Ocean, You Meet Whale Shark

I decided to travel to Osaka last week to visit the aquarium called Kaiyuukan. I took the special rapid from Himeji to Osaka, then the Osaka loop line to Bentencho station, and from there, caught the Chuo line subway to Osaka-ko.

Kaiyuukan from a distance

The entrance

I was there by opening time - a must to avoid mega crowds - but somehow it was already packed inside.

This aquarium is unique in that, once inside, you take the escalator to the eighth floor and then meander down the spiralled walkway through the different marine environments. The tanks are based on the marine life found within the earth's ring of fire; that is, around the Pacific Ocean.

Tropical fish in the Great Barrier Reef


Dolphins from the Tasman Sea


Penguins from Antartica


Sardines from the Coast of Chile

But the most impressive of all, at 9 metres deep and containing 5400 tons of water, is the Pacific Ocean tank. There are hundreds of fish, gliding manta rays with metres-long tails, and lurking in the depths are two whale sharks - which someone has managed to transform into a cute mascot for the souvenir shop. This is Japan, after all.

After, I rode the Tempozan Giant Ferris Wheel to see the somewhat hazy sights over Osaka Port.

At Tempozan Harbor Village

One big city

Another view of Osaka

By the way, the title of this post is from the front page of the English version of the aquarium brochure. Hmm, Engrish at its best.

Until next time,
Monica