, exhibiting ecosystems that include that of large sea turtles and penguins.

The zones vary from Australia to Antarctica. The seabed with its monstrous deep-sea crabs is quite interesting. A cool part is the “fish tornado”.

There are simple explanations in English and audioguide if you want.

Moored in the harbor is the Fuji Icebreaker, the ship Japan used to explore the Southern Ocean between the 1960s and 1980s.

It is now accessible to the public as Antarctic Museum. Directly in front of the bridge that leads to the aquarium is the Port of Nagoia Building, which houses a 53-meter-high observatory and the Nautical Museum of Nagago.

For more entertainment geared towards children there is an amusement park, the  Nagoya Port Sea Train Land with the largest Ferris wheel in the Chubu region.

The location of the port and its attractions is well known for some foreigners, but for those who have not yet been there, it is a good option spend a day with the whole family.

The Nagoya Aquarium is on a list of the most popular tourist sites in the Tokai region, click here to see the ranking.

See more photos information:

Public Aquarium of the Port of Nagoya(Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium)

• Hours of operation: 
  from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (mid-March to November) 
  from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (December to mid March) 
  from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (during Golden Week and during the summer holiday) 
  Allowed admission up to one hour before closing
• It does not open on Mondays (or the following day if the second is a holiday) and some irregular maintenance days
• Entrance 
  fee : 2,000 yen (aquarium only) 
  2,400 (combo including aquarium and other facilities)

Antarctic Museum Fuji (Fuji Antarctic Museum)

• Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (admission up to 4:30 p.m.)
• It does not open on Mondays (or the following day if the second is a holiday) and irregular maintenance days
• Entrance 
  fee : 300 yen (museum only) 
  700 yen (admission to the observatory, Fuji museum and maritime museum) 
  400 yen (entrance to the aquarium, both museums and observatory)

Photos: Portal Mie