Tokyo has 5 major aquariums, and each one has a completely different concept. This guide covers everything you’ll want to know before going — access, must-see exhibits, nursing rooms, and stroller info.
Sunshine Aquarium (Ikebukuro)
Access
About 8-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station (JR / Tokyo Metro / Seibu / Tobu lines) — a major shopping and entertainment district in northwest Tokyo. The aquarium is on the rooftop of Sunshine City’s World Import Mart Building.
Basic Info
| Price | Adults (high school and up): ¥2,600–¥3,200 (~$17–$21) Kids (elementary/junior high): ¥1,300 (~$8) Toddlers (4+): ¥800 (~$5) Under 4: Free |
| Hours | Weekdays: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Weekends/holidays: 9:30 AM – 8:00 PM (sometimes opens at 8:30 AM) Last entry: 30 minutes before closing Check the official website for closed days! |
Highlights & Recommended Points
“Sky Penguins”: Cape penguins appear to fly overhead against the Tokyo cityscape — a one-of-a-kind exhibit you can’t find anywhere else in the world. Hugely popular!
“Jellyfish Space” (Kurage Kuukan): One of Japan’s largest jellyfish tanks at about 14m (~46ft) wide, with sound, lighting, and aroma effects creating a mesmerizing atmosphere!
Limited-time exhibits: Hard-to-display creatures like deep-sea octopus and giant isopods sometimes appear for limited periods.
Daytime is busy with families; at night, it lights up into a more grown-up atmosphere!
The Sunshine Aquarium area has tons of family-friendly attractions nearby.
Indoor: Japan’s largest Pokémon Center (Japan’s biggest official Pokémon store), Namjatown (indoor theme park), Thomas Station, picture book area, and more.
Outdoor: Toshima Kids Park, Minami-Ikebukuro Park, etc.
This is honestly one of the biggest appeals of this aquarium!
Food
There’s a Tully’s Coffee inside the aquarium serving aquarium-exclusive pancakes and other light meals.
The Sunshine Aquarium–exclusive “Aquarium Cocoa” features adorable latte art of penguins, otters, and more!
This is the only place to eat lunch inside the aquarium. They serve pasta, hot dogs, and other items — surprisingly good!
No re-entry allowed.
If kids get hungry and fussy inside, Tully’s is the only option — plan ahead!
Strollers & Nursing Rooms
Strollers: Dedicated parking area near the entrance. Elevators are available inside, but the layout is twisty and tight in places — most visitors find it easier to leave the stroller and walk through.
Nursing rooms: Two locations — one on the 2nd floor and one on the rooftop. The one next to the souvenir shop is easiest to find. Equipped with diaper-changing tables, private nursing booths, and hot water dispensers (for formula preparation).
Get Sunshine Aquarium tickets at a discount!Sumida Aquarium (Oshiage)
A beautifully designed urban aquarium inside Tokyo Skytree Town (Tokyo Skytree is Japan’s tallest tower at 634m / ~2,080ft).
Access
Directly connected to Tokyo Skytree Station and Oshiage (Skytree) Station.
Basic Info
| Price | Adults (incl. university students): ¥2,700 (~$17) High school: ¥2,000 (~$13) Elementary/junior high: ¥1,400 (~$9) Toddlers (3+): ¥900 (~$6) Under 3: Free ※No re-entry! (Annual passholders can come and go freely) |
| Hours | Weekdays: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Weekends/holidays: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM Last entry: 1 hour before closing |
Highlights & Recommended Points
“Edorium”: One of Japan’s largest goldfish exhibitions (goldfish — kingyo — are culturally important in Japan). The Japanese aesthetic styling is beautiful and is internationally recognized as “a fusion of Japanese culture and aquatic life.” Plus, Japan’s largest indoor open-pool exhibit lets you see penguins up close.
Because it’s inside Skytree Town, you can easily drop in while doing other sightseeing. Everything is indoors, so weather isn’t a concern — another big plus.
I actually went to Sumida Aquarium with my then-1-year-10-month-old when a friend was visiting from out of town. We went on a whim after Tokyo Skytree, but the lighting was very moody and grown-up — chasing a toddler in his “wants-to-run” phase was tough (lol). Bright-colored clothes help spot kids easily in the dim lighting!
Many exhibits are at a higher viewing height, so bringing a baby carrier is a good idea!
Food
Penguin Café: Lots of original menu items themed around aquarium creatures — light meals, desserts, drinks. Penguin onigiri (rice balls) and glowing cotton candy are some of the most photogenic options.
Strollers & Nursing Rooms
Strollers: Fully accessible inside — you can stroll through the entire facility. Stroller parking is near the 5th floor entrance.
Nursing rooms: One on the 6th floor (3 private rooms). Diaper-changing tables, hot water dispensers, and sinks all available.
Get a discounted Klook Tokyo Pass covering Sumida Aquarium and 20+ other attractions!
Klook and KKday often offer bundles where you can buy combined tickets for multiple attractions and save. The ticket lineup changes over time.
If you’re planning to visit multiple Tokyo attractions, definitely check whether a bundle pass might save you money!
Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa (Shinagawa)
A cutting-edge entertainment facility blending sound, light, video, and live creatures.
Access
About 2-minute walk from Shinagawa Station (Takanawa Exit) — Shinagawa is a major transportation hub in Tokyo, including the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) line.
Basic Info
| Price | Adults (high school and up): ¥2,800 (~$18) Elementary/junior high: ¥1,300 (~$8) Toddlers (4+): ¥800 (~$5) Under 4: Free |
| Hours | Usually: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Last entry: 7:00 PM (1 hour before closing) |
Highlights & Recommended Points
Dolphin Performance: 360-degree viewing stadium with shows that combine water curtains and projection mapping. Night shows add lighting for a completely different atmosphere — totally worth experiencing both.
Wonder Tube: A 20-meter (~66ft) underwater tunnel. You can see reef manta rays and the world’s only display of dwarf sawfish (a small species of sawfish ray).
Immersive Area “Patterns”: Projection mapping covers walls, floors, and tank surroundings. The seasonal themes change completely throughout the year, so each visit feels new!
It has two totally different faces by day and night. There’s even a pirate ship ride and a merry-go-round inside — wait, this is supposed to be an aquarium??
The projection mapping area has sensors that react to movement. Kids can touch the walls and stomp on the floor to make the visuals respond! Adults get just as absorbed — try not to lose track of your kids (lol).
Safety at Night
The aquarium stays open until late, and the area is very safe even at night — which is something we don’t take for granted as international visitors!
Once our kids napped late afternoon and were wide awake into the evening, so we walked around Shinagawa Station after 8 PM — and there was nothing remotely scary about it.
Of course Japan has quieter back streets too, but if you stick to the main streets, they’re well-lit and full of people coming and going. You can really enjoy the night aquarium experience and get home comfortably.
As a Japanese person, I think the country’s safety is genuinely one of its best features. Of course you should still stay aware in crowded places, but I’d really love for you to enjoy Tokyo’s nighttime atmosphere too!
Food
Coral Café Bar: A magical bar with glowing coral. They sell bottled drinks that you can enjoy elsewhere in the facility.
Strollers & Nursing Rooms
Strollers: Dedicated parking on the 1st floor. There are slopes, but show venues have lots of stairs, so most visitors leave the stroller at the parking area.
Nursing room: One on the 2nd floor inside “The Stadium.” Private room with diaper-changing table, hot water sink (for formula preparation), and microwave.
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Klook Tokyo Pass covers Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa and 20+ other attractions!
Shinagawa Aquarium (Omori-kaigan)
Affectionately nicknamed “Shinasui” by locals, this community-rooted aquarium is located inside Shinagawa Kumin Park (Shinagawa Citizens’ Park).
Access
About 8-minute walk from Omori-kaigan Station on the Keikyu Line (the train line connecting Tokyo to Haneda Airport). Free shuttle bus from JR Omori Station.
Basic Info
| Price | Adults (high school and up): ¥1,350 (~$9) Elementary/junior high: ¥600 (~$4) Toddlers (4+): ¥300 (~$2) Seniors (65+): ¥1,200 (~$8) Under 3: Free |
| Hours | Usually: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Last entry: 4:30 PM Closed: Every Tuesday (open on holidays, spring/Golden Week/summer/winter holidays), January 1st |
Highlights & Recommended Points
Tunnel Tank: A 22-meter (~72ft) tunnel where huge sea turtles and rays swim overhead. The narrow passage lets you observe the creatures up close. Divers feed the animals while explaining what you’re seeing — that’s another highlight.
Shinagawa Kumin Park: The aquarium sits inside this park. It’s a well-maintained, traditionally Japanese-style park with plenty of room to run around and a playground area.
Exhibits are designed at kid-friendly eye level.
The biggest draw of this aquarium is that exhibits are positioned at a low height. Even babies who can just barely stand can see the creatures themselves. The bright lighting throughout makes it a relaxing environment for energetic toddlers too.
Plus, since it’s less famous than the others, you can usually avoid the crowds — a big bonus!
Food
Restaurant Dolphin: Adjacent to the aquarium, with a structure that seems to float over the water.
The view is gorgeous — if a window seat is open, you’re lucky! Strollers can enter the dining area.
Plenty of kids’ menu options. The menu is mostly Western food, so sharing from adult portions works too!
Strollers & Nursing Rooms
Strollers: Parking area near the entrance. Elevators inside make stroller navigation relatively smooth.
Nursing rooms: 2 rooms near the 1st-floor entrance inside the aquarium. Ask reception staff to use them. The lockable nursing room in the building next to the restaurant is my top pick.
Kasai Rinkai Aquarium (Kasai Rinkai Park)
A Tokyo Metropolitan Government–operated aquarium facing Tokyo Bay, marked by its distinctive glass dome.
Access
About 5-minute walk from Kasai Rinkai Koen Station on the JR Keiyo Line.
Basic Info
| Price | General (adults): ¥700 (~$5) Junior high: ¥250 (~$2) (*Free for junior high students living or studying in Tokyo) Seniors (65+): ¥350 (~$2) Elementary and under: Free |
| Hours | Opening: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM Last entry: 4:00 PM (ticket sales end at 4:00 PM) Closed: Every Wednesday (the following day if Wednesday is a holiday), New Year holidays ※During Golden Week (May 3–5) and Obon (Aug 8–11), hours extend by 1–3 hours. |
Because Kasai Rinkai is a public Tokyo Metropolitan facility, admission is very affordable. There are also free admission days like Greenery Day (May 4 — a Japanese national holiday), Tokyo Citizens’ Day (October 1), and the Aquarium Opening Anniversary (October 10). Free is wonderful, but it gets extremely crowded — heads up if you want to avoid the rush!
Highlights & Recommended Points
Ocean Voyagers (Bluefin Tuna): A massive 2,200-ton donut-shaped tank where bluefin tuna swim in a school — the only display of its kind anywhere in the world.
Feeding time is spectacular — the tuna move with incredible speed!
Inside is bigger than expected, with zones for learning about Tokyo Bay’s ecosystem. The outdoor penguins are kept in a notably spacious enclosure.
Kasai Rinkai Park: The aquarium sits inside this enormous waterfront park (one of Tokyo’s largest). You can have a picnic with packed food, let kids run wild outside, and watch planes taking off and landing at Haneda Airport!
Renovation Notice: Kasai Rinkai Aquarium is undergoing a major rebuild aiming to open a new facility in fiscal year 2028. During the renovation, the gift shop and restaurant operate from temporary locations at times. The aquarium itself stays open, but check the dedicated info site for current details.
Food
Restaurant “Seawind”: Self-service style, with terrace seating overlooking the sea. There’s also a large rest area where you can bring your own packed food.
Strollers & Nursing Rooms
- Strollers: Parking near the gate. Because the grounds are huge, families with little kids are better off going in with the stroller.
- Nursing rooms: 2 locations — one near the main gate, one on the 1st floor inside. Ask staff if you need hot water (for formula preparation).
Annual Passes
Each aquarium offers its own annual pass, with perks like companion discounts, shop discounts, or skipping reservations. If you visit 2+ times a year, it’s well worth considering!
Summary: Which One Is Right for You?
By Goal
- Let kids run around freely → Shinagawa Aquarium, Kasai Rinkai Aquarium
- Cutting-edge tech meets aquarium → Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa
- Enjoy the aquarium late at night → Sunshine Aquarium, Sumida Aquarium, Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa
- Combine with nearby sightseeing → Sumida Aquarium, Sunshine Aquarium
- Best value for money → Shinagawa Aquarium, Kasai Rinkai Aquarium
Compared to large regional aquariums, Tokyo’s aquariums are smaller in scale — not all of them are full-day destinations for young kids. Plan your visit time and have a backup spot in mind if kids get bored or things get chaotic!
By Location
- Sunshine Aquarium
- Sumida Aquarium
- Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa
- Shinagawa Aquarium
- Kasai Rinkai Aquarium
Here’s how they’re laid out on the map — all a bit spread out. For Tokyo sightseeing, especially around Asakusa, Sumida Aquarium (#2) is the easiest to slot in! The others are best treated as destinations themselves.
Easy Access to Narita/Haneda Airports
The aquariums with the easiest airport access are Sumida Aquarium (Keisei Line — connects to Narita Airport), Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa (Keisei Line), and Sunshine Aquarium (limousine bus from Ikebukuro Station).
If you have an evening flight, you can fit in a 3-hour aquarium visit on your last day before heading to the airport!
Sumida Aquarium is right next to Tokyo Skytree, so it pairs perfectly with a Skytree visit. It’s not a huge facility, but it’s a great backup for bad weather days.
#4 Shinagawa Aquarium also has decent access to Haneda Airport, but getting from the station to the aquarium takes a long walk.
#3 Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa is right next to Shinagawa Station, which is a stop on the Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train to Kyoto/Osaka) — great to combine with onward travel to Kansai!
Best for a Full Day
#5 Kasai Rinkai Aquarium has less convenient access than the others.
But it sits inside Kasai Rinkai Park, where you can BBQ and ride the Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel — Japan’s second-largest at 117m (~384ft) tall.
Not really a “drop in along the way” stop, but a perfect choice if you want a full day combining the aquarium with the park!
Final Thoughts
Tokyo’s aquariums offer a uniquely Japanese spin on the genre — many of them work as ocean-themed entertainment venues, with a vibe quite different from aquariums in other regions or countries.
Hope you make wonderful memories! I’ll be so happy if this article helps you plan your visit.
Thanks so much for reading all the way through!
