Discover the most stunning aquariums in Tokyo, from the artistic UWS Aquarium Ga⍟kyo in Odaiba and the dazzling Art Aquarium Museum in Ginza to the modern Sumida Aquarium at Tokyo Skytree. Perfect for a magical indoor adventure filled with Japanese aesthetics, marine life, and immersive experiences.
Visiting an aquarium is a fascinating experience, but stepping into a themed aquarium takes it to another level. Imagine underwater worlds designed with Japanese aesthetics, immersive environments, and vibrant marine life. If you’re looking for a unique indoor adventure, here are three aquariums you can explore for a day full of sea-lightful experience.
Opened in 2022 at Aqua City Odaiba, the UWS Aquarium Ga⍟kyo offers an immersive journey into miyabi—the traditional Japanese sense of beauty. The attraction is divided into five different areas—each blending art, nature, and aquatic life.
This serene section embraces natural elegance, showcasing driftwood, bonsai, and crystals in harmony with flowing water. The gentle scent of fresh greenery fills the air as the graceful carp glide through the tanks, creating a peaceful, meditative atmosphere.
Here, vivid colors and intricate patterns take center stage. Cylindrical aquariums decked with traditional Japanese parasols create a glamorous display, evoking the refined beauty of the Edo-era courtesans.
True to its name, this section is filled with kaleidoscopic aquariums that draw you into a world of endless, symmetrical patterns and shifting jewel-like shapes. Goldfish (kingyo) twirl with effortless grace, their movements as mesmerizing as the patterns around them. A neon-painted mural depicting a mermaid and an enormous carp adds a breathtaking touch to this dreamlike space.
Inspired by the legendary undersea palace, this main area features elegant fish tanks with wavy edges that seem to mimic the ocean waves. Around them, colorful lanterns, lush terrariums, and driftwood art create a dreamlike world.
Blending tradition with technology, the area includes interactive activities like projection-mapped goldfish scooping and fortune-slip drawing. Inspired by Japan’s four seasons, it offers an immersive experience of nature with a modern twist.
| Location: 3rd floor, Aqua City Odaiba (5 min. walk from Daiba Station)
Entrance fee: adults – 1,500 yen Elementary school students – 800 yen Website: https://uws-gakyo.com/en |
Located in the heart of Ginza, the Art Aquarium Museum is now celebrating its third year, captivating millions of visitors with a dazzling display of goldfish set against an interplay of water, light, ambient music, and flowers. The living art museum transports you to a mystical place where the enchanting world of aquatic wonders awaits. Below are some of the installations you can enjoy during your visit:
Created in collaboration with world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma, this installation invites you on a serene visual journey. Admire the rock-shaped fish tanks surrounded by bamboo structures that evoke gentle ocean waves—an exquisite fusion of nature and modern design.
The name is a combination of the words temari—a traditional Japanese embroidered thread ball, once used as a toy and now made as a decorative item—and aquarium. This installation displays glass bowls decorated with colorful threads and brought to life by beautiful goldfish.
A portmanteau of shoji and aquarium, this exhibit draws inspiration from the design of Yukimi shoji—a type of lattice-framed sliding door that frames the view of the scenery outside. Its defining feature is the contrast between the translucent paper that covers the top half and the glass panels that make up the bottom half.
Step into this mesmerizing space lined with low, rectangular aquariums decorated with kimono obi belts. Observe the elegant goldfish up close as they lift their heads above the water.
A signature large-scale installation of the Art Aquarium Museum, NEO Oiran uses neon lights to create a spectacle of colors. This unprecedented piece of light art incorporates traditional motifs with contemporary artistic elements.
This enchanting area resembles a pathway to a shrine, featuring cylindrical aquariums that imitate the form of torii gates. The installation combines light, sound, and fragrance that create a multisensory experience.
Like entering a garden, this breathtaking area was created in collaboration with ikebana artist Shogo Kariyazaki. Admire the aquariums while surrounded by elegant floral arrangements.
Aside from the installations mentioned above, there are additional exhibits that celebrate the beauty of kingyo through other art forms. These include an ukiyo-e exhibit showing woodblock prints with goldfish and carp designs; a collaborative art exhibit presenting artworks centered on kingyo; and a Kutani ware exhibit displaying Japanese ceramics with goldfish designs painted in vivid colors.
Before you head home, don’t forget to check the Art Aquarium gift shop and pick up exclusive items to bring back as a memento of your visit.
| Location: 8th floor, Ginza Mitsukoshi (4 min. walk from Ginza Station)
Entrance fee: web ticket – 2,500 yen / same-day ticket – 2,700 yen *free admission for up to 2 children under elementary school age per Adult Website: https://artaquarium.jp |
Sumida Aquarium, situated on the 5th and 6th floors of Tokyo Skytree Town, is a modern facility that has over 7,000 marine creatures, including Magellanic penguins, South American fur seals, goldfish, and a diverse range of fish species. One of the key attractions here is the large indoor open tank that allows visitors to observe penguins and fur seals at close range. The aquarium is also noted for its extensive jellyfish exhibit, where visitors can observe sea jellies flaunt their elegant tentacles, as well as displays highlighting coral reefs and the marine life of the Ogasawara Islands. Another popular feature is the chin anago (spotted garden eel), known for its distinctive behavior of peeking out from sandy burrows. To conclude the visit, guests can browse the gift shop for souvenirs such as stuffed animals, keychains, and animal-themed confectionery.
| Location: 5th and 6th floors, Tokyo Skytree Town (3 min. walk from Oshiage Station)
Entrance fee: adults (ages 18 and over) – 2,500 yen high school students (ages 15-17) – 1,800 yen junior high school and elementary school students (ages 6-14) – 1,200 yen children (ages 3 and above) – 800 yen Website: https://www.sumida-aquarium.com/en/index.html |
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