Shimane Aquarium AQUAS, Shimane

Western Japan's only aquarium with beluga whales, on the Shimane coast. About 10,000 creatures of some 400 species, from local shores to the world's oceans.

The exterior and entrance plaza of the Shimane Aquarium AQUAS building with carp streamers on poles — Photo: SR EXR, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A large longtooth grouper resting on rocks in an AQUAS tank — Photo: Totti, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

One of the largest aquariums in Chugoku and Shikoku, inside a seaside park

Shimane Aquarium AQUAS is a prefectural aquarium inside Iwami Seaside Park, which straddles the cities of Hamada and Gotsu in Shimane Prefecture. It is one of the largest aquariums in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, with around 10,000 sea creatures of about 400 species on display.

The theme of the exhibits is "from Shimane's seas to the Sea of Japan, and on to the oceans of the world". Near the entrance, the Iwami Manyo Rocky Shore recreates Shimane's coast in a bright tank where familiar local fish such as longtooth grouper, Asian sheepshead wrasse and barred knifejaw swim. In the Sea of Japan zone on the first floor, the flying fish, Shimane's prefectural fish, is on show all year round, and you can also see the rosy seabass (better known in Japan as nodoguro, a prized fish), which lives in deep water and is considered difficult to keep on display. The third floor is dedicated to sea life from around the world.

Belugas and the "bubble rings of happiness"

The stars of AQUAS are its beluga whales, which you can see nowhere else in western Japan. Their trick of blowing rings of bubbles, known as the bubble rings of happiness, became famous across Japan after featuring in a mobile phone company's TV advert.

However, Sirya, a beluga who starred in the shows, died on 28 August 2026, and the beluga performances have been suspended for the time being so that staff can monitor the health of the belugas sharing the same pool (as of September 2026, no date has been set for them to resume). The belugas themselves can still be seen in the beluga pool in the main building and the breeding pool in the annexe.

The big shark tank and the penguin house

The large tank called the Sea of Myths holds big sharks and rays. What makes it special is that it shows the sharks that appear in San'in myths (in this region, sharks are called wani).

The penguin house has four species of penguin, and from beneath the tank you can look up and watch them swim as if flying through the sky. There are also sea lion and seal shows, a penguin parade in winter, and seasonal events such as Night AQUAS, for enjoying the aquarium after dark.

Getting there

It is about a 12-minute walk from Hashi Station on the JR San'in Line. By bus, take the Iwami Kotsu service bound for Gotsu via Hashi from in front of JR Hamada Station, and get off after about 16 minutes at AQUAS-mae, right by the entrance. By car it is about 5 minutes from the Hamada-higashi IC on the San'in Expressway, or about 90 minutes from central Hiroshima via the Hamada Expressway.

Opening hours, closing days and admission fees can change with the season, so check the official website. During long school holidays it sometimes opens even on its usual closing days.

Tips

If the beluga performance is the main reason for your visit, be sure to check the notices on the official website to see whether it has resumed.
You can leave AQUAS and come back in. Combined with the nearby complex of restaurants and souvenir shops and the park's outdoor adventure play equipment, it makes a full day out.
The train from JR Matsue Station to Hashi Station takes over 2 hours. By car it is about 1 hour 30 minutes from Izumo Taisha and about 50 minutes from Iwami Ginzan.