The Editor, who absolutely loves visiting aquariums, has been to just about every aquarium in Taiwan — so there was no way a staff trip to Japan was going to pass without a visit. This time, we're taking you to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, located at Tempozan in the port of Osaka, Japan.
Kaiyukan Basic Information
Address: 〒552-0022 1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
Opening Hours: Weekdays 10
–20Weekends & Holidays 9
–20Last admission is generally one hour before closing.
Hours may vary by season or on public holidays.
Be sure to check the Kaiyukan official website in advance, where you can also find information on ticket prices, feeding times, and interactive exhibits.
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Each ticket features a different sea creature — a great little souvenir to keep![/caption]
Getting to Kaiyukan
The nearest subway station is Osaka-ko Station on the Chuo Line; from there, it's just a 650-metre walk to the aquarium.
It has to be said — public transport in Japan is incredibly convenient. From the subway station near the Editor's hotel to Osaka-ko, the fare was only around ¥280. If you'd rather not buy a single-journey ticket each time, consider picking up an ICOCA card or a Suica card (similar in function to Taiwan's EasyCard). You can even load the Suica card directly onto your iPhone Wallet without needing a physical card — extremely handy.
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Let's go — adventure awaits![/caption]
We'd also like to recommend another option: the Kansai or Osaka Amazing Pass. In addition to covering subway rides throughout the Kansai or Osaka area (coverage varies by pass type), it also grants free entry to certain attractions or provides discounts on admission — a truly great value for anyone planning a full day of fun in Osaka.
For this visit to Kaiyukan, the Editor opted for the one-day Osaka Amazing Pass*, priced at ¥2800. You can check the full list of included facilities here.
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The Editor used the Osaka Amazing Pass for this trip![/caption]
*Osaka Amazing Pass: We recommend purchasing it through Taiwanese ticketing platforms (such as KKday or Klook) before your trip — it's cheaper than buying on-site. Simply present your electronic purchase confirmation at the airport counter to exchange it for a physical pass.
Time to Buy Tickets and Head In!
Kaiyukan's permanent exhibitions are organised by region, featuring sections such as Japanese Forests, the Aleutian Islands, Ecuador Tropical Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, and more — plus the star of the show: the Pacific Ocean!
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A breathtaking Great Barrier Reef exhibit — so many colourful fish, absolutely adorable![/caption]
The experience begins with an underwater tunnel teeming with a huge variety of fish — the Editor spent at least 10 minutes in there before finally moving on. From the tunnel, you take an escalator up to the seventh floor. Unlike aquariums in Taiwan, Kaiyukan starts from the eighth floor (Japanese Forests section) and winds spirally downward, with each tank representing a different region's marine life. Don't worry about seeing the same tank multiple times getting boring —
The answer is: not at all! Although it's the same tank, viewing the animals from different depths reveals totally different behaviours and perspectives. It's genuinely fascinating!
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The capybara in the Ecuador Tropical Rainforest section munching away with a completely deadpan expression is just too cute![/caption]
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We arrived just in time for penguin feeding — the penguins lined up in front of their keeper to collect their lunch![/caption]
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A cute tufted puffin patiently waiting for its meal.[/caption]
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Each regional section has its own distinctive habitat design — Kaiyukan really puts in the effort![/caption]
The Awe-Inspiring Pacific Ocean Section
The Pacific Ocean tank is Kaiyukan's largest — 9 metres deep, up to 34 metres long, and holding a staggering 5,400 tonnes of water. In this massive tank, you can spot large marine life including Whale Sharks, manta rays, Hammerhead Sharks, and more.
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Seeing these magnificent creatures in person was both thrilling and deeply moving![/caption]
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The Whale Shark is the world's largest fish species — watching one glide slowly through the water is incredibly soothing.[/caption]
Adjacent to the main tank is a special exhibition tank spotlighting a featured animal that the aquarium wants visitors to pay particular attention to. On this visit, we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of an incredibly adorable mola mola — a sunfish!
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Seeing a mola mola in person for the first time — so big, so goofy, so adorable.[/caption]
Kaiyukan's interactive exhibits include up-close encounters with rockhopper penguins from the Falkland Islands and ringed seals from the Arctic. The one disappointment was missing the Maldives touch tank, where visitors can interact with Stingrays and sharks — we lost the chance to actually touch them.
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A seal resting at the water's surface — it looked just like a monk deep in meditation![/caption]
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The rockhopper penguins are tiny and absolutely adorable — and even though there's no glass, don't reach in to touch them![/caption]
Of course, no aquarium visit is complete without a stop at the gift shop. While waiting for the rest of the group, the Editor somehow ended up with a completely full shopping basket — the wallet was quietly weeping.
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The Whale Shark plushie is an absolute must-buy![/caption]
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This cushion plushie is hilariously spot-on XDD[/caption]
Trip Summary
While Kaiyukan's footprint isn't enormous, it's packed with an impressive variety of marine life — every single tank is worth stopping to admire.
If you stroll through at a leisurely pace, plan for around 4 to 5 hours; but if you're truly passionate about marine life and want to observe every species carefully, you could easily spend an entire day here!
Food and drinks are not permitted throughout most of Kaiyukan. Eating and drinking while walking, or consuming food outside designated areas, is prohibited (drinking water is the exception). However, if you work up an appetite, there is a café inside the aquarium serving light meals and snacks — perfect for a sit-down break with a view of Osaka Port before continuing your visit.
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A gorgeous and delicious ice cream float — highly recommended![/caption]
Kaiyukan also has a stamp-rally activity inside. You can purchase a commemorative booklet at the gift shop near the entrance and then collect stamps as you explore — a fantastic activity for adults to enjoy together with children. There is so much more to discover at Kaiyukan, and if you love aquariums as much as the Editor does, make sure to put it on your Osaka itinerary. Kaiyukan is one stop that will never leave you with regrets.
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A BlueTrend group photo at the entrance![/caption]
Further Reading:
