Shimoda Aquarium
Shimoda Aquarium is built using the natural coves of Shimoda Bay, which is in the southern part of the Izu Peninsula.
The area of this cove is about 18,000 square meters, which is as large as the baseball field of Tokyo Dome.
Once you cross the floating pier, which stretches about 130 meters from the aquarium entrance to the Akanejima Island on the opposite shore, you can see the ocean animals of Shimoda Bay and Bottlenose Dolphins swimming in the coves throughout the year.
An aquarium boat, "Aqua Dome Perry" floats at the center of the cove. This rare boa houses a large tank with ten thousand ocean animals from 60 species, replicating the sea of Izu.
This is an aquarium where visitors can come very close to the ocean animals and see, touch, and enjoy their shows.
1
Maritime Stage Dolphin Show “Wonder Ocean”
Energetic Bottlenose Dolphins living in natural coves show off their brilliant skills.
This is a remarkable event that takes advantage of the big cove. Please enjoy the massive dolphin bodies jump in the air, and their tricks that are in synchrony with the trainers. You can witness the dolphins’ power and elegance.
2
Pacific White-Sided Dolphin and Sea Lion Show “Marine Fantasy”
Marine Stadium is a pool where sea lions and Pacific white-sided dolphins show off the tricks they practice every day.
Pacific white-sided dolphins show their amazing skills through big jumps and rotation tricks. Please enjoy watching the incredible performance that features the ability of dolphins, a mammal that has adapted the most to underwater life.
During the performance of cute sea lions, audiences can learn about their forms that adapted to living on land and in the sea, and their high level of physical ability.
Furthermore, the "underwater show" is the highlight of this sea lion show. Enjoy a performance built on a trusting relationship between humans and animals that you cannot see elsewhere else.
Their graceful movements are breathtaking.
You will fall in love with the sea lions.
3
Penguin Show “Petapeta March”
There are two species of penguins living in the Penguin Pool: Humboldt Penguins and King Penguins. Audiences can see the penguins walk around the walking path, bathe, and peek out of their nest box at a distance so close you can see them breathe.
During Petapeta March, which is held twice a day, audiences can learn about the ecology and features of penguin’s, and see their big appetite while they eat their meal.
Also, audiences can take a photo with penguins free of charge after the show.
Please note that the penguins cannot be touched.
4
Seal Show “Smile Ship”
In the Seal Hall, audiences can learn about the ecology and features of spotted seals, and see their big appetite while they eat their meal.
You can also see the seals kiss and hug during the show.
In the second half of the show, there is a segment where audiences can take a photo with the posing seals, and also touch them directly.
5
Fish Feeding Show “Discovery Ocean”
This show features the divers feeding the fish in the Aqua Dome Perry 's massive tank.
Audiences can learn about the various fishes living in this large aquarium that reproduces the Izu ocean, and look at thousands of pilchards swimming in concert.
This is not your typical fish-feeding show. The massive rays eating their meal is a must see!
6
Izu Sea Biological Museum Umi Meguri
"Umi Meguri" redesigned in July 2019, displaying approximately 200 types of 1500 living creatures in the sea of Izu.
Here, based on the concept of “play,” “learn,” and “surprise,” the lighting effects allow you to appreciate the unique and fascinating colors of water flows, fish and corals. The exhibit itself is also designed so that you can calmly enjoy the mystic exhibits with fascinating effects.
Izu Sea Biological Museum “Umi Meguri” is where fishes from the East, West, and South Izu gather, and it not only has deep sea fish tanks where colorful and mysterious fishes dance, but also a “fishing industry tank'' where you can see popular fishes caught in Izu. Please also enjoy the “Fureai Experience”, a popular attraction of Shimoda Kaichu Acquarium.
7
Asian Small-Clawed Otter Exhibition Facility "Forest of Asian Small-Clawed Otter"
"Asian Small-Clawed Otters", which are popular due to their lovable gestures and actions, have joined the Shimoda Aquarium.
Wasabi and Mameta are brothers from "Nijino Mori Park Osakanakan" in Ehime Prefecture.
Asian Small-Clawed Otters live in a wide range of geographies from coast to mountain streams in Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia, southern China, and South India.
They are very good with their hands, and can catch fish, shrimp, and shellfish by sticking their forelimbs into the gaps of underwater rocks.
We also have a popular “Touch and Feed Experience,” where you can touch and feed the otters as they extend their small hands to reach out for food.
8
Jellyfish Exhibit Room "Clarium"
At "Clarium" visitors can see various jellyfish drifting in the waves.
Moon Jellyfish is the most familiar jellyfish in Japan and its habitation is distributed throughout Japan except in parts of Hokkaido.
The entire body is transparent or slightly opaque with four horseshoe-shaped gonads in the center of an inner-walled hood, and a stomach along the inside of the gonads.
“Clarium” is a healing space where you can experience three healing effects from watching the flowing jellyfish, listening to wave-like sound effects, and smelling the relaxing aroma fragrances.
Please enjoy the calming effects created by the jellyfishes, sound effects, and fragrances.
9
Dolphin Touching Section “Dolphin Snorkel”
This is a program where visitors wear a wetsuit and swim in the cove with dolphins.
Because we do not feed the dolphins, no one knows when or where the dolphins appear. Please swim with excitement and anticipation. When the dolphins come close to you, look them in the eye, give them a gentle touch, and enjoy a wonderful time with them.
In addition to an admission fee, there are experience fees and equipment rental fees for wetsuits. Please bring a bathing suit and towel. Visitors above the age of 12 can participate.
10
Dolphin Touching Section “Ukiuki Dolphin”
In this program, visitors go inside a special cage wearing a wetsuit, and can play with dolphins while floating in the cove.
There is no swimming involved, so even those who cannot swim can have an enjoyable time. You can also see the dolphin swimming up close by putting your face in the water.
In addition to an admission fee, there are experience fees and equipment rental fees for wetsuits. Please bring a bathing suit and towel. Visitors above the age of 12 can participate.
11
Dolphin Touching Section “Dolphin Beach”
In this program, between September and June, visitors wear hip boots from above the clothes and enter the sea from the beach to play with the dolphins. Furthermore, during the summer months from June to September, visitors can play with the dolphins in a bathing suit. An experience fee is necessary in addition to an admission fee. Visitors must be above the age of 10 to participate with hip boots. Visitors do not have to prepare any items other than a pair of socks. During the summer months, children from 0 years old wearing a bathing suit can participate as long as a guardian accompanies them. Please bring a bathing suit and towel.
12
Dolphin Touching Section “Dolphin Feeding”
Visitors can experience becoming a trainer by giving the dolphins the same sign that aquarium keepers give during the show, and by feeding and touching the dolphins in the cove. You can not only see the dolphins closer than watching the show, but can also touch them. An experience fee is required in addition to an admission fee. A guardian must accompany children under 8 years old.
Reservations are on a first-come-first-served basis, and the event is very popular during summer.
The event happens throughout the year, so please join us if you want to make friends with a dolphin!
13
Dolphin Touching Section “Amazing Seat”
As its name suggests, it’s an AMAZING special viewing seat. You can see the dolphins up close during Maritime Stage Dolphin Show “Wonder Ocean”. Not only can audiences see the dolphins nearby, but you can also look at their trainers nearby too.
During the show, audiences watch the splashing dolphin jumping event at sea level, and these are the only seats in Japan where the dolphins jump over the audiences. An experience fee is necesssary in addition to an admission fee. Spectators can participate from the age of 4. Admission is available on the day of the event after entering the facility, and reservations are not taken.
14
Store and Restaurant
Our souvenir store is one of the largest in the area with original merchandise and local products. Furthermore, "The Dish" is a restaurant where visitors can dine and rest while watching the cove where the dolphins swim. Visitors can enter both facilities from outside the aquarium, so please drop in before going home or when you visit Shimoda.
15
Seal Hall
This is where the relaxing spotted seals live.
It is said that spotted seals are related to a species that originates from common ancestors with weasels that entered the sea in search of food approximately 15-20 million years ago.
The seals usually swim gracefully in the water and move to the land when they are ready to feed.
When feeding, the trainer will explain the ecology, form and shape in an easy-to-understand manner, so please ask a lot of questions about spotted seals.
16
Penguin Panoramic Pool
A panoramic exhibition where the penguin pool can be seen from all directions and angles. It has been redesigned as a pool so that you can feel close to the penguins.
Here, you can see the 24 Humboldt Penguins living freely in the exhibition in touching distance.
If you look directly above, you can observe penguins walking along glass walkways and walkways around the exhibition pool, bathing in the pool, and looking into the birdhouse.
It is the penguin exhibition facility with the closest distance to the animals, where you can see the penguin walk at "zero distance".
17
King Penguin House
The new King Penguin House has glass walls in the room, making it easier to see.
In addition, a wooden deck and a photo stand are placed around the building, making it a walkway and a photo spot, where you can feel closer to the penguin than anywhere else.
18
Sea Turtle Pond
These sea turtles live in the Sea Turtle Pond just by the entrance.
There are about eight species of Sea Turtles in the world, but our facility breeds Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles.
In particular, Loggerhead Sea Turtles migrate to sandy beaches around Shimoda almost every year for spawning.
The spawning season is from May to August, and turtles that land on the sandy beach dig a hole with their hind legs and lay 90 to 130 eggs at a time. Eggs warmed by geothermal heat hatch in about two months, and turtles head to the sea all at once. We are working on surveys and protection of spawning sites.
Please take a close look at their size and how they swim freely.