Kaiyukan: The most popular aquarium in Asia

Kaiyukan is one of Osaka’s very famous tourist spots.

It’s a really great aquarium, and was selected as TripAdvisor’s “2014 Travelers’ Choice™” #1 Most Popular Aquarium in Asia.

Surprisingly, it’s earned the title of Most Popular Aquarium not only in Japan, but in all of Asia.

It’s gained popularity all over the world, coming in at #13 in the world rankings.

What exactly is the secret to its popularity?

I’d like to show you why Kaiyukan is so appealing.

©flickr/Geoff Stearns

“Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN” is on Mount Tenpo in Osaka’s Minato ward.
If you take a shuttle boat from Universal Studios Japan, you’ll arrive at Kaiyukan in about 16 minutes.
Kaiyukan is the largest aquarium in the world, and the building has a whopping 8 floors!
If you go down the corridor from the 8th floor, 30,000 sea creatures of 620 different varieties will come to meet you.

©flickr/gwaar

Kaiyukan’s main characteristic isn’t just the size of its building, but the size of the tanks themselves.
One huge indoor tank modeled after the “Pacific Ocean” is one of the largest in the world at 34 meters long, 9 meters deep, and holding 5,400 ㎥ of water.
Seeing the creatures swim elegantly inside that tank is enough to make anyone stop and stare.

©flickr/gwaar

The 4-meter long whale sharks are the most popular.
In addition, you can see various other creatures such as manta rays, dolphins, ocean sunfish, mackerel, and groupers swimming around.

©flickr/gwaar
You can see whale sharks from this close up!

©flickr/gwaar

Another commonly mentioned reason for Kaiyukan’s popularity is its replicas of different countries’ seas.
At Kaiyukan, you can experience 18 different environments, including the Gulf of Panama, the tropical rainforest of Ecuador, Antarctica, the Great Barrier Reef, the Atolls of the Maldives, the Arctic Circle, and the deep sea.

©flickr/gwaar

Everyone’s beloved dolphins even come out to greet you!

©flickr/MIKI Yoshihito

Children are so happy that they can see cute sea otters from so close!

©flickr/Maarten Heerlien
You’ll be able to meet lots of beautiful creatures.

So, what do you think?
The next time you come to Osaka, try visiting the world’s largest aquarium, “Kaiyukan”.
Children and adults will definitely have a great time.

Kaiyukan’s website is available in different languages, so if you’re interested, please visit the website.