8 Must-Visit Aquariums in and Around Tokyo This 2025

Tokyo can be a lot. After a few days of neon-lit nights and busy train rides, there’s something unexpectedly calming about watching a ray glide past your face or hearing the echo of water in a jellyfish tunnel. Thankfully, the city has no shortage of aquariums, from sky-high tanks with views of the skyline to sprawling seaside parks filled with sea lions and whales.

Whether you’re travelling with kids, planning a low-key date, or just need a breather from city crowds, this guide covers some of the best aquariums in and around Tokyo. We’ve grouped them into two sections: those within the city, and those a short train ride away. Perfect for day trips if you’ve got an extra day to spare.

Also read: 21 Cheap and Free Things to Do in Tokyo: A 2025 Budget Travel Guide

1. Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa

If you only have time for one aquarium in Tokyo, this might be the easiest choice. Just a two-minute walk from Shinagawa Station, Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa is compact, creative, and surprisingly immersive. Its biggest draw is the dolphin show, which runs several times a day and blends music, lights, and water effects into a surprisingly moving performance.

Beyond the stadium, the rest of the aquarium is split across two floors. One of the standout areas is Jellyfish Ramble, where glowing tanks pulse gently to a dreamy soundtrack. There’s also the Wonder Tube, a 20-metre underwater tunnel where you can walk beneath rays, sawfish, and other deep-sea creatures. If you need a break, head to the Coral Café Bar for a snack and a drink surrounded by soft-lit tanks.

• Opening hours: 10.00am to 8.00pm (last entry 7.00pm)

• Admission: ¥2,500 (S$21.50) for adults, ¥800–¥1,300 (S$6.90–S$11.20) for children

• Access: 2-minute walk from Shinagawa Station

• Good to know: Ticket prices may increase slightly during peak periods in summer

2. Sunshine Aquarium

Located on the rooftop of the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro, Sunshine Aquarium is one of the more surreal aquarium experiences in Tokyo. Its most iconic feature is the Sky Journey area, where sea lions and penguins swim through overhead tanks with the Tokyo skyline in the background. It’s an odd but delightful contrast that gives the place a dreamlike feel.

The indoor sections are themed into Ocean Journey and Waterfront Journey, with highlights like a massive coral reef tank, an immersive jellyfish tunnel, and even a mola-mola (sunfish) encounter. If you’re into variety, this is a great pick. And if you’re travelling with kids or just want to make a day of it, you’ll find plenty to do in the surrounding Sunshine City complex, including a planetarium, shopping arcades, and the famous gacha capsule toy department store.

• Opening hours: 9.30am to 8.00pm (last entry 7.30pm)

• Admission: ¥2,600–¥2,800 (S$22.40–S$24.10) for adults, around ¥1,300 (S$11.20) for children

• Access: 5-minute walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station or 10-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station

• Good to know: Timed-entry reservations are required on weekends and holidays

3. Sumida Aquarium

Tucked inside the Tokyo Skytree Town complex, Sumida Aquarium is smaller than others on this list, but it makes up for it with thoughtful design and surprisingly spacious habitats. The highlight here is the open-plan penguin and fur seal exhibit, which spans two floors and lets you watch the animals from multiple angles.

Another standout is the Ogasawara Tank, which brings marine life from the remote Ogasawara Islands into the city. Expect stingrays, reef sharks, and other island creatures. There’s also a sleek goldfish display styled after Edo-era aesthetics, and an elevated glass walkway where you can look down into jellyfish tanks.

• Opening hours:
  Weekdays: 10.00am to 8.00pm
  Weekends and holidays: 9.00am to 9.00pm

• Admission: ¥2,500 (S$21.50) for adults, up to ¥1,800 (S$15.50) for children

• Access: 5-minute walk from Tokyo Skytree Station or Oshiage Station

• Good to know: Combo tickets with Skytree entry are sometimes available

Also read: Odaiba Island, Tokyo: An Underrated Modern District to Add to Your Tokyo Itinerary

4. Tokyo Sea Life Park

If you prefer quiet observation over flashy shows, Tokyo Sea Life Park might be your best bet. Located in Kasai Rinkai Park near Tokyo Bay, this government-run aquarium focuses more on education than entertainment. It houses over 600 species, including deep-sea creatures, Pacific tuna, and even tropical reef fish.

The star of the show is the massive doughnut-shaped tank, where huge tuna circle endlessly in what feels like a meditative loop. Outside, there’s a large penguin enclosure and a tide pool area where visitors can touch sea urchins and starfish. After your visit, you can stroll along the waterfront or ride the nearby Ferris wheel.

• Opening hours: 9.30am to 5.00pm (last entry 4.00pm), closed Wednesdays

• Admission: ¥700 (S$6.00) for adults, ¥250 (S$2.15) for ages 13–15, free for children under 13

• Access: 5-minute walk from Kasai-Rinkai Park Station

• Good to know: A peaceful, low-cost option with plenty of space and fewer crowds

5. Shinagawa Aquarium

Unlike the flashier Maxell Aqua Park nearby, Shinagawa Aquarium feels more like a local favourite. It’s tucked inside a community park and has a gentler pace, with simpler displays and family-friendly vibes. While most signage and shows are in Japanese, the exhibits are self-explanatory enough for international visitors to enjoy.

The highlight is the 500-ton Tunnel Tank, where sharks, rays, and sea turtles swim overhead. There are also separate halls dedicated to squid, octopuses, seals, and more. Daily dolphin, sea lion, and underwater shows are included with admission, and there’s a unique add-on area where you can feed otters, exfoliate your hands with doctor fish, or extract your own pearl from an oyster.

• Opening hours: 10.00am to 5.00pm (last entry 4.30pm), closed Tuesdays

• Admission: ¥1,350 (S$11.60) for adults, ¥300–¥600 (S$2.60–S$5.20) for children, ~¥1,200 (S$10.30) for seniors

• Access: 8-minute walk from Omori-Kaigan Station or 15-minute walk from Omori Station

• Good to know: Optional activities include feeding experiences and take-home pearl keepsakes

Around Tokyo

If you’ve got an extra day in your itinerary, there are a few standout aquariums just outside the city that are well worth the trip. These make great day trips and offer a different experience from the urban aquariums. Think seaside dolphin shows, larger marine mammals, and ocean views!

6. Hakkeijima Sea Paradise (Yokohama)

Part amusement park, part aquarium, Hakkeijima Sea Paradise is located on its own island just south of Yokohama. Entry to the island itself is free, but you’ll need a ticket to access the Aqua Resorts area, which includes a series of large tanks and live shows. Expect to see walruses, polar bears, dolphins, and whale sharks, plus interactive exhibits where visitors can touch or feed marine animals.

• Travel from Tokyo: About 1 hour 30 minutes by train (Tokyo Station → Shin-Sugita → Seaside Line to Hakkeijima)

• Admission: ¥3,300 (S$28.40) for adults

• Good to know: This is a great family destination and makes a full day out on its own

7. Enoshima Aquarium

Located right by the sea across the bridge from Enoshima Island, this modern aquarium focuses on marine life found in nearby Sagami Bay. The two-storey main tank recreates local underwater ecosystems, and the jellyfish exhibit is one of the most atmospheric in the region. There are also dolphin and sea lion shows held in an open-air stadium with ocean views.

• Travel from Tokyo: About 1 hour by train via the Odakyu Line to Katase-Enoshima Station, then a 10–15 minute walk

• Admission: ¥2,500 (S$21.50) for adults

• Good to know: Pairs well with a coastal stroll or hike around Enoshima Island

Also read: Day Trip to Kamakura: A Beautiful Coastal Town Near Tokyo

8. Kamogawa Sea World (Chiba, Boso Peninsula)

Kamogawa Sea World is one of the few places near Tokyo where you can watch a killer whale show. The aquarium features a variety of open-air and underwater stadiums, with regular performances by orcas, dolphins, and sea lions. Inside, you’ll also find large tanks with tropical fish, sea turtles, and beluga whales.

• Travel from Tokyo:
  About 2 hours by limited express train (Tokyo Station → Awa-Kamogawa), followed by a short free shuttle
  Alternatively, about 2 hours by express bus or 1 hour 20 minutes by car

• Admission: ¥3,300–¥3,800 (S$28.40–S$32.70) for adults

• Good to know: The coastal location and scale of the shows make this feel like a different kind of aquarium trip entirely

Also read: teamLab Planets Tokyo Guide: What to Expect and How to Prepare

Final thoughts

There’s something quietly comforting about aquariums. It could be the steady hush of filtered water, or the way jellyfish drift without urgency. Either way, it’s a chance to slow down and be still for a while, surrounded by creatures that seem to exist in their own time.

Whether you’re here for the spectacle of a dolphin show or the calm of a deep-sea tank, Tokyo’s aquariums offer more than just marine facts and photo ops. They are little pockets of pause, hidden inside one of the world’s busiest cities.

If you’re short on time, Maxell Aqua Park and Sunshine Aquarium are the easiest to reach and the most visually immersive. For a slower, more reflective visit, Sea Life Park or Sumida Aquarium might suit you better. And if you’re looking to make a day of it, the aquariums just outside Tokyo (especially Kamogawa Sea World) give you the space to step back and breathe a little deeper.

Whichever one you choose, here’s hoping it stays with you, the way a good aquarium always does.