Japan’s most popular theme parks, aquariums and zoos: opening hours, prices, how to buy tickets, access, crowds and how the weather affects your visit, written for travelers. Hours and prices are listed only when confirmed by official sources.
ZooHokkaido ・ Asahikawa & Biei
Run by the City of Asahikawa, this zoo is famous for its “behavioral exhibits,” which let animals show off their natural movements and abilities. It opens in separate summer and winter seasons, with closure periods in spring and autumn.
ZooHokkaido ・ Sapporo / Maruyama
Opened in 1951, this is Hokkaido's oldest zoo and is run by the City of Sapporo. Set next to Maruyama Park, its grounds cover about 22 hectares and are home to around 140 species of animals.
AquariumHokkaido ・ Sapporo / Tanukikoji
An urban aquarium on the 4th to 6th floors of moyuk SAPPORO, a shopping complex facing the Tanukikoji shopping arcade. Built around the concept "The Wonder of Life: Seeing the Unseen," it serves as a gateway to nature in the middle of the city and stays open until 22:00.
AquariumHokkaido ・ Otaru / Shukutsu
Located on the coast at Shukutsu in Otaru, this aquarium consists of an indoor main building and the outdoor "Marine Mammal Park," built by partitioning off part of the Sea of Japan. It operates with different dates and hours in winter, and closes from late November to early December and from late February to mid-March.
ZooHokkaido ・ Obihiro & Tokachi
A city-run zoo inside Midorigaoka Park in Obihiro. In addition to its summer season from spring to autumn, it opens on weekends and holidays from December to February for the winter season. Admission is free for junior high school age and under, and with its play area it's a family-friendly zoo.
ZooHokkaido ・ Kushiro & Akan
A city-run zoo about 11 minutes by car from Kushiro Airport. It's open year-round, so you can watch the animals in the snow in winter too. Admission is free for junior high school age and under.
ExperienceHokkaido ・ Sapporo
A confectionery theme park attached to the factory of Ishiya, the maker of Shiroi Koibito, a classic Hokkaido souvenir. It offers production line tours, sweets-making experiences, cafés, and shops, and the shops and rose garden can be used without an admission ticket. It's about a 5-minute walk from Miyanosawa Station on the Tozai subway line, making it easy to reach from central Sapporo.
ExperienceHokkaido ・ Kitahiroshima
A ballpark centered on ES CON FIELD HOKKAIDO, home of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, open 365 days a year. On non-game days, you can enter the stadium's outfield area for free and enjoy stadium tours, hot springs, kids' facilities, and restaurants. It's about 17 minutes from Sapporo Station to Kitahiroshima Station on the JR Rapid Airport, then about 5 minutes by shuttle bus from the station.
AquariumHokkaido ・ Noboribetsu & Lake Toya
A marine park centered on a castle-shaped aquarium, a 5-minute walk from JR Noboribetsu Station. It exhibits about 20,000 creatures of some 400 species, making it one of the largest in Hokkaido. It's easy to stop by from Noboribetsu Onsen or New Chitose Airport.
ZooHokkaido ・ Noboribetsu & Lake Toya
A zoo of Ezo brown bears on a mountaintop 550 m above sea level, about 7 minutes by ropeway from the center of Noboribetsu Onsen. More than 70 brown bears live here, and the round-trip ropeway fare is included in admission. The park also has a Brown Bear Museum and facilities introducing Ainu culture.
ZooTohoku ・ Akita City, Akita
A zoo in Omoriyama Park run by Akita City. As of August 2026, it keeps 524 animals of 88 species. Admission is free for high school students and younger, and with the Anipa amusement park and large play equipment on site, families can spend a whole day here.
AquariumTohoku ・ Iwaki, Fukushima
An environmental aquarium at Onahama Port in Iwaki. It showcases a wide range of waterside nature and wildlife, from the rivers and sea of Fukushima to the Shiome no Umi, where the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents meet, as well as northern seas and coral reefs. It's open year-round, and a visit typically takes 1.5 to 3 hours.
AquariumTohoku ・ Aomori & Hakkoda
An Aomori Prefecture-run aquarium in Asamushi Onsen, facing Mutsu Bay. Admission is free for high school students and younger, and just ¥1,200 for general visitors. It's about a 10-minute walk from Asamushi-Onsen Station on the Aoimori Railway and about 20 minutes by train from Aomori Station, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in Aomori City.
AquariumTohoku ・ Tsuruoka, Yamagata
An aquarium in Tsuruoka facing the Sea of Japan, known for its jellyfish exhibits. After a five-month closure, it reopened after renovation on April 1, 2026 under the nickname Tohoku Epson Aquarium Kamosui. It displays about 100 species of jellyfish.
ExperienceTohoku ・ Morioka & Koiwai
The visitor area of Koiwai Farm in Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture. You can tour cattle barns designated as Important Cultural Properties, ride horses, and join programs that take you around the farm. It's about 35 minutes by bus from Morioka Station, or about 15 minutes by car from Morioka IC.
AquariumTohoku ・ Oga, Akita
An aquarium on the Sea of Japan coast of the Oga Peninsula. It has a large tank recreating the Oga sea, exhibits of polar bears, seals, penguins, and more, and a museum devoted to hatahata (sandfish), an Akita specialty. From Akita Station, take the JR Oga Line to Oga Station (about 1 hour), then a bus or shared taxi.
AquariumTohoku ・ Sendai & Matsushima
An aquarium near Sendai Port. Across two floors, it shows sea life from Tohoku, Japan, and the world's oceans, starting with the large Sanriku-themed tank Inochi Kirameku Umi. It's about 18 minutes from Sendai Station to Nakanosakae Station on the JR Senseki Line, so it's easy to fit in between sightseeing in the city.
ExperienceTohoku ・ Iwaki, Fukushima
A hot spring and pool leisure complex in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture. A single admission ticket gives access to the Water Park's pools and water slides, the Spring Park hot spring area, the open-air bath Edo Jowa Yoichi, and more. Polynesian shows run from midday into the night, so you can enjoy it on a day trip or an overnight stay.
ZooTohoku ・ Sendai & Matsushima
A zoo run by Sendai City on Yagiyama hill. It's close to Yagiyama Zoological Park Station on the Tozai Subway Line, about 12 minutes from Sendai Station. General admission is an affordable ¥480, making it a good half-day trip from central Sendai.
ZooTohoku ・ Shiroishi, Miyagi
A facility in Shiroishi, Miyagi Prefecture, where you can see foxes. The foxes roam freely inside, and you walk among them. Admission is free for elementary school students and younger.
Theme parkTokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
Located in Maihama, Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, this resort centers on two theme parks: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. It’s about 20 minutes from Tokyo Station on the JR Keiyo Line, close enough for a day trip from central Tokyo. Park tickets are date-specific with variable pricing and must be bought in advance on the official website or official app.
Studio tourTokyo & Around ・ Central Tokyo
This indoor walk-through attraction takes you behind the scenes of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film series. It opened in June 2023 on the former site of Toshimaen. There are no rides; instead, you explore sets, props, and costumes on foot at your own pace.
Theme parkTokyo & Around ・ Tokyo / Tama
A fully indoor theme park where you can meet Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and other Sanrio characters. Parades, musical shows, rides, and character greetings are packed into a four-story building, so you can enjoy a full day regardless of the weather.
ExperienceTokyo & Around ・ Tokyo / Toyosu
An immersive museum by the art collective teamLab where you walk barefoot into the artworks. It's a series of vast spaces, including works you wade through water to experience, where your whole body becomes one with the art. It's scheduled to run until the end of 2027.
ZooTokyo & Around ・ Tokyo / Ueno
Japan's oldest zoo, located inside Ueno Park. With affordable admission, it's a central Tokyo zoo that's easy to combine with Ueno's art galleries and museums.
AquariumTokyo & Around ・ Oshiage / Tokyo Skytree Town
An urban aquarium on the 5th and 6th floors of Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi. It's entirely indoors and directly connected to the station, so you can drop by whatever the weather. It stays open into the evening, making it easy to pair with the Skytree observation decks or sightseeing in Asakusa.
ExperienceTokyo & Around ・ Hakone / Kowakidani
A hot spring theme park in Kowakidani, Hakone. It has two areas: "Yunessun," a hot spring and spa area where you wear swimsuits, and "Mori no Yu," a day-use hot spring where you bathe without clothes. Families and groups can enjoy Hakone's hot springs regardless of the weather.
Amusement parkTokyo & Around ・ Fuji Five Lakes
A free-admission amusement park at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Known for its record-breaking thrill coasters, it's one of Japan's top thrill parks and draws visitors from Japan and abroad. There are also areas for small children, such as Thomas Land.
Theme parkTokyo & Around ・ Nikko / Kinugawa
A cultural theme park that recreates an Edo-period townscape. Stroll through a town where staff dressed as villagers go about their lives, watch plays and ninja shows, and experience Edo culture firsthand. Popular with international visitors, it's a place to both watch and join in.
ZooTokyo & Around ・ Kusatsu Onsen
This privately run zoo in the Kusatsu Onsen hot spring town is known as the highest-altitude zoo in Japan. Inside a 15 m-tall dome heated by hot spring water, a subtropical climate lets you see tropical plants and animals even in chilly Kusatsu.
ZooTokyo & Around ・ Ito / Izu Kogen
This zoo in Izu Kogen lets you enjoy animals alongside cacti and succulents. Ring-tailed lemurs and peacocks roam freely, so you can get unusually close to the animals.
AquariumTokyo & Around ・ Kamogawa, Chiba
An aquarium on the Pacific coast of the Boso Peninsula where you can see performances by four species: orcas, belugas, dolphins, and sea lions. Admission includes all performances. It's about 2 hours from Tokyo Station by the Limited Express Wakashio or the direct Akushi-go highway bus (アクシー号), so it works as a day trip.
Amusement parkTokyo & Around ・ Inagi
An amusement park in Inagi, Tokyo, with something to enjoy year-round: pools in summer and illuminations in winter. Inside the park is PokéPark KANTO, an area where more than 600 Pokémon live. It's about 10 minutes from Keio-yomiuri-land Station by the Sky Shuttle gondola.
AquariumTokyo & Around ・ Yokohama
A marine leisure complex on Hakkeijima, an artificial island in Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, with aquariums, an amusement park, a shopping mall, restaurants, a hotel, and a marina. Entry to the island is free, and you buy passes to enjoy the four aquariums and the rides. You can choose tickets to suit what you want to do.
AquariumTokyo & Around ・ Kamakura & Enoshima
An aquarium on Katase Beach in Shonan. Centered on zones introducing the creatures of Sagami Bay, it features jellyfish, deep-sea creatures, dolphin shows, and more. It's just a 3-minute walk from Katase-Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Line, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in Enoshima and Kamakura.
Theme parkTokyo & Around ・ Kinugawa
A miniature theme park in Kinugawa Onsen that recreates famous buildings and World Heritage Sites at 1/25 scale. With 102 structures from 22 countries and regions, you can feel like you're traveling around the world in about half a day. Dogs are also welcome.
AquariumTokyo & Around ・ Ikebukuro
An urban aquarium on the roof of the World Import Mart Building in Ikebukuro's Sunshine City. Themed as an oasis in the sky, it consists of indoor exhibits on two floors and the outdoor Marine Garden. It's within walking distance of Ikebukuro and Higashi-Ikebukuro stations, making it easy to drop by between other Tokyo sightseeing.
ExperienceChubu & Hokuriku ・ Katsuyama, Fukui
A dinosaur-themed museum in Katsuyama, Fukui Prefecture. It displays 51 complete dinosaur skeletons along with fossils, dioramas, and life-size models, and a new wing was added in 2023. Tickets are generally bought in advance for a specific date and time, so book on the official website once your itinerary is set.
Theme parkChubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagakute, Aichi
A park facility recreating the worlds of Studio Ghibli films, located inside Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute, Aichi Prefecture. It's divided into five areas, and all tickets are date-specific and must be bought in advance; you cannot buy admission at a ticket window on the day. Tickets go on sale at 14:00 on the 10th of the month two months before your visit, so plan your purchase early once your itinerary is set.
ExperienceChubu & Hokuriku ・ Takayama
An open-air museum in Takayama where more than 30 buildings, including thatched- and shingle-roofed farmhouses relocated from across the Hida region, are arranged like a village. It's about 9 minutes by Sarubobo Bus from the Takayama Nohi Bus Center, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in Takayama's old town.
ZooChubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
A zoo and botanical garden run by Nagoya City, home to about 450 animal species and about 7,000 plant species on roughly 60 ha. It's a 3-minute walk from Higashiyama-koen Station on the Higashiyama Subway Line, easy to reach from the city center, and you can spend a full day enjoying the zoo, the botanical garden, and Higashiyama Sky Tower. Admission fees were revised on October 1, 2026.
ZooChubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagano / Yudanaka-Shibu Onsen
A park in the mountains of Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, where you can observe wild Japanese macaques up close. It's famous for its monkeys bathing in hot springs in winter. The entrance is about a 30-minute walk along a mountain path from the parking lot or bus stop, so wear shoes and clothing suited to the season.
ExperienceChubu & Hokuriku ・ Toyama / Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
A torokko (open-air) train running from Unazuki Onsen deep into the Kurobe Gorge. Full-line service between Unazuki and Keyakidaira resumed on October 1, 2026, and you can ride all the way to the Keyakidaira terminus during the operating season until November 30. From the windowless open cars, you can enjoy the beauty of the gorge and the views from the railway bridges.
Theme parkChubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
An outdoor theme park based on the world of LEGO bricks, located at Kinjo Pier in Nagoya Port. Aimed mainly at children aged 2–12 and their families, it has more than 40 rides, shows, and attractions. Together with the adjoining SEA LIFE Nagoya aquarium and hotel, it forms a resort.
ExperienceChubu & Hokuriku ・ Inuyama, Aichi
An open-air museum in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, where buildings from the Meiji era have been relocated, preserved, and opened to the public. The buildings are spread across the large village grounds, and you can walk through Meiji-era streetscapes while touring their interiors. You can also ride the SL (steam locomotive) and streetcar that run through the village.
AquariumChubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
A large aquarium at Garden Pier in Nagoya Port, made up of two buildings: the North Building, showing marine mammals such as orcas, belugas, and dolphins, and the South Building, themed on a journey to Antarctica. It's a 5-minute walk from Nagoyako Station on the Meiko Subway Line, and conveniently reachable from central Nagoya by subway alone.
ExperienceChubu & Hokuriku ・ Nagoya
A railway museum run by JR Central, displaying real Shinkansen, conventional line, and superconducting maglev vehicles. It's entirely indoors and about a 2-minute walk from Kinjofuto Station on the Aonami Line. With driving simulators and a large diorama, it's fun for families as well as railway fans.
Theme parkKansai ・ Osaka
This large theme park in Osaka’s Bay Area lets you step into the worlds of Hollywood movies and popular characters. Ride attractions, shows, and seasonal events can easily fill a full day.
AquariumKansai ・ Osaka
Located in Tempozan Harbor Village in Osaka, this is one of the world’s largest aquariums. Tanks recreating the natural environments of the Pacific Rim are arranged along a route that leads from the top floors down. It houses about 30,000 creatures of some 620 species.
AquariumKansai ・ Suita
A "living museum" inside EXPOCITY, the large entertainment complex next to Expo '70 Commemorative Park in Osaka. Blending elements of an aquarium, zoo, and art museum, it's built around the theme of "touching" the individuality of living creatures. It's run by the same company as Kaiyukan.
ZooKansai ・ Osaka
Opened in 1915, this urban zoo run by the City of Osaka has more than 100 years of history. It sits in Tennoji Park right next to Shinsekai and Tsutenkaku Tower, and keeps about 1,000 animals of some 170 species across roughly 11 hectares. Admission prices were revised in July 2026.
AquariumKansai ・ Kyoto City
An inland aquarium in Umekoji Park, within walking distance of Kyoto Station. Its exhibits explore Kyoto's waterside nature and how it connects, from the "Kyoto River" to the "Kyoto Sea." With a dolphin stadium and jellyfish displays, it's an easy stop between Kyoto sightseeing spots.
ZooKansai ・ Okazaki, Kyoto
A city-run zoo inside Okazaki Park, home to Heian Shrine and several art museums. In its compact grounds you can see elephants, gorillas, and wild animals from Kyoto's forests. Admission is free for junior high students and younger, and just ¥750 for adults.
AquariumKansai ・ Suma, Kobe
An aquarium with orcas that opened in Suma Beach Park in 2024. Along with orca and dolphin performances, you can enjoy exhibits of all kinds of marine life. It faces the Suma seaside and has an adjoining hotel.
ZooKansai ・ Himeji, Hyogo
The only safari park in the Kansai region, combining a safari park and an amusement park in one. You can enjoy both a drive-through safari, cruising among big predators in your own car or a safari bus, and a walking safari on foot. Seasonal facilities include a pool in summer and an ice rink in winter.
ZooKansai ・ Shirahama, Wakayama
A theme park in Nanki-Shirahama that combines a zoo, an aquarium, and an amusement park. With Safari World for land animals, Marine World for sea creatures, a petting area, and the "Play Zone" amusement park, it easily fills a full day. All four giant pandas left for China in June 2025, so the highlights now center on penguins, the safari, and marine shows.
Amusement parkKansai ・ Hirakata
Opened at its current location in 1912 (Taisho 1), it's the oldest continuously operating amusement park in Japan. It has about 40 kinds of attractions and is just a short walk from Hirakatakoen Station on the Keihan Main Line. It's about 30 minutes by train from both Osaka and Kyoto.
ExperienceKansai ・ Uji
A museum in Uji, Kyoto, that displays Nintendo's products through the years and lets you play hands-on exhibits. Tickets are date- and time-specific and must be reserved in advance, through a monthly lottery or first-come, first-served sales of slots that open up. If you want to include it in your itinerary, applying from the lottery 3 months before your visit is the surest way.
AquariumKansai ・ Ise & Shima
An aquarium facing Toba Bay that claims the largest number of species kept in Japan (about 1,200). It's the only aquarium in Japan where you can see a dugong, and its sea otters and walruses are also popular. The building is all-weather, and it's within walking distance of JR/Kintetsu Toba Station.
Theme parkKansai ・ Ise & Shima
A Spain-themed park in Ise-Shima. From thrilling roller coasters to rides for kids, parades, and flamenco shows, it offers a full day of fun. A hotel and the Himawari no Yu hot spring are also on site.
Theme parkKansai ・ Uzumasa
Toei Kyoto Studio Park, a samurai-drama theme park that opened in 1975, reopened on March 28, 2026 as UZUMASA KYOTO VILLAGE after the first phase of its renewal. It is now an immersive park for adults built around the concept of wandering into Kyoto in the Edo period, with the second phase scheduled to open in spring 2027. It stays open until 21:00.
ZooKansai ・ Port Island, Kobe
A zoo on Kobe's Port Island where you can interact with flowers and animals. Its exhibits bring you close to the animals, including shoebills, capybaras, and alpacas. It has extensive indoor areas and is easy to reach, about 14 minutes from Sannomiya on the Port Liner.
ZooChugoku & Shikoku ・ Hagi, Tsunoshima & Akiyoshidai
A safari-style animal park in the Akiyoshidai area where you can see animals without leaving your car. Besides the Safari Zone that you drive through in your own car, there's a feeding bus that tours by dedicated bus, a Walking Zone where you can interact with animals on foot, and an amusement park with free admission.
AquariumChugoku & Shikoku ・ Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
A Shimonoseki City aquarium facing the Kanmon Straits. Under the concept Life in the Sea, the Sea and Life, it's known for a tank recreating the Kanmon Straits currents and its world-leading display of about 100 species of pufferfish. It reopened after renovation in August 2025, adding Hireashi Beach, a new California sea lion exhibit.
AquariumChugoku & Shikoku ・ Kochi & Shimanto
An aquarium inside Katsurahama Park, right in front of Katsurahama, one of Kochi's most famous scenic spots. It keeps about 4,000 creatures of around 220 species, and most of the facility is an open-air outdoor area with views of Katsurahama Beach and Tosa Bay. You can also bring your pet inside.
ZooChugoku & Shikoku ・ Izumo & Matsue
A flower and bird themed park spread over hills on the shore of Lake Shinji. Its 320,000㎡ grounds include display greenhouses totaling 12,000㎡, and the main facilities are linked by covered walkways, so you can get around without an umbrella even on rainy days. The Ichibata Electric Railway station connects directly to the park.
AquariumChugoku & Shikoku ・ Hiroshima & Miyajima
An aquarium themed on the Seto Inland Sea, on Miyajima, home of the World Heritage-listed Itsukushima Shrine. It reopened after renovation in 2011 and displays more than 15,000 creatures of 380 species, centered on Seto Inland Sea life. It will be closed from December 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 for equipment upgrades and repair work, so visit by November 30.
Botanical gardenChugoku & Shikoku ・ Takamatsu, Naoshima & Shodoshima
A feudal lord's garden in central Takamatsu, designated a national Special Place of Scenic Beauty. With 6 ponds and 13 artificial hills, and Mt. Shiun and its pine forest behind it as borrowed scenery, it offers views that change with every step. It opens early in the morning, making it good for a morning stroll.
AquariumChugoku & Shikoku ・ Utazu, Kagawa
An aquarium that opened in Utazu, Kagawa Prefecture, in 2020. Themed on Shikoku Waterscapes, it recreates the waters surrounding Shikoku, including the Seto Inland Sea, the Pacific Ocean with the Kuroshio Current, and clear rivers such as the Shimanto and Niyodo, in about 70 waterscape exhibits. It's about a 12-minute walk from JR Utazu Station.
ZooChugoku & Shikoku ・ Tobe, Ehime
An Ehime Prefecture-run zoo in Tobe, about 20 minutes by car from central Matsuyama. Under the concept A Zoo Full of Everyone's Smiles, it keeps many animals, including polar bears, African elephants, Malayan tapirs, sea lions, and flamingos. Admission is an affordable ¥600 for adults.
ExperienceChugoku & Shikoku ・ Tottori
The world's first museum dedicated to sand sculptures, right next to the Tottori Sand Dunes. The theme changes every year, and works by sand sculptors from Japan and abroad are displayed indoors. From April 24, 2026 to January 3, 2027, the 17th exhibition, Travel Around the World in Sand: Spain, is on.
ExperienceChugoku & Shikoku ・ Naruto, Tokushima
A 450m-long walkway built inside the girders of the Onaruto Bridge. From 45m above the sea, you can look straight down on the whirlpools of the Naruto Strait. It's a Tokushima Prefecture facility inside Naruto Park and can be visited together with the neighboring Onaruto Bridge Memorial Hall Eddy.
ZooKyushu ・ Usa, Oita
A safari park in Ajimu, Usa City, Oita Prefecture, where you tour free-roaming animals by car or bus. You can explore in two ways: the My Car Safari, driving your own car through the Safari Zone with lions, elephants, and more, or the Jungle Bus, which moves along as you feed the animals. It's about 7 minutes by car from Beppuwan Smart IC, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in Beppu and Yufuin.
ZooKyushu ・ Kumamoto & Aso
A zoo in Aso City where you can interact with 350 animals of 60 species. It centers on animal shows and close-contact facilities with bear cubs, capybaras, and penguins. It's about 1.5 km from JR Aso Station, and highway buses between Kumamoto and Oita/Beppu stop in front of the park.
ExperienceKyushu ・ Beppu & Yufuin
A Beppu sightseeing classic: touring the seven hot spring sources known as jigoku (hells) in the Kannawa and Kamegawa areas of the hot spring town of Beppu. The hells each differ in color and form, from the cobalt-blue Umi Jigoku and the red Chinoike Jigoku to Tatsumaki Jigoku, which erupts at regular intervals. A combined ticket covers all seven, and you can tour them in about 2.5 hours including travel.
Theme parkKyushu ・ Sasebo & Huis Ten Bosch
A theme park resort in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, recreating Dutch townscapes. Attractions, shops, restaurants, and hotels are spread across large grounds laced with canals. It's about a 5-minute walk from JR Huis Ten Bosch Station and about 1 hour 45 minutes by limited express from Hakata, so a day trip from Fukuoka is possible.
AquariumKyushu ・ Kagoshima, Sakurajima & Ibusuki
An aquarium in Honkoshin-machi, Kagoshima City, themed on Kagoshima's seas, from Kinko Bay to the Nansei Islands. It displays about 800 species, and the large Kuroshio tank with its whale shark and the dolphin programs are popular. It's about 15 minutes by streetcar from Kagoshima-Chuo Station, making it easy to drop by while sightseeing in the city.
AquariumKyushu ・ Sasebo & Huis Ten Bosch
An aquarium in Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort in Sasebo. It focuses on sea life from the Kujukushima Islands, and its jellyfish exhibit and dolphin shows are popular. The Kujukushima sightseeing boat pier is in the same resort, so you can enjoy it together with a cruise.
AquariumKyushu ・ Fukuoka & Dazaifu
An aquarium themed on the seas of Kyushu, located at Uminonakamichi in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka City. It mainly shows sea life from the four seas surrounding Kyushu, and also holds dolphin and sea lion shows and a penguin parade. From Hakata Station it's one transfer by JR, and you can also get there by boat from Bayside Place Hakata.
AquariumKyushu ・ Nagasaki
An aquarium specializing in penguins, keeping 9 of the world's 18 penguin species. It's said to keep the most penguin species in the world and has one of Japan's largest penguin pools. Admission is an affordable ¥800 for adults, and it can be reached by bus from central Nagasaki.
Botanical gardenKyushu ・ Miyazaki & Nichinan
A park on a hill overlooking the Nichinan coastline, known for its seven Moai statues, reproduced with permission from the Council of Elders of Easter Island. The highlights are the Moai standing with their backs to the sea and the views across the spacious grounds. It's about 40 minutes by car from Miyazaki Airport and can also be reached by local bus from Miyazaki Station.
AquariumKyushu ・ Takasakiyama, Oita
An aquarium near Mt. Takasaki in Oita City, themed on becoming friends with animals. Performances by dolphins, walruses, and others are held many times a day, and you can get close to the animals. It can be reached by bus from Beppu Station and Oita Station, making it easy to combine with sightseeing in Beppu.
AquariumOkinawa ・ Motobu & Churaumi
This aquarium sits in Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa Island. Its exhibits trace the creatures of Okinawa’s waters in sequence, from coral reefs out to the open ocean. It’s about 2 hours by car or about 2.5 hours by express bus from Naha Airport.
Theme parkOkinawa ・ Nakijin / Nago
An immersive, nature-themed park that opened in July 2025 near the Yanbaru forest in northern Okinawa Island. Set on vast grounds that were once a golf course, it offers a dinosaur safari, aerial attractions, a spa with spectacular views, and restaurants serving Okinawan ingredients.
ZooOkinawa ・ Okinawa City
A facility in Okinawa City that combines a zoo with a hands-on museum. With the outdoor Animal Zone and the indoor Wonder Museum, it's fun rain or shine. Admission is free for ages 15 and under.
Botanical gardenOkinawa ・ Okinawa City
An outdoor botanical garden in Okinawa City, officially named "Churayashi Park Okinawa Southeast Botanical Gardens." You can see about 1,300 species of tropical and subtropical plants, and an evening illumination is usually held from autumn through spring.
ZooOkinawa ・ Nago
A zoo in Nago City whose official name is Nago Nature Botanical and Zoological Park. It uses what is said to be Japan's largest flying-cage system, and many animals roam freely in the park. Walking through areas themed on Africa, South America, and Oceania, you can experience how close you get to the animals.
AquariumOkinawa ・ Tomigusuku
An aquarium inside the iias Okinawa Toyosaki shopping center, about 20 minutes by car from Naha Airport. Opened in 2020, it combines spatial effects using video and light with hands-on encounters with marine life. It's open until 19:00, making it easy to drop by on your arrival day or before departure.
Theme parkOkinawa ・ Nanjo
A theme park in Nanjo City in the south of Okinawa Island, centered on the Gyokusendo limestone cave. Besides exploring the cave, you can watch Eisa dance and try crafts in the Ryukyu Kingdom castle town lined with old houses, visit the Habu Museum Park, and experience Okinawa's nature and culture all in one place. It's about 30 minutes by car from Naha Airport.
Hours, prices and access are based on official and other primary sources. They may change, so check the official website before you go.
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