There are two major aquariums near the Shinagawa area. One is Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa, located right by Shinagawa Station. The other is Shinagawa Aquarium, which—despite its name—is actually closest to Oimachi Station. I visited Shinagawa Aquarium on my first day.
This was actually my second time visiting. I chose this spot after asking an aquarium-enthusiast friend for the best kid-friendly aquarium in Tokyo. I’m excited to share more about why it’s such a great place for families!
I could not find English page in the official site. This is non official guide site for your refernce.
Getting There from Oimachi Station
While it’s a bit of a walk from the station, there is a free shuttle bus available from Oimachi Station.
Once you exit the Central Gates (Atre Exit) of Oimachi Station and look to your left, you’ll see signs for the bus stop. Following the signs will lead you to some stairs, but if you have a stroller or wheelchair, you can just keep going straight and loop back at the intersection instead.
After you loop back, you’ll find a bus stop that clearly identifies itself as the one for the aquarium, so just wait there!
It takes about 3 minutes from Oimachi Station to the bus stop if you’re jogging, and about 5 minutes at a steady pace without getting lost.
Since missing a bus on weekdays can mean waiting an hour for the next one, I recommend arriving at the station about 15 minutes early just to be safe. If the bus isn’t crowded, you can bring your stroller on board without folding it.
- Weekdays: One bus per hour. Usually plenty of space.
- Weekends & Holidays: 2–3 buses per hour. It’s said to get quite crowded.
You can check the shuttle bus schedule on their official website!
Shinagawa Aquarium is located within Shinagawa Kumin Park. It’s a spacious park featuring open grassy areas and a peaceful pond.
Walking to the right while taking in the classic Japanese scenery of pine trees,
after a short walk, the aquarium will come into view further ahead.
Entrance and Nursing Room
The entrance is located just up the slope on the right-hand side.
By the way, if you continue straight instead of heading up the slope on the right, you’ll find a nursing room in the building on your left.
There is also one inside the aquarium, but when I visited, there was a sign saying to please notify the staff at the entrance before using it.
The nursing room inside the aquarium uses curtains for privacy, so if you prefer a quiet space with a solid lock, I’d recommend using the one outside!
About Strollers
There is a dedicated stroller parking area right at the entrance of the aquarium.
The interior is designed with ramps for easy movement, and since it’s completely barrier-free, you can certainly bring your stroller along with you.
Since it can be difficult to chase after two children if they head in different directions, I only carried my valuables, diaper kit, and drinks, leaving everything else with the stroller.
Why I Recommend It: Kid-Level Displays
I wouldn’t say this aquarium is particularly famous for a mind-blowing dolphin show or anything that feels “over-the-top,” but… what it does have is displays positioned perfectly for children to see.
Every tank is designed so that children can see everything at their own eye level without needing to be picked up.
For the higher displays, there are step stools provided. Also, the interior is generally well-lit, making it easy for parents to keep an eye on things, too.
In the tunnel tank, you can see divers cleaning the glass, and there were even displays explaining how to tell the gender of green sea turtles, along with introductions to other fish.
Watching the sardine tank, my oldest son even piped up with, “Is this yummy? I want to try eating it!” (lol). I guess even while they’re swimming, some fish just look delicious to him! (lol).
Every tank was thoughtfully designed to be easily visible for children, which was truly wonderful.
Lunch at “Dolphin”
For lunch, we went to “Dolphin,” a restaurant located just outside the aquarium.
Once you check in for a table using the automated machine, the staff will show you to your seat.
Of course, this place is kid-friendly too! They have plenty of high chairs, and the space is wide enough that you won’t feel like your stroller is in the way.
You order via QR code, and it’s a self-service system similar to a food court—you pick up your food when called and return your trays to the drop-off area afterward. Since we were seated by the window, we had a beautiful view of the scenery outside.
Top Highlights and Important Tips!
Once our bellies were full, we headed back into the aquarium. You can re-enter simply by showing your ticket.
Outdoor Exhibits:
There is a roof, so as long as the wind isn’t too strong, you should be just fine!
The Mirror Stairs:
It’s a lot of fun, but be careful—kids might trip or take a tumble there! (lol).
Unique Elevator:
There’s an announcement about the deep sea as you ride. The lighting changes colors, too, so it really feels like you’re diving into the deep sea! (lol).
Letting the kids run wild at the park until the bus arrives!
Since my younger son had so much fun he didn’t even take a nap, it was finally time to head out. We had about 30 minutes until the 3:10 PM shuttle bus, so we let the kids run wild in the park to burn off that last bit of energy.
Since it’s a park outside, there’s a great grassy area where the kids can run around to their heart’s content!
It’s also wonderful to grab a snack or a meal right here while taking in the classic Japanese scenery!
They even have dolphin statues you can hop on and ride!
There are some cute little photo spots scattered around, so the “expedition” never got boring!
The shuttle bus arrived right on time to pick us up.
The kids seemed absolutely thrilled to have so much freedom to walk around and explore the aquarium at their own pace. Since there were very few moments where I had to constantly keep them in check, I was able to truly enjoy the experience myself!
We headed back to Oimachi Station, and our next stop was the one we’d been dreaming of: the Shinagawa Prince Hotel, famous for its rooms with a view of the trains!
