At a year-end company banquet some years back, the Editor overheard the boss make a wish: to take BlueTrend's the Editor on a tour of aquariums around the world! In 2023 we visited an aquarium in Osaka, and this year we've made our way to the Nagoya Aquarium — the largest in all of Japan. Word has it that this place is home to many of the dream creatures divers fantasize about. Follow along as the Editor takes you on an exclusive look inside!
Nagoya Aquarium — Essential Info
Nagoya is located in central Japan and is the country's third-largest city, after Osaka and Tokyo. One attraction you simply cannot miss when visiting Nagoya is the Nagoya Aquarium. Not only is it the largest aquarium in Japan by floor area, it also boasts the world's largest outdoor tank. A visit here is strongly recommended for anyone coming to Nagoya.
Getting There
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium is located at the Nagoya-ko Station, exits 1 and 3, and is a 5-minute walk away.
Marine life greets you the moment you step off the subway.
- Subway: Take the Higashiyama Line to "Sakae Station," then transfer to the Meijo Line (toward Kanayama / Nagoya-ko direction).
- Meitetsu / JR: Alight at Meitetsu / JR "Kanayama" Station, then transfer to the Meikou Line (toward Nagoya-ko direction).
Admission Prices
Adult ticket: ¥2,030 (discounted: ¥1,830); Student ticket: ¥1,010 (discounted: ¥810). Various ticket combinations are also available. For full details, please visit the Nagoya Aquarium official website.
What Makes Nagoya Aquarium Special
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium was established in 1992. The facility is divided into two main wings — the North Building and the South Building — making it the largest aquarium in Japan by area. The North Building is primarily home to performances featuring dolphins, beluga whales, and orcas, while the South Building showcases marine life from five distinct ocean zones, including the Antarctic Sea and the Equatorial Sea.
Nagoya Aquarium — North Building
Upon entering, the first thing you'll encounter is the North Building, which uses a variety of exhibit formats to explore the story of life's evolution. On display are skeletal specimens of cetaceans that are truly enormous in person — seeing them up close is genuinely awe-inspiring!
The North Building is also where you'll find the most popular residents: beluga whales, dolphins, orcas, and other bucket-list marine creatures, as well as the performance venues. Show schedules for each zone are listed on the official website and updated in real time. For full details, please visit the Nagoya Aquarium official website.
Nagoya Aquarium — South Building
The South Building divides the ocean zone stretching from Japan to Antarctica into five sections, each introducing the marine environment and the characteristic species found in different regions: Japan, the deep sea, the Equatorial zone, Australia, and Antarctica.
South Building Highlights
The Kuroshio Current Tank
The first thing that catches your eye upon entering the South Building is the massive Kuroshio Current Tank. Thousands upon thousands of sardines and mahi-mahi swirl together in synchronized formations, their movements enhanced by dramatic lighting and sound effects. The school shifts from one giant bait ball into two, then merges back into one — a breathtaking spectacle that's impossible to forget. If you want to catch the feeding show in person, don't forget to check the performance schedule on the official website first.
A dense school of sardines — a truly spectacular sight.
When showtime arrives, the crowd gathers quickly.
The Sea Turtle Circuit Tank
What the Editor found especially remarkable here is that in addition to the main sea turtle display tank, there is a dedicated sandy area where sea turtles can simulate coming ashore to lay eggs during the breeding season. The display tanks house Green Sea Turtles, Loggerhead Turtles, and Hawksbill Turtles, and there is even a separate tank dedicated to raising juvenile sea turtles so they can grow up safely.
Watching the sea turtles glide leisurely around their tank up close — pure bliss.
A simulated scene of a sea turtle coming ashore.
How many sea turtles can you count in this photo?
The juvenile sea turtle tank — here's hoping they all grow up safe and strong.
Penguin Meet-and-Greet
One of the undisputed crowd favorites is the Penguin Pavilion on the 3rd floor, which is home to over 100 penguins across 4 species, along with walking parades and feeding shows. The venue is divided into indoor and outdoor areas, with blue netting used to cordon off the penguins' walking route so they can waddle out on "patrol." Watching them toddle along with their heads bobbing from side to side is absolutely adorable.
A King Penguin with an air of total nonchalance.
The penguins are all set to greet their fans!
North Building Highlights
1 Scale Specimen Zone
Nagoya Aquarium has an impressive collection of life-size specimens of Antarctic marine creatures. Seeing them in person is genuinely stunning — these marine animals are so much larger than you'd imagine, and standing beside them makes humans feel remarkably small.
The Beloved Beluga Whale
The beluga whale is Nagoya Aquarium's most popular resident and one of the main reasons people make the trip. Watching a beluga press its wide eyes right up against the glass to peer at the visitors outside, you genuinely can't tell who's watching whom!
The Ocean's Most Intelligent Mammal — The Orca
Another major draw and signature attraction of the aquarium is its orca, one of only two in Japan and completely unseen in Taiwan. Orcas are massive animals — reaching up to 10 m in length — and are also known as "killer whales." Despite that fearsome nickname, they do not actively attack humans, so there's no need to worry.
Aquarium Shows
The biggest highlight of Nagoya Aquarium is that you can watch stunning performances by dolphins, orcas, beluga whales, and penguins all in one visit. The daily schedule is generally consistent, with changes only occurring due to weather conditions or facility maintenance. Showtimes are all available on the official website, and the aquarium is very thoughtful in providing schedules in multiple languages for international visitors.
An orca bursting through the surface in a spectacular leap — absolutely breathtaking.
The Editor finally got to witness a dream creature in the flesh.
Dolphins leaping in time with the music — the atmosphere in the arena was absolutely electric.
Smart and adorable, dolphins are a favorite with visitors of all ages.
After walking through every corner of Nagoya Aquarium, we came away having seen many marine creatures you simply won't find in Taiwan, on top of a series of spectacular shows. We had expected to finish in half a day — it took a full day to do it all properly. The Editor thinks Nagoya Aquarium is a fantastic destination for visitors of all ages, and we highly recommend adding it to your itinerary!
Bonus Feature
The amphibious "Nagoya MARINE RIDER" is one experience the entire Editorial team strongly recommends you don't miss! The full tour takes you cruising through downtown Nagoya, past Nagoya Station and the Meikō Bay area, giving you a brand-new way to experience the city!
Useful Links
Further Reading
