Otaru Aquarium

City: Otaru
Country: Japan
Region Hokkaido
Opened 01.01.1959

Species 250

Situated on the Takashima Peninsula on the northwest side of the Ishikari Bay, and just north of the commercial city of Otaru, lies Otaru Aquarium. Surrounded by the natural environment of a quasi-national park, the aquarium is on a scenic stretch of coastline in the Shukutsu area that in times gone by prospered from the herring fishing industry. The main aquarium building houses approximately 5,000 creatures from 250 species of mainly fish that inhabit northern seas and rivers, as well as porpoises - which are extremely rare in captivity - and varieties of fish that can be seen in the Ishikari bay, such as herring, Atka mackerel, plaice, etc. Four of the five species of seals found in Japan are on display in the Marine Animal Park, where the birth of spotted seals can be seen every spring. A Stellar sea lion show, featuring Stellar sea lions, the largest of the sea lion family, is one of the special features of the aquarium, which also has a corner where visitors can feed the seals. Popular dolphin and South American sea lion shows are held daily in the Dolphin Stadium, providing amazing and fun entertainment for everyone.