Escape the Heat of Tokyo at the Aquarium!

ByRay Proper

Summer, Tokyo City, Tokyo Families, Tokyo Metropolis

Jul 17, 2013

Escape the Heat of Tokyo at the Aquarium!

Summer in Tokyo is hot, humid, and generally uncomfortable.  Walking outside for any length of time in the summer’s heat in Tokyo will leave you “glistening” and tired.  The average temperature in August is a high of 27°C / 80.6°F with a low of 25°C / 77°F, but just the other day it was in the middle 30’s /95°F.   To escape the heat you can duck into a convenience store, supermarket, or other shopping center where the air conditioned temperature is likely to be more like 16°C / 61°F; less than half that high.   After a few minutes of comfort, suddenly you realize that your “glistening” clothes are now freezing cold and start thinking of heading back outside; a sun inspired Catch 22 and ongoing joke on the population of Tokyo.

Things are not so bleak as all that though, you can find ways to stay cool and have fun at the same time.  One great place that will cool you off is the aquarium, and Tokyo and its surrounding areas have more than you might expect!  There are at least 7 in Tokyo itself, 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

Shinagawa Aquarium

At the Shinagawa Aquarium you can experience a real “walk under water” while  sea bream, stingrays, and turtles swim overhead and around in their famous “sea tunnel!”  Or 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 which puts you in the middle of a three-dimensional school of sharks!  If sharks are a bit too much for you, how about the Dolphin and Sealion Show, which includes all that has come to be 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+): ¥1,100 / Student or child (6 through 15): ¥600 / Child (under 5): ¥300

 There is plenty of information out there about the remaining aquariums, take a quick surf through and see if anything looks like a day at the beach for you!  Keep cool Tokyo!

• Japan Times – Aquariums Offer Summer Escapes A nice article comparing 4 aquariums in Tokyo.
• http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2425.html#sunshine Japan Guide has a more comprehensive list with pages of information about each.
• JNTO – Aquariums in Tokyo & Vicinity The official Japan Tourism page has directions and contact details, and I believe offers the most complete listing of aquriums in Tokyo.