[Mie] The only place in Japan where you can see them! Go see the sea otters at Toba Aquarium

• Table of Contents
• The way to view the popular sea otters will change from March 17, 2025
• Toba Aquarium: The only place in Japan where you can see dugongs and sea otters
• Toba Aquarium has a great selection of shows!
• The Kintetsu Railway is a convenient way to get to Toba Aquarium.

The way to view the popular sea otters will change from March 17, 2025

Starting March 17, 2025, all guests will be asked to queue up to meet the seals. With only two of them in our national aquarium, we have been thinking about how to ensure that all guests can see these adorable sea otters in a safe and comfortable environment.

A new lane will be set up in front of the enclosure, and people will be admitted in the order they line up. Each group will have one minute to take videos and watch the sea otters. Please note that the lane will close at 4:30pm every day. If the waiting line is long, it may close earlier.

Toba Aquarium: The only place in Japan where you can see dugongs and sea otters

Toba Aquarium is home to around 1200 different species of creatures, making it the largest aquarium in Japan! Currently, dugongs and sea otters can only be seen at Toba Aquarium. The two sea otters, Mei and Kira, are both quite old, so it's best to go and see them while they're still healthy. This article will also introduce access and nearby facilities.

Toba Aquarium has a great selection of shows!

There are plenty of activities that allow you to get up close and personal with the animals, including the classic sea lion show, the aquarium's standard show of sea otter feeding time, and an experience corner where you can interact with walruses.

Full of relaxation! Sea otter feeding time

You can see the sea otters eating shellfish and fish by placing them on their bellies three times a day. In the morning and evening, you might even see them "jumping with squid ears" as they jump to grab squids stuck to the glass!

There is a "children's only" space in front of the aquarium, so even small children can watch safely.

You can also enjoy an exciting sea lion show and interact with walruses!

There are endless ways to have fun, such as watching the sea lion show performing a variety of tricks, touching the walruses' large bodies and baleen, and learning about the ecology of walruses!

View show details

The Kintetsu Railway is a convenient way to get to Toba Aquarium.

The nearest station to Toba Aquarium is Kintetsu Toba Station. It is located about a 10-minute walk from Toba Station. It is easily accessible from major tourist cities, about 2 hours from Osaka Namba Station, about 2 hours and 13 minutes from Kintetsu Kyoto Station, and about 1 hour and 35 minutes from Nagoya Station.

If you are coming from the Osaka area, we recommend taking The Sightseeing Limited Express"SHIMAKAZE"!

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See the Toba Aquarium website

Toba Aquarium

517-8517 3-3-6 Toba, Toba City, Mie Prefecture

Toba Aquarium is based in Toba City, Mie Prefecture, and is one of the largest aquariums in Japan. As of September 2024, it will house approximately 1,200 species, the largest number in Japan. There are 12 zones that recreate natural environments, and approximately 1,200 species of sea and river creatures are kept and exhibited. The approximately 1.5 km long corridor is a free passageway with no set viewing order.

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