Osaka Trip Part 16: Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN

海遊館 アイキャッチ画像

[Introduction]

I traveled to Osaka in late September. This was my first visit to Osaka except for business trips. There are several things I missed doing, so I would like to revisit Osaka in the future. In this article, I will write about Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN as part of Day 5.

[Visit Places (series of articles)]
* Day 1: Umeda
* Day 1: Nakanoshima
* Day 1: Nakanoshima (Light-up)
* Day 2: Osaka Castle
* Day 2: Abeno Harukas
* Day 2: Shinsekai
* Day 2: Abeno Harukas (Light-up)
* Day 3: Sumiyoshi Shrine
* Day 3: Namba
* Day 3: Amerikamura and Namba
* Day 3: Namba (Light-up)
* Day 4: Expo’70 Commemorative Park
* Day 4: Expo’70 Commemorative Park
* Day 4: Umeda
* Day 4: Umeda (Light-up)
* Day 5: Kaiyukan [This article]
* Day 5: Tempozan Marketplace
* Day 5: GLION MUSEUM & Return Home

[Travel Date]
2018.09.22-26

[Main Part]

Breakfast at Hotel Granvia Osaka

It was the fifth day (i.e. final day) of my Osaka trip. To start with, I will have breakfast at Hotel Granvia Osaka where I stayed.

As I mentioned in the past article, the hotel provided 100 kinds of Japanese and Western buffet menu, so I was not tired of breakfast even if I stayed there for consecutive days.

Here are what I had today.
Hotel Granvia Osaka Breakfast1

Hotel Granvia Osaka Breakfast2

Since it was the final day of the trip, I will express a brief comment on the hotel. I chose Hotel Granvia Osaka mainly because (1) the location was convenient (directly connected to JR Osaka station) and (2) the hotel provided a variety of breakfast menu. In particular, I received much benefit from its convenient location.

Go to Tempozan Harbor Village

On the fifth day of my Osaka trip, I will go around Tempozan area where there is Osaka Port.

First, I took Osaka Loop line to move to Bentencho station.Osaka Loop line

Then, I transferred to Osaka Metro Chuo line and got off at Osakako (Osaka Port) station.Osakako (Osaka Port) station1

Perhaps, it’s a good location to take train photos, if you are interested in it.Osakako (Osaka Port) station2

It took about 5 minutes on foot and I reached “Tempozan Harbor Village”.Tempozan Marketplace1

Tempozan Harbor Village is an amusement complex opened in 1990 as part of the waterfront development project in Osaka Port. It has an aquarium, a ferris wheel as well as a large commercial facility “Tempozan Marketplace”.

“The Giant Ferris Wheel” is 112,5 meters tall and 100 meters in diameter. When opened in 1997, it was the largest ferris wheel in the world at that time.Tempozan ferris wheel

It was sunny, although the weather forecast predicted it would turn bad around noon.Tempozan Marketplace2

This building was “Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN”, which I will visit later soon.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN1

“Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN” opens at 10 a.m. and I had some free time, so I walked around Osaka Port. Here are some snaps.Osaka Port1

Osaka Port2

Osaka Port3

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Osaka Port4

Osaka Port5

Osaka Port6

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN

Now it was past 10 a.m., I moved to “Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN”.""

“Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN” is one of the largest aquariums in the world with 620 species and 30,000 marine animals from the Pacific Rim. Visitors move to the 8th floor by escalator first and then watch exhibitions following the designated route, which is classified based on areas such as “Antarctica” and “Great Barrier Reef” etc.

Here are some snaps.""

Tufted puffin.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Tufted puffin

Ringtailed coati.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Ringtailed coati

Capibara.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Capibara

Penguin.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Penguin1

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Penguin2

I just happened to see a feeding time.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Penguin3

“Great Barrier Reef” area.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Great Barrier Reef1

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Great Barrier Reef2

A sea lion was swimming comfortably.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN sea lion

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Eagle ray and whale shark.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Eagle ray whale shark

How colorful was it?Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN colorful1

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN colorful2

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN colorful3

Heteroconger hassi.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Heteroconger hassi

Loggerhead seaturtle.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Loggerhead seaturtle

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Japanese spider crab.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Japanese spider crab

Jellyfish Galaxy

One of the highlights in “Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN” was “Jellyfish Galaxy”, which was renewed in March 2018.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Jellyfish Galaxy1

As the name suggests, this new area gives the impression of gazing into a galaxy of jellyfish floating in space. Here are some snaps.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Jellyfish1

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Jellyfish2

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Jellyfish3

Lots of visitors stoped here to take photos.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Jellyfish Galaxy2

It was something like a kind of art work, wasn’t it?Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Jellyfish4

Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Jellyfish5

The area had a touch of fantasy.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Jellyfish Galaxy3

Chubby Ringed Seal

Finally, I came to “Arctic Region” area.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Ringed Seal1

In this area, there were ringed seals. They were more chubby than normal ringed seals, which made them more popular.Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Ringed Seal2

Then I left “Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN” for “Tempozan Marketplace” and I will write about it in the next article.

[Closing]

That’s it for the article about Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN as part of Day 5.

When I go traveling, I try to visit aquariums as much as possible. Compared with other aquariums, I had an impression that “Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN” focused on how to display their exhibits. In particular, “Jellyfish Galaxy” area and “NIFREL”, which I visited on the day before (see the related article), produced by KAIYUKAN were full of art atmosphere. From what I heard, 60% of the visitors are repeaters and I am totally convinced by the fact 🙂

Talking of aquariums, here are other articles in my blog. If you are interested in it, please check it as well.

Aquaria KLCC, a world-class aquarium in Kuala Lumpur
Miyajima: Five-story pagoda, aquarium, deer, Anago-meshi and oyster etc.
Sentosa Island part 1: S.E.A. Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world
Okinawa Trip without Car: Part 8: Sightseeing Bus Tour (2) Churaumi Aquarium and Ocean Expo Park

In the next article, I will write about Tempozan Marketplace as part of Day 5.

[Map]

1 Hotel Granvia Osaka
2 Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN

[Related Link]
Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau
Hotel Granvia Osaka
Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN

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