Top 9 Aquarium Visits in Japan

1.North Okinawa Sightseeing Tour & Churaumi Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 472 reviews · 10h 30m · from $50Our pick

Spend 10.5 hours touring northern Okinawa by comfortable coach, with admission to Churaumi Aquarium, Nago Pineapple Park, and Cape Manzamo included. Visit Kouri Island, shop at Okashigoten, and use a multilingual audio guide while your English or Japanese tour attendant handles the timing. It is a practical choice if you do not have a car.

“It was well organised on time, thanks to the guide, and also very informative.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Art Aquarium Museum GINZA Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 278 reviews · 1 day · from $17

At Art Aquarium Museum GINZA, you’ll walk through a compact exhibition of goldfish tanks shaped by light, music, scent, and Edo-period tradition. Plan on about 45 to 60 minutes inside Ginza Mitsukoshi. Photography is welcome, but tripods, monopods, strobes, and extra lighting are not allowed.

“Nice museum exhibition! It’s pretty compact so you can spend at least 45 mins to an hour. The presentation is amazing.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Churaumi Aquarium, Ryukyu Village & Manza Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 118 reviews · from $50

Ride from central Naha to northern Okinawa with GPS-based audio guidance on your smartphone. The route includes Churaumi Aquarium, Okashigoten, Manza Cape, Ryukyu Village, and a drink at Banta Cafe. You get about 150 minutes at the aquarium, but lunch, the Manza entrance fee, and a working smartphone with GPS are your responsibility.

“Incrível, aquário é imperdível, adorei ver os golfinhos. O restante do passeio foi muito legal, não teríamos oportunidade de ver sem o guia.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Sumida Aquarium Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 70 reviews · 1 day · from $17

Spend a day at Sumida Aquarium in Tokyo, where you can watch penguins, eels, and goldfish, chat with breeding staff, and relax in chairs beside the tanks. The aquarium feels more like a quiet daily-life park than a rushed attraction. Entry costs $17, with no re-entry and no luggage or flash photography.

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Sunshine Aquarium Entry Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 55 reviews · 1 day · from $16Best value

Spend a day at Sunshine Aquarium in Ikebukuro, where rooftop tanks, tropical greenery, and the Penguins in the Sky exhibit turn a busy Tokyo building into a small resort-like escape. Your $16 ticket includes admission only. Visit on your reserved date, show the QR code, and enter without booking a separate numbered ticket online.

Check availability →Read our full review

6.<1Dya Tour>Churaumi Aquarium, Cape Manzamo, American Village

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 20 reviews · 11 hours · from $61

This full-day Jumbo Tours excursion links Cape Manzamo, Ocean Expo Park, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Bise Fukugi Tree Road, and Mihama American Village. Your tour conductor leads you to each attraction, while a multilingual audio guide covers cultural details in English, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Russian, Spanish, and Korean. Lunch and listed admission fees are included.

“Il y avait trop d’endroit à visiter pour la même excursion. J’aurai préféré avoir plus de temps à chacune des activités et avoir moins d’activités. La visite du village et l’endroit des vieux arbres devrait être retiré à mon avis. J’ai apprécié les autres endroits. Le bus était propre et ponctuel. La guide était gentille.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Okinawa Full Tour: Castle, Manza, Kouri, Aquarium & American

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · 10 hours · from $228Top rated

Spend about 10 to 11 hours exploring Okinawa with Jan, an English-speaking driver-guide. Start at your hotel, airport, cruise port, or another address, then shape the day around castles, beaches, Kouri Island, Churaumi Aquarium, American Village, or quieter stops. The vehicle fits up to three adults plus the driver.

“I can totally recommend this tour! The guide was super friendly, really listened to what we wanted, and knew the area well. Our hotel is up north, so we changed the tour a bit and only visited spots in the north. He even picked us up from the hotel. It was such a great day, and we’d definitely book this tour again!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Okinawa Miyako Natural Aquarium! Tropical Snorkeling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 15 reviews · from $45

Meet at Shigira Beach Parking Lot for a 90-minute snorkeling session in Miyakojima’s clear tropical water. Your guide provides safety gear, explains the basics, and takes underwater photos to share free. Guides such as Rintaro, Hinata, and Kaho have helped beginners and families feel at ease. Sea turtles and clownfish may appear, though sightings depend on conditions.

“We could see a turtle and clown fish during the snorkeling! The guide could speak both Japanese and English and his English was good! He was friendly to my little son. We were really happy!”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Enoshima Aquarium: Admission Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 14 reviews · 1 day · from $18

Spend a full day at Enoshima Aquarium, three minutes from Katase Enoshima Station. Follow exhibits on Sagami Bay, the Pacific Ocean, jellyfish, lower-depth sea creatures, and marine life. Seasonal displays, shows, and interactive programs add variety. Admission is $18 per person, with wheelchair access and paid lockers onsite.

“Good exhibits but they were apparently closing early for a private event and this wasn’t shared in advance so we had to leave early before seeing all the exhibits.”

Check availability →Read our full review