Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
海遊館
An Osaka Port aquarium that takes you on a loop round the Pacific, centred on a huge tank where whale sharks swim. Meet about 620 species.
An aquarium themed on a journey round the Pacific
Kaiyukan is an aquarium in the Tempozan area, facing Osaka Port, and it opened in 1990. Its theme is the Ring of Fire, the chain of volcanoes that encircles the Pacific Ocean. It recreates, as faithfully as possible, the natural environments that volcanic activity has shaped in each region along the Pacific coast.
It is not only fish: about 30,000 creatures of around 620 species live here, including penguins, otters, sea lions and jellyfish.
A route that takes you from the surface down into the deep
Your visit starts with the Japan Forest tank, which recreates the waterside of a mountain stream. From there you travel round the Pacific coast, from penguins in Antarctica to Australia's Great Barrier Reef and the rocky shores of Chile, ending at the Japan Trench tank, which recreates the deep sea where no light reaches. It feels like diving from the land to the bottom of the ocean.
At the centre is the Pacific Ocean tank. Up to 34 m long and 9 m deep, it is home to whale sharks, spinetail devil rays, schools of Indian mackerel and more, all living together.
There is also Kurage Ginga (Jellyfish Galaxy), where jellyfish drift like galaxies in space, and an area that recreates the Arctic, with the ice above and the sea below, across two floors.
Programmes to get more out of your visit
Jinbe Backyard is a special programme that lets you look down into the Pacific Ocean tank from above. At feeding time you may see a whale shark sucking in its food with its huge mouth. There are also guided tours by the keepers and events where you can wander the aquarium at a relaxed pace after closing time; some require advance booking.
You can also borrow an audio guide that explains the exhibits. The official shop inside is open only to visitors who have entered the aquarium.
Getting there and nearby
It is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Osakako (Kaiyukan-mae) Station on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line; head for the giant Ferris wheel (the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel). You can also get there by Osaka City Bus from Osaka Station or Namba Station, or by airport limousine bus from Kansai International Airport. The pier for the Captain Line shuttle boat is nearby too.
Next door, Tempozan Marketplace has restaurants and souvenir shops, and it is also where you board the Santa Maria, a sightseeing boat built like a sailing ship. Opening hours and prices change with the season, so check the official website.
Tips
- Buying an e-ticket in advance on the official website lets you go straight in without queuing at the ticket window. Fake ticket sites using the Kaiyukan name have been found, and travellers from overseas in particular have been caught out. The only official sellers are the Kaiyukan official website, Klook, KKday and Trip.com.
- As of September 2026, the Aleutian Islands tank is closed for renovation.
- Naniwa Kuishinbo Yokocho, the food theme park in Tempozan Marketplace next door, is closed for refurbishment from 29 September 2026 until late March 2027 (planned), apart from some shops.
Sources
Updated 29 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.
