Kaiyukan Aquarium in Osaka: tickets, hours and the route

About the aquarium

Kaiyukan is devoted to the Pacific Ocean. The route is arranged as a journey “from land to the depths of the ocean”: first the tunnel aquarium “Aqua Gate”, then a ride up to the top floor to the “Japan Forest” and a descent in a spiral past the central “Pacific Ocean” tank and the zones of the Tasman Sea, the Great Barrier Reef and the Japan Trench. The same tank can be seen from different floors. More than 600 species live in the park.

Tickets, hours and how to get in without queuing

The Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan (海遊館) is one of the biggest aquariums in Japan. The ticket is an entrance ticket for a specific date; in holiday periods timed-entry tickets are also sold. Through the catalogue below you can arrange it online and pay by Russian card in roubles, and at the entrance you show a code from your phone. The hours depend on the season: usually it opens at about 10:00, earlier and closing later on holidays and during school breaks; the ticket offices stop admitting an hour before closing. Check the exact time when choosing a date.

The queues are longest at weekends and on school-holiday days from 11 to 15 o’clock. Come at opening or after 16:00, when some families leave. On weekdays it is noticeably freer.

How to get there

• Metro. The Chuo (green) line to Osakako station, then five minutes on foot along the embankment. From Namba and Umeda you get there with a change at Hommachi.
• Nearby. Next to the aquarium stand the Tempozan Marketplace shopping centre and the Tempozan Ferris wheel with a view of the bay, and from the quay the cruise ship Santa Maria departs.

The route inside

The route runs from top to bottom in a spiral around the central “Pacific Ocean” tank: the whale shark, Kaiyukan’s best-known resident, lives in it, and manta rays swim alongside. Begin with the Japan Forest, followed by the Ecuador rainforest, Monterey Bay, the Tasman Sea, the Great Barrier Reef and the Japan Trench. Separate halls are devoted to Antarctic penguins, sea otters and seals, and in the “Aqua Gate” fish swim over your head. It is worth setting aside 2.5–3 hours for the whole route.

Which tickets and tours are available

Prices are as of 10 October 2026. Check the contents, language and conditions on the page of the offer you choose.

Restrictions and tips

• Photography. A flash is banned, as it frightens the animals. For the dark tanks a phone with a night mode is better than a tripod: tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed.
• Belongings. There are lockers by the entrance for large rucksacks and suitcases. Bring a spare jumper: the halls are cool, especially in summer.
• With children. There is a pushchair route, but it can be cramped on the bends of the spiral. Little ones are especially interested in the shallow ray-feeding pools and touch tanks.
• Combine. After the aquarium it is good to go on the Tempozan Ferris wheel: the view is especially beautiful in the evening. Do not plan Universal Studios for the same day: both places need a whole day.
• When to go. On weekdays in the morning or evening. On rainy days there are more people, because tourists move indoors.

The description is based on Trip.com cards; opening hours and the contents of offers may change.