Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan - Osaka Prefecture
It is one of the largest public aquariums in the world, and is a member of the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA). The aquarium is about a five-minute walk from Osakako Station on the Osaka Municipal Subway Chūō Line, and is next to the Tempozan Ferris Wheel.
The walk-through aquarium displays marine life in several habitats comprising 27 tanks in 16 main exhibits with a total volume of 10,941 tons of water. The habitats are from the Ring of Fire area of the Pacific Ocean. The largest tank is 9 metres (30 ft) deep and holds 5,400 cubic metres (190,699 cu ft) of water and a variety of fish including manta rays and 2 whale sharks.
The tanks used in the aquarium are made of 314 tonnes (346 tons) of acrylic glass. The largest single pane measures 6 meters (m) by 5 meters (m) by 30 centimetres (cm) and weights roughly 10 tons. At the thicknesses used, regular glass would be unwieldy and would not have the desired transparency.
The "New Interactive Area" that opened in 2013 allow visitors to see the animals up close and possibly touch them. In the "New Interactive Area", 3 zones are constructed, the Arctic zone, in which you see rounding ringed seals, Falkland Islands Zone, where you can see the rock hopper penguins, and the Maldives Zone, in which you can directly touch sharks and rays.
1 Chome-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato Ward, Osaka, Osaka Prefecture 552-0022, Japan.
Access To Osaka Aquarium
By Train :
*Approx. 35 min. from Shinkansen bullet train Shin-Osaka Station (changing railway lines)
*Approx. 30 min. from Osaka (Umeda) Station
*Approx. 30 min. from Namba (Shinsaibashi) Station
*Approx. 5 min. on foot from Osakako Station of Osaka City Subway Chuo Line
By Osaka City Bus :
*Approx. 45 min. from Osaka Station (bus route No. 88) or approx. 40 min. from Namba Station (bus route No. 60) to Tempozan Stop, adjacent to the KAIYUKAN
*From Universal Studios Japan: Approx. 10 min. from Universal City Port by Captain Line fast shuttle ferry
Others Tourist Attraction in Osaka Prefecture
The Umeda Sky Building
Is a spectacular high rise building in the Kita district of Osaka, near Osaka and Umeda Stations. It is also known as the "New Umeda City".
The 173 meter tall building consists of two towers that are connected with each other by the "Floating Garden Observatory" on the 39th floor. The observatory offers great views of the city through its windows and from its open-air deck. In the basement, there is a restaurant floor that replicates a town of the early Showa Period, while offices occupy most other floors.
Minoo Park
Minoo Park is one of Japan's oldest parks, and a great side trip from central Osaka. Often compared to Mount Takao or Mount Mitake in the Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park near Tokyo, Minoo Park is a relaxing place to get away from all the concrete and skyscrapers of the downtown.
Minoo Park is worth visiting any time of the year. The well maintained paths make it possible to walk up in the winter, and in the summer beautiful green trees surround walkers. The best time to come is in the autumn (late November), when visitors can see a huge display of red and golden maple leaves.
The main attraction of Minoo Park is undoubtedly Minoo Waterfall. At 33 metres high and 5 metres wide, with lush surroundings and cool waters, you can see why it has been used as a meditation site as far back as the Asuka Era (592-710).
Minoo Park Souvenirs
The local speciality at Minoo Park is deep fried maple leaves. These super sweet and very crunchy snacks can be bought freshly made from the old ladies in their little shops, or in large packs as souvenirs. There are also plenty of novel souvenir shops as you walk up, some of which have plastic bugs and other fun toys, inspired by the nearby Minoo Park Insect Pavilion.
