Beat the Heat at Tokyo’s Aquariums

Jun 28, 2022

Beat the Heat at Tokyo’s Aquariums

Now that the rainy season or “tsuyu”  is nearly behind us, we can finally look forward to Summer. Perhaps, looking forward isn’t the most accurate expression as Tokyo Summers tend to be hot, very humid, and uncomfortable. Spending any amount of time outside can leave you sweaty and tired. Potential heat exhaustion becomes a real issue. To work around this, you head into an air-conditioned supermarket, convenience store, or shopping center to beat the heat. These little breaks inside help, a short respite before you eventually go back outside. Welcome to Summer in Tokyo.

Not to say that things are all bad in summer, though. The skies are blue, there is plenty to do, and you can find ways to stay cool and have fun simultaneously. One great place that will cool you off is the aquarium, and Tokyo and its surrounding areas have plenty of options. There are at least 7 in Tokyo and a few more in the surrounding areas.

• Sunshine Aquarium
• Sumida Aquarium
• Tokyo Sealife Aquarium
• Epson Aqua Stadium
• Tokyo Tower Aquarium
• Inokashira Shizen Bunkaen Aquarium
• Shin Enoshima Aquarium

Today we will focus on one of the more well-known ones. 

Shinagawa Aquarium

At the Shinagawa Aquarium, you can experience an accurate “walk underwater” while  sea bream, stingrays, and turtles swim overhead and around in their famous “sea tunnel!”  Or you can visit the  “Shark Hall,” where sand tiger sharks, grey reef sharks, and other sharks from all over the world are displayed in an oval tank, putting you in the middle of a three-dimensional school of sharks! The sharks can be a bit too much for some people, but there are Dolphin and Sealion Shows, which includes all expected from such shows; jumping, “humorous gestures,” etc.

Shinagawa Aquarium

Tel:  03-3762-3431 (Taped information), 03-3762-3433 (Office)
Website: http://www.aquarium.gr.jp/(Japanese)
Address: Shinagawa-kumin Park, 3-2-1, Katsushima, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Admission: Adult (16+): ¥1,350 / Student (6 through 15): ¥600 / Child (4-5): ¥300

There is plenty of information about the remaining aquariums, but the link below can get you started. Stay cool out there!

• JNTO – Aquariums in Tokyo & Vicinity The official Japan Tourism page has directions and contact details, and I believe it offers the most complete listing of aquariums in Tokyo.

Syced, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons