Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
An aquarium on the Nagoya port pier, where orcas train in public.
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Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
SaveAn aquarium on the Nagoya port pier, where orcas train in public.
In the South Building's big tank a shoal of sardines spirals to music and light, and even babies follow it.
MoreWhat kind of place
The aquarium stands on a pier in Nagoya Port and is run by the Nagoya Port Foundation, a public-interest body. There are two buildings, the North with two floors and the South with three.
Between them they hold about 500 species and 50,000 animals, most from the sea and some from rivers and ponds.
Alongside the exhibits, the aquarium runs research into protecting and breeding sea turtles, and the orcas' training sessions are open for visitors to watch.
Sources and evidence (41)
- There is no ATM inside the aquarium.source
- A stroller rents for 100 yen a day and is meant for children aged 7 to 24 months.source
- Ask for a rental stroller at the general information desk by the North Building entrance.source
- There is no microwave for warming baby food.source
- The whole aquarium is barrier-free.source
- The aquarium does not hold luggage, so use the coin lockers instead.source
- The coin lockers are to your left as you enter the North Building, and further along in the connecting passage.source
- Coin lockers cost 400 yen for extra-large, 300 yen for large, and 200 yen for small.source
- The extra-large lockers measure 86 cm high, 50 cm wide, and 53 cm deep, and are in the connecting passage.source
- Free Wi-Fi called Nagoya-aqua works throughout the aquarium.source
- The smoking area is outside the building, on the south side of the South Building exit.source
- A public telephone stands beside the entrance to the restaurant Arribada on the second floor of the South Building.source
- Guide dogs, hearing dogs, service dogs, and other assistance dogs may come in with you.source
- Pets other than assistance dogs cannot come in, and the aquarium does not look after them.source
- You can re-enter as many times as you like on the day of your visit, and staff stamp the back of your hand as you leave.source
- Re-entry is allowed until one hour before closing.source
- Visitors are asked not to use whistles, which get in the way of the animals' training.source
- You are free to take photos and video inside.source
- For lost property, ask the staff at the general information desk by the North Building entrance or call 052-654-7080.source
- For the Obon period, August 8 to 16, 2026, the aquarium says the ticket booths can have waits of 20 to 30 minutes or more, especially in the morning.source
- The aquarium is made up of the North Building, which has two floors, and the South Building, which has three.source
- About 500 species and 50,000 animals are kept and displayed, mostly from the sea and some from rivers and ponds.source
- The dolphin performance takes place in the stadium on the third floor of the North Building.source
- The dolphin performance runs 20 minutes.source
- Events run at different spots around the aquarium, among them the dolphin performance, the orca training session open to visitors, penguin feeding time, and the sardine tornado.source
- The sardine tornado is one of the events held inside.source
- At the touch tank on the first floor of the South Building, you can put your hands on hermit crabs, starfish, sea urchins, and other animals that live on the coast near Nagoya.source
- Volunteer staff at the touch tank help visitors take a closer look.source
- The touch tank currently runs on an irregular schedule.source
- Hands-on learning programs for children include one called Can You Become Doctor Dolittle? and another called the Darwin Class for children who want to know more.source
- Both hands-on learning programs have to be booked in advance.source
- A booklet called the observation notebook is handed out on weekends and public holidays only, to the first 50 elementary and junior high school students.source
- The aquarium carries out research aimed at protecting and breeding sea turtles and other aquatic animals.source
- Questions for the keepers are taken at the general information desk on the second floor of the North Building.source
- The baby beluga is not on view at the moment, because it was moved to hand-rearing.source
- The restaurant Arribada is on the second floor of the South Building.source
- The food terrace Tortoise is on the third floor of the South Building.source
- There are kiosks at Shiokaze Plaza on the second floor of the North Building and at the third-floor stadium.source
- The museum shops are on the first floor of the South Building and the second floor of the North Building.source
- There are two photo studios, Orca Studio on the second floor of the North Building and Penguin Studio on the third floor of the South Building, with prints from 1,500 yen including tax.source
- The aquarium stands on Garden Pier in Nagoya Port, next to the Nagoya Port Building, the Antarctic research ship Fuji, the Port House, and the JETTY complex.source
With kidsThe part that matters
Seeing the whole aquarium takes two to three hours with the dolphin performance, and if your kids fade partway, you can step outside and come back the same day on the same ticket: get your hand stamped on the way out, and be back at least an hour before closing.
In the South Building's big tank, a school of sardines spirals to music and light, and even the smallest kids follow it with their eyes.
Strollers rent for 100 yen a day for children aged 7 to 24 months, but the number is limited, so ask at the general information desk just inside the North Building entrance as you arrive, while some are still left.
Each building has a baby room for nursing and diaper changes, so whichever building you are in, feeding and changing are on that side.
The aquarium closes on Mondays, or on the Tuesday when that Monday is a public holiday, and the hours change with the season, so check the official hours and event calendar before you fix the date and you won't turn up on a closed day.
Sources and evidence (5)
- A regular's order: North, then the sardines in the South, then back to North 2F. Two to three hours; five with shows.source
- With a baby in a stroller: right after the dolphin show the elevators and exit jam up, so they switched to a carrier.source
- With a nine-month-old, 10:30-15:15. Weaning food on the covered terrace off North 2F; lunch at Sugakiya, re-entry OK.source
- A sweltering Saturday: get Arribada's numbered ticket at 10:00, they text your phone, and it thins out after 14:00.source
- A summer visit: mornings packed, afternoons calmer, and the dolphin show's front row left them soaked to the waist.source
By age0-1 / 2-3 / 4-6
- Ages 0-1The whole aquarium is barrier-free and both buildings have wheelchair-accessible elevators, so a stroller rolls through the North and South buildings. Dolphin performances, the orca training session open to the public, penguin feeding time, and the sardine tornado run at spots around the building, and a baby in your arms can watch.A stroller can be rented for 100 yen once a day, for children aged 7 to 24 months; ask at the general information desk inside the North Building entrance (in-building use only, limited number). Baby corners are on the 2nd floor of each building, and the North Building one has facilities for making formula. There is no microwave for warming baby food, so bring something that can be eaten as it is. Folding baby sheets are in every accessible restroom, and there are 11 multipurpose restrooms (5 in the North Building, 6 in the South).
- Ages 2-3At the Touch Tank on the 1st floor of the South Building, children put their hands on hermit crabs, starfish, and sea urchins that live on the coast near Nagoya, with volunteer staff helping them look. The stadium on the 3rd floor of the North Building runs a 20-minute dolphin performance, and there is penguin feeding time and the sardine tornado as well.The Touch Tank currently opens on an irregular schedule. You may re-enter as many times as you like on the day of your visit (a stamp is put on the back of your hand as you leave, up to one hour before closing), so you can step outside for a break. Food you bring in can be eaten at Shiokaze Plaza in the North Building (outdoors) and the stadium seating on its 3rd floor (outdoors, under a roof). Balloons, bouncy balls, and anything else that could fall into the animal pools are not allowed in, to keep the whales and dolphins from swallowing them. The route is long, so wear shoes that are easy to walk in.
- Ages 4-6Two hands-on learning programs are aimed at children: "Can You Become Dr. Dolittle?" and "Darwin Class: I Want to Know More." At the Touch Tank on the 1st floor of the South Building, they can put their own hands on hermit crabs, starfish, and sea urchins. The orca training session is open to the public, so they see the everyday care work as it happens.Both hands-on programs require booking in advance. The Kansatsu Note booklet is handed out only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, first 50 copies, to elementary and junior high students, so preschoolers are not among the recipients. Seeing the whole aquarium including the dolphin performance (about 15 minutes) takes two to three hours, and watching every show takes four to five, so decide which shows you want first. Over the Obon holidays the ticket booths can have lines of 20 to 30 minutes or more, especially in the morning, so buy ahead through Ticket Pia, a convenience store, or an e-ticket.
By weatherRain, heat, cold
- Rainy dayThe exhibits are inside the two-floor North Building and the three-floor South Building. The 3rd-floor stadium seating in the North Building, where the dolphin performance is held, is outdoors under a roof, and Shiokaze Plaza in the North Building, where you can eat food you brought, is outdoors.
- Hot dayNot checked yet
- Cold dayNot checked yet
Time needed2–5 h
How was it with your kids?
Not greatGreat
Family checks✓ easy for your family
- ElevatorElevator：with conditionsconditions
- Stroller OKStroller friendly：with conditionsconditions
- RentalStroller rental：with conditionsconditions
- NursingNursing space：with conditionsconditions
- ChangingDiaper changing table：with conditionsconditions
- Family WCFamily restroom：with conditionsconditions
- Kids' toiletKids' toilet seat & step stool：with conditionsconditions
- Own foodOutside food allowed：with conditionsconditions
- EnglishEnglish support：with conditionsconditions
Tap a mark for details
* Other not checked (6)
Diaper disposal bin, Indoor / outdoor, Child switch (rider swap), Official family-friendly certification, Best-fit ages (guide), Quietness (guide)
Green = we confirmed it. Gray = not checked yet. Gray with a line through = the place does not have it.
Worth a look before you go
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
A regular's order: North, then the sardines in the South, then back to North 2F. Two to three hours; five with shows.
A visit report from the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium: the route we recommend and how long it really takes
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
With a baby in a stroller: right after the dolphin show the elevators and exit jam up, so they switched to a carrier.
Is the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium hard to get around with a stroller? Things worth knowing before you go with kids
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
With a nine-month-old, 10:30-15:15. Weaning food on the covered terrace off North 2F; lunch at Sugakiya, re-entry OK.
Reviewing the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium with a baby: how long it takes, strollers, weaning food and lunch
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
A sweltering Saturday: get Arribada's numbered ticket at 10:00, they text your phone, and it thins out after 14:00.
On a busy day at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, bring your own lunch and use the wait
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
A summer visit: mornings packed, afternoons calmer, and the dolphin show's front row left them soaked to the waist.
MiraiNet: at the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium · Links & reads ▾
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Where to go next
Where it is
1-3 Minatomachi, Minato-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 455-0033source
Before you go
- Rental strollers can be used inside the aquarium only, and the number available is limited.source
- Balloons, bouncy balls, and anything else that could end up in the animal pools are not allowed in, because the whales and dolphins may swallow them.source
- The official website publishes a crowd forecast calendar for the year under news and announcements.source
- The home page of the official website shows how busy the aquarium is today.source
- The roads and parking lots nearby are expected to be busy on weekends, public holidays, and through the tourist season.source
More notes (7)
- Tickets are sold at the ticket counter on the second floor of the North Building.source
- You can also buy tickets in advance through Ticket Pia, at convenience stores, or as electronic tickets.source
- Visitors using discount tickets, and Aichi residents aged 65 and over, buy at the second-floor ticket counter in the North Building so their documents can be checked.source
- Admission tickets bought at the aquarium's own ticket counter have no expiration date.source
- Wheelchairs are lent free of charge, for use inside the aquarium only, and the number available is limited.source
- Tripods, monopods, selfie sticks, stepladders, step stools, and drones are not allowed.source
- From August 1 to November 30, 2026, three of those neighbors are closed: the Nagoya Port Building, the ship Fuji, and the Port House.source
Basics
- Hours：Usually 9:30-17:30. During Golden Week and the summer holidays (late July through August) it stays open to 20:00, and in winter (December to mid-March) it closes at 17:00. Last admission is always one hour before closing. Closed on Mondays (the following day when the Monday is a public holiday), but open every day during Golden Week, July to September, the New Year period and the spring school holidays. Hours vary by season — the official opening-hours and event calendar is the one to check.source
- Time to allow：2–5 hsource
- Booking：Tickets are sold at the ticket counter on the second floor of the North Building, and can also be bought in advance at Ticket Pia, convenience stores or as e-tickets. Nothing on the official pages says individual visitors have to book. People using a discount voucher, and Aichi residents aged 65 and over, must buy at the counter so their documents can be checked. Groups of 20 or more need to reserve by phone or fax between six months and one week ahead.source
- Note: three neighboring Garden Pier facilities — the Nagoya Port Building, the Antarctic research ship Fuji and Port House — are closed from 1 August to 30 November 2026.source
Basics in detail (27)
Hours and closures
- Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for most of the year, with last admission an hour before closing. Hours change by season.source
- During Golden Week and the summer holiday period, from late July through August, hours run 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.source
- In winter, from December through mid-March, hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.source
- Hours change with the season, so check the official hours and event calendar before you go.source
- Last admission is one hour before closing, whatever the season.source
- The aquarium is closed on Mondays, and when a Monday falls on a public holiday it closes the following day instead.source
- It stays open every day during Golden Week, from July through September, over the New Year period, and during the spring school break.source
Other
- The aquarium is run by the Nagoya Port Foundation, a public-interest foundation.source
- The ticket counter takes credit cards, including VISA and JCB.source
- The ticket counter takes transit e-money such as manaca and TOICA.source
- The shops and restaurants inside each accept different payment methods.source
Time to allow
Fees
- A disability certificate — on paper or in the Mirairo ID app — gets you a reduced admission rate.source
- Group rates apply to groups of 20 or more, with a separate rate for groups of 100 or more.source
- Annual passports are applied for online before your visit and collected on the day at the group reception beside the second-floor ticket counter in the North Building.source
Getting there
- It is a five-minute walk from Exit 3 of Nagoyako Station on the Meiko subway line.source
- Coming by Meitetsu or JR train, change to the Meiko subway line at Kanayama and ride to the last stop, Nagoyako.source
- Two parking lots serve general visitors, Garden Pier Parking on the east side of the aquarium and Garden Pier West Parking on the north side, each about a five-minute walk away.source
- Parking costs 100 yen per 30 minutes for a car, with a cap of 1,000 yen per 24 hours.source
- There are eight accessible parking spaces next to the aquarium on its north side, given out first come, first served.source
- There is no drop-off space in front of the aquarium.source
- By car it is about 10 minutes from the Minatomei exit of the Nagoya Expressway.source
- The aquarium recommends public transport for visits on weekends and public holidays.source
- Because of the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Games, the Garden Pier parking lots are being changed from April 1 to December 31, 2026, with replacement lots of the same capacity secured.source
Contact
- The address is 1-3 Minatomachi, Minato-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 455-0033.
- The main phone number is 052-654-7080.
Once you've decided
evidence & sources (13)
- Official: Stroller friendly, Stroller rental, Nursing space
- Official: English support, Crowding (guide)
- Official: Stroller friendly, Stroller access notes
The aquarium stands on Garden Pier at the port of Nagoya, in two buildings holding some 500 species. Dolphins perform in the third-floor stadium of the North Building. Orca training, penguin feeding and a tornado of sardines run at points around the site. On some days a touch tank on the South Building's first floor lets children handle hermit crabs and starfish from nearby beaches. The whole place is step-free, and strollers are lent for indoor use.
| Stroller friendly | Yes | The aquarium lends strollers for use inside the building, so a stroller is fine indoors. The whole place is barrier-free, and every building has an elevator sized for wheelchairs. Note there is no drop-off space in front of the aquarium: the parking lots are a five-minute walk away. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jpnagoyaaqua.jp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroller rental | Yes | 100 yen for one rental a day, for children aged 7 to 24 months. Usable inside the building only, and the number available is limited. Ask staff at the General Information desk by the North Building entrance. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| Nursing space | Yes (2) | Two baby corners, on the second floor of the North Building and the second floor of the South Building. The North Building one can be used to make up formula. There is no microwave for warming baby food. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| Diaper changing table | Yes | Changing sheets are in the multipurpose toilets and in the nursing rooms, and folding baby seats are in every accessible toilet in the building. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| Kids' toilet seat & step stool | Yes | The multipurpose toilets are fitted with a child toilet seat, along with handrails and a baby chair. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| Family restroom | Yes (11) | Eleven multipurpose toilets — five in the North Building, six in the South. Each has handrails, a baby chair, a child toilet seat, a changing sheet, a sanitary box and a bin; some also have a universal changing bench, ostomate facilities and a privacy curtain. There is an accessible toilet on every floor, and ostomate users are directed to the one on the second floor of the South Building. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| Elevator | Yes | Every building has an elevator sized for wheelchairs; the aquarium states it is barrier-free throughout. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| Steps & slope caution | Barrier-free | The aquarium states the whole building is barrier-free, with wheelchair-sized elevators in each building and accessible toilets on every floor. Wheelchairs are lent free (inside only, limited number). | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| Outside food allowed | Yes | Food you bring can be eaten at Shiokaze Plaza in the North Building (outdoors) and in the stadium seating on the third floor of the North Building (outdoors, under a roof). The vending machine corner at the old South Building entrance on the second floor is for drinks only — no bento there. Drinking water anywhere in the aquarium is allowed for heat protection, standing still rather than while walking. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| English support | English menu & signs | The in-house leaflet comes in English, Chinese and Korean, and the official site switches between Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese. Whether staff speak English is not stated. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jpnagoyaaqua.jp |
| Crowding (guide)Extra info — guide only | Yes | A guide, from the aquarium itself: it publishes a yearly crowding forecast calendar in its news section, and shows the day's crowding on the top page. For the Obon period (8-16 August 2026) it warned that the ticket booths can mean a wait of 20-30 minutes or more, especially in the morning, and asked visitors to buy e-tickets or convenience-store tickets in advance. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jpnagoyaaqua.jp |
| Lost-child supportExtra info — guide only | Yes | Ask any nearby staff member, or the General Information desk at the North Building entrance; the main phone number is 052-654-7080. (The aquarium describes this as its lost-property route.) | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jp |
| Stroller access notesExtra info — guide only | Yes | Four things worth settling before the gate. Getting there: Nagoya Port station on the Meiko subway line, exit 3, five minutes on foot; by car, ten minutes from the Minatomei interchange. Parking: two public parking lots, Garden Pier and Garden Pier West, both a five-minute walk (100 yen per 30 minutes, capped at 1,000 yen per 24 hours); eight accessible spaces adjoin the north side, first come first served. Because of the 2026 Asian Games the Garden Pier parking lots are being changed between 1 April and 31 December 2026, with replacements of the same capacity. Luggage: nothing is held for you, but coin lockers stand to the left of the North Building entrance and along the connecting passage (small 200 yen, large 300, extra-large 400 — the extra-large, 86 by 50 by 53 cm, is in the passage). Re-entry: as often as you like on the day, using a stamp on the back of your hand, up to one hour before closing. | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | nagoyaaqua.jpnagoyaaqua.jp |
| Diaper disposal bin | Not checked yet | ||||
| Indoor / outdoor | Not checked yet | ||||
| Child switch (rider swap) | Not checked yet | ||||
| Official family-friendly certificationExtra info — guide only | Not checked yet | ||||
| Best-fit ages (guide)Extra info — guide only | Not checked yet | ||||
| Quietness (guide)Extra info — guide only | Not checked yet |
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