Tokyo Sea Life Park, also known as the Kasai Rinkai Suizokuen, is a public aquarium located in the Kasai Rinkai Park in Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan. It opened in 1989 and has been a popular destination for both tourists and locals since then. The aquarium is home to a wide variety of marine life, showcasing creatures from different aquatic environments across the globe.
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Table of Contents
Location:
Tokyo Sea Life Park is a barrier-free aquarium located in Kasai Rinkai Park, Edogawa City. Kasai Rinkai Park is the second-largest park in Tokyo’s 23 Special Wards, famous for Tokyo Sea Life Park, Ferris Wheel, Sea Beach, Bird Sanctuary, and Kasai Canoe Slalom Center.
Tokyo Sea Life Park is the first in the world where underwater fish swimming in the cluster and spawning was first exhibited. Besides, the site was the first where tuna could replicate their natural swimming patterns inside the tank.
The site has good access. Moreover, it is only 4 minutes walk from Kasai Rinkai Park Station (JR Keiyo Line).
History:
A plan was made to build a large aquarium in Japan during the 100th anniversary of Ueno Zoo. As a result of the project, Tokyo Sea Life Park was opened in 1989 at the present place, designed by a famous architect Yoshio Taniguchi.
In addition, Tokyo Sea Life Park inherited the creatures kept in the Ueno aquarium, and the Ueno aquarium was closed. Later Vivarium facility was opened for exhibiting lungfish, reptiles, and amphibians.
Features:
Opened: October 10, 1989
Land area: 15,799m2
No. of animals: 85,000
No. of species: 940
Largest tank’s volume: 2,200,000 litres (581,000 US gal)
Annual visitors: 2 Million
Major exhibits: Pacific bluefin tuna, Giant Kelp
Free Entrance:
Tokyo Sea Life Park has several admission-free days. During these days, the park is free, and no Entrance fee is needed.
The days are usually Greenery Day (May 4), Tokyo Citizens’ Day(October 1), and the Aquarium’s Anniversary(October 10).
What to see:
The aquarium features numerous habitats from around the world, such as the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. It also includes various small to large aquatic species of Tokyo Bay, including the famous Bluefin Tuna.
There are numerous things to see here. However, most park attractions are Tuna Tank, Penguin Exhibit, Giant Kelp, and Beach from the restaurant area.
Floor guide:
Aquarium has two floors. Architect Yoshio Taniguchi designed its entrance from the terrace. The aquarium is unique from the roof to the first floor and its surroundings.
Every floor has several sections with several kinds of aquatics.
First floor:
Some of the sections on the first floor are very popular, which are discussed below:
Sea of Tokyo:
The section attracts lots of foreign visitors. It displays about aquatic of Tokyo Bay, Izu’s Islands, and Ogasawara Islands.
It has filefish, Japanese pygmy angelfish, yellowback fusilier, striped mullet, mudskipper, bigfin reef squid, Clark’s anemonefish, Bluestreak cleaner wrasse, yellow goby, green moon wrasse, blenny, etc.
Besides, it also has Red Seabream/ Pagrus Major, known as Madai, in Japan. The fish is famous in Korea and Taiwan.
Another rare spice is available, called, Spiny red gurnard, native to the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Voyagers of the sea:
Tuna Tank gets more attention in the section, which is the most exciting feature of the park.
It is a 2,200-ton donut-shaped tank that became the first world model of Tuna reproduction. The aquatic species of Bluefin and Yellowfin Tuna tanks get the most attention from the visitors in the park.
Tokyo Sea Life Park was the first site that invented an effective method where tuna could replicate natural swimming patterns inside the tank. In addition, the tank was the biggest indoor tank in Japan in 1989.
The tank is enormous even it connects to the second floor. However, it is different from the sharks’ tank.
Besides, the section has Bluefin Tuna, Longtail Tuna, Striped Bonito, Houndfish, Scalloped Hammerhead, Rhina Ancylostoma, Blue Shark, Tiger Shark, Shortfin mako shark, Sunfish, and Indo-Pacific sailfish.
There are stadium-style seats in front of it, called Aqua Theater, where visitors can sit and enjoy the beautiful movement of the fish.
Seas of the World:
The section has several divisions: the Deep Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Caribean Ocean, the Arctic Ocean /Antarctic Ocean, Indian Ocean, etc.
The Indian Ocean aquatics are famous here, including Yellowband Angelfish, leafy Seadragon, Sohal Surgeonfish, and golden Butterflyfish.
Penguins Ecology:
Penguins Ecology is one of Tokyo Sea Life Park attractions. Besides, it has vast open space with an artificial rocky place that looks natural.
It is the home of Rockhopper Penguin, King Penguin, Humboldt Penguin, and Fairy Penguin.
Freshwater Aquarium:
Freshwater Aquarium made with transparent glass or acrylic glass is very attractive where aquatic are visible from the outside.
Tokyo Sea Life Park displays Japanese freshwater Killifish, crane arm shrimp, Japanese char, masu trout, and pale chub, primarily available in Oikawa, Iwana, Yamame, etc.
It is essential to mention some Nagisa species, such as Bullhead Shark, Octopus, Mullet, Amefurashi, and Red Seabream get more attention in Tokyo Sea Life Aquarium.
Second floor:
Kelp forest:
The aquarium has also established a method of growing seaweeds that requires water flow with good water quality. In addition, it also requires sufficient light in a closed indoor tank.
Besides, it also displays how to reproduce Giant kelp in this section. Furthermore, it also has copper rockfish, garibaldi, etc.
Restaurant & Cafe:
The Tokyo Sea Life Park has a restaurant with plenty of seats inside and outside of the restaurant.
In addition, it has a vast open space from where Tokyo Bay’s lovely views can be seen. So, visitors can enjoy the beautiful views of Kasai Rinkai Beach while they enjoy their lunch.
Besides, vending machines are available for soft drinks. Moreover, the restaurant is very family-friendly. So, it is an excellent option for visitors to take lunch.
Facilities:
Except for the restaurant, the aquarium also focuses on education, and it contains a library and auditorium.
But the most appreciated facilities are Education focus, Language barrier-free environment, and Free Entrance.
Besides, it has a souvenir shop and restroom facilities.
Education:
The aquarium provides the same level of knowledge focus for both children and adults. As a result, everyone can learn here about underwater creatures quickly.
In addition, there are touch panels interactive fish encyclopedias with video guides. Besides, expert staff are always ready to teach or answer any topic on the spot that visitors want to know.
Language:
The Tokyo Sea Life Park facility offers several language support for tourists. However, visitors can understand most explanations written with the sign, including English.
In addition, pamphlets are available in English, Chinese, Thai, German, Spanish, French, and Korean.
Admission fee:
The Tokyo Sea Life Park is a government-run property. That is why the park’s admission fee is cheaper than other places.
Adults(16-64 years old): 700 yen
Seniors(65-over): 350 yen
Students(13-15 years old): 250 yen
Children (0-12 years old): Free
Note: ID is required for seniors and students as proof.
Opening hours:
09:30 -17:00
Last ticket 16:00
Wednesday is closed.
However, if Wednesday is a public holiday, the next day is closed. Besides, it remains closed from December 29 through January 1.
Access:
Nearest Station: Kasai Rinkai Park Station
(JR Keiyo Line)
4 minutes walk
(Note: From the ‘Kasai’ & Nishi-Kasai, Subway Tozai Line-Kasai Rinkai Koen Station and 2-minute walk)
Car Parking:
Kasai Rinakai Park has extensive car parking nearby the Ferris Wheel. But free requires.
Address:
Tokyo Sea Life Park, 6-2 Rinkaicho, Edogawa-Ku, Tokyo 134-0086
Official Website:
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