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Guide 05 FILE 05 · Osaka & Kansai

Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: admission, getting there and floors

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Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan at Tempozan: date-based admission prices, the walk from Osakako Station, and what is on each floor on the way down from 8F.

The Kaiyukan building lit up in the evening

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Kaiyukan is an aquarium at Tempozan in Osaka Port. Built around the Pacific Ocean tank where whale sharks swim, it shows about 620 species and 30,000 animals.

A manta ray and whale shark in the Pacific Ocean tank
A whale shark in the Pacific Ocean tank Photo: SR EXR / CC0

Admission

Adults ¥2,700–¥3,500, depending on the date
  1. Adult ¥2,800
  2. Age 7–15 ¥1,400
  3. Age 3–6 ¥700

Official Kaiyukan prices for a day when adults pay ¥2,800. Adult means 16 and over; age 2 and under is free. The adult range is from the official calendar for November to January.

Tickets carry an entry time. Same-day tickets from the counter may not be available for the time slot wanted, which can mean waiting.

Hours

Item Details
Hours Vary by date, see the official calendar
Last entry 1 hour before closing
Typical visit About 2 hours
Re-entry Not allowed
Closed days A few days a year

Getting there

About 5 minutes on foot from Osakako Station exit 1
About 5 minutes on foot from Osakako Station exit 1

Walking route

Walking time from the official Kaiyukan access page. Sketch map of locations and route from OpenStreetMap data. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Osakako Station is on the Osaka Metro Chuo Line. From exit 1 or 2 the way runs straight toward the Tempozan Ferris Wheel.

Other routes Get off at
Osaka City Bus 88 (Osaka Station), 60 (Namba Station) Tempozan Harbor Village
Limousine bus from Kansai Airport Tempozan (Kaiyukan)

From USJ

10 minutes from USJ by shuttle boat, ¥900 for adults
  1. Junior high and over ¥900
  2. Elementary school ¥500
  3. Preschool, age 3 and over ¥400

Osaka Convention and Tourism Bureau listing, Captain Line one-way fares. It links Universal City Port and Kaiyukan Nishi-Hatoba, with sailing times that vary by day. There is no service on days USJ or Kaiyukan is closed.

Floor by floor

Down from 8F, with whale sharks on three floors

Viewing order

  1. 8F Japan Forest, otters
  2. 7F Penguins, sea lions
  3. 6F Whale sharks, coral reef
  4. 5F Whale sharks, sardines
  5. 4F Whale sharks, deep sea
  6. 3F Jellyfish Galaxy
  7. Entrance 4F Arctic, Falkland Islands
  8. Entrance 3F Exit

Official Kaiyukan floor map. The way in is the Aqua Gate on 3F of the entrance building, and the three wide floors are the Pacific Ocean tank. The Aleutian Islands exhibit is closed for renovation.

Most of the viewing route is sloped, with some stretches on escalators or stairs. On those stretches staff guide wheelchairs and strollers to an elevator. Wheelchairs can be borrowed at the information desk and the service counter on 3F of the entrance building.

Where to stay

Near USJ

Easy early entry to the park

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Namba and Dotonbori

Rapi:t straight to the airport, food everywhere

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Sources

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