Miyajima Public Aquarium (Miyajima Marine)
An aquarium built around the Seto Inland Sea, with 380 species in its tanks.
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Miyajima Public Aquarium (Miyajima Marine)
SaveAn aquarium built around the Seto Inland Sea, with 380 species in its tanks.
Visitors touch penguins and seals, and the doctor fish had a 4-year-old and a 10-year-old equally hooked.
MoreWhat kind of place
The aquarium stands inside Setonaikai National Park, which covers the Seto Inland Sea, and its exhibits are built around that water: more than 15,000 animals across 380 species.
It holds 1,873 tons of water in all, close to half a million gallons, and 350 tons of that sits in the largest tank, the Yuttari tank.
It opened on August 1, 2011, in a building given a Japanese look so that it blends into the scenery of Miyajima.
The nickname Miyajima Marine was picked from 1,360 entries in a public naming contest, and the logo pairs a finless porpoise, the aquarium's signature animal, with a maple leaf.
Sources and evidence (27)
- The food and drink counter on the second floor, Miyajima Marine Kitchen, is open from 9:00 to 16:30, with last orders at 16:00 for food and 16:15 for drinks.source
- The facility overview also lists parking as two spaces for visitors with disabilities.source
- There are paid coin lockers in two sizes. The 16 small ones, 39 by 35 by 42 cm deep (about 15 by 14 by 17 inches), cost 100 yen, and the 12 large ones, 53 by 35 by 42 cm deep (about 21 by 14 by 17 inches), cost 200 yen.source
- The feeding and backstage tour has stairs.source
- The aquarium sits inside Setonaikai National Park, the park that covers the Seto Inland Sea, and its exhibits are built around that sea.source
- The aquarium keeps more than 15,000 animals across 380 species.source
- It runs 1,873 tons of water in all, close to half a million gallons, and its largest tank, the Yuttari tank, holds 350 of those tons.source
- The main building and the marine mammal building are two-story reinforced concrete, the viewing pool is a single-story reinforced concrete structure with some steel framing, and the Hatsukoi-an building is single-story steel frame.source
- The exterior was given a Japanese design so that it blends into the scenery of Miyajima.source
- The aquarium's guiding ideas are comfort and contact with living things.source
- The nickname Miyajima Marine was chosen from 1,360 entries in a public naming contest held for the renovation.source
- The aquarium's logo pairs a finless porpoise, its signature animal, with a maple leaf.source
- Miyajima Public Aquarium, known as Miyajima Marine, had its grand opening on August 1, 2011.source
- The summer of 2026 marks 15 years since the grand opening, and the aquarium is running anniversary events.source
- The sea lion show is held at the live pool on the first floor, and after the 13:00 show on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays you can have your photo taken with a sea lion.source
- At penguin touch time, in the hands-on area on the first floor, you can touch a Humboldt penguin directly and watch it up close.source
- Penguin touch time is at 11:30 and 14:00 on weekdays, and at 10:45 and 14:15 on weekends and holidays. Those times took effect on June 27, 2026 and hold until further notice.source
- In summer, from May 1 to September 30, the rocky shore area on the first floor holds a wading session where you step into the touch pool and look at shoreline creatures; anyone joining should bring a change of clothes and a towel.source
- In winter the same spot holds a petting session with the creatures of the rocky shore.source
- Seal touch time is held in front of the seal pool on the first floor, where you can touch a seal and feel its coat.source
- At archerfish shooting time you can watch archerfish take aim and shoot down food above the water.source
- During fish feeding time, on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only, a diver goes into the Yuttari tank and feeds the fish underwater.source
- During fur seal walk time, on weekdays only, a fur seal walks from the Hatsukoi-an building over to the live pool.source
- The research room on the first floor, the Setouchi Laboratory, holds short talks where a keeper teaches visitors about the animals.source
- Four Asian small-clawed otter pups were born to the pair Myoga and Gumi on July 11, 2026, and went on view from July 30.source
- The aquarium's otter pups spend most of the day nursing inside their nest box, so you will not see them out in the open; a monitor in front of the otter tank shows a live view of the inside.source
- A joint stamp rally with Asazoo runs through November 30, and collecting a stamp at both places gets you an original button badge.source
With kidsThe part that matters
At this aquarium kids get to touch the animals, not just look at them through glass.
At penguin touch time, in the hands-on area on the first floor, a child can put a hand on a Humboldt penguin, and there is a seal touch time in front of the seal pool.
Walking the exhibits takes about an hour and a half, or closer to two if you wait around for those.
The nursing room next to the first-floor information desk has a diaper changing table, and staff will bring hot water for formula if you ask, so a feed doesn't send you back to your room.
You can bring a packed lunch to eat on the rooftop plaza, or, if you would rather eat out on the island, have a staff member stamp your hand on the way out and you can come back in the same day.
Sources and evidence (4)
- In at 11 with an 8- and 10-year-old, out in an hour; the elder joined the sea lion ring toss. 25 min walk from the pier.source
- Nursing room beside the 1F information desk: two curtained seats, hot water on request, a microwave for baby food.source
- The 25-minute walk from the pier is too far for small children: the Maple Liner shuttle or a taxi takes 10 minutes.source
- The island was five times busier than expected, but crowds thinned nearer the aquarium; touch pools won the day.source
By age0-1 / 2-3 / 4-6
- Ages 0-1Children under four get in free. The largest tank, Yuttari Suisou, holds 350 tonnes — big enough that a baby in your arms can follow the fish crossing it. On weekdays there is Fur Seal Walk Time, when a fur seal walks from Hatsukoi-an to the Live Pool and passes close by.There is one nursing room, beside the ground-floor information desk, with a diaper changing table in it. Ask a staff member if you need hot water for formula. Changing tables are also in the multipurpose toilets on both floors and in the men's and women's toilets alike. Strollers can be borrowed, but numbers are limited. The only parking here is two accessible spaces. Admission tickets take neither credit cards nor e-money, so bring cash (the museum shop takes VISA, Mastercard and transport IC cards). You can re-enter as many times as you like the same day, so stepping out to feed or nap is fine — ask and they stamp you with blacklight ink. The aquarium is closed from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027.
- Ages 2-3At Penguin Touch Time, in the ground-floor Fureai Hiroba, a child touches a Humboldt penguin directly. At Seal Touch Time, in front of the ground-floor Hireashi Pool, they feel a seal's coat. Not just looking through glass — there are set times in the day for touching with your hands.Penguin Touch Time is at 11:30 and 14:00 on weekdays, 10:45 and 14:15 at weekends and on public holidays — time your entry around it. In summer, 1 May to 30 September, Splash Time runs at the ground-floor Fureai-no-Iso, where children step into the touch pool to look at shoreline creatures, so bring a change of clothes and a towel if you plan to join (in winter the same spot runs Stroke Time instead). Reckon on about an hour and a half for the exhibits, about two hours with events and the shop. You may bring food and drink, but eating while viewing is discouraged: eat on the rooftop plaza or at the Live Pool, outside sea lion show times, and on a wet day the roofed seating at the Live Pool is available. The aquarium is closed from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027.
- Ages 4-6At weekends and on public holidays, Otter Touch Time lets a child touch an Asian small-clawed otter, and after the 13:00 sea lion show there are photos with the sea lion. At Archerfish Shooting Time you watch an archerfish take aim and shoot down food above the water. At the Setouchi Laboratory on the ground floor, the Fun Creature Lecture has a keeper talking about the animals.Otter Touch Time is capped, and you have to take a reservation card put out near the Fureai Hiroba around 15:00 — decide in advance who goes for it and when. The sea lion show can be capacity-limited when busy, so take a seat early. The backyard on the Feeding & Backyard Tour has stairs. Event times can change or be cancelled. Admission is 400 yen for a child aged four to pre-school, free under four, and tickets are cash only. Until 30 November there is a joint stamp rally with Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park — collect a stamp at both and you get an original badge. The aquarium is closed from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027.
By weatherRain, heat, cold
- Rainy daySeeing the indoor exhibits takes about an hour and a half. The rooftop plaza where you eat a packed lunch is outdoors, but in rain you may also use the roofed spectator seats at the Live Pool, outside sea lion show times.
- Hot dayNot checked yet
- Cold dayNot checked yet
Time needed1–2 h
How was it with your kids?
Not greatGreat
- ElevatorElevator：not checked
- Stroller OKStroller friendly：with conditionsconditions
- RentalStroller rental：not checked
- NursingNursing space：with conditionsconditions
- ChangingDiaper changing table：with conditionsconditions
- Family WCFamily restroom：with conditionsconditions
- Own foodOutside food allowed：with conditionsconditions
- EnglishEnglish support：not checked
* Other not checked (3)
Diaper disposal bin, Kids' toilet seat & step stool, Indoor / outdoor
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
In at 11 with an 8- and 10-year-old, out in an hour; the elder joined the sea lion ring toss. 25 min walk from the pier.
Is Miyajima Aquarium worth it for elementary schoolers? An honest review with an 8- and a 10-year-old
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Nursing room beside the 1F information desk: two curtained seats, hot water on request, a microwave for baby food.
Nursing rooms and changing tables at Miyajima Public Aquarium
Japanese · opens translatedGuide
The 25-minute walk from the pier is too far for small children: the Maple Liner shuttle or a taxi takes 10 minutes.
Miyajima Public Aquarium with little ones
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
The island was five times busier than expected, but crowds thinned nearer the aquarium; touch pools won the day.
The best part of our Hiroshima and Miyajima trip with the children was the aquarium
Miyajima Public Aquarium (Miyajima Marine) · Links & reads ▾
Where to go next
Where it is
10-3 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima 739-0534source
Before you go
- The aquarium is closed from December 1, 2026 through March 31, 2027.source
- The aquarium lends wheelchairs and strollers, but there are only a few of each.source
- Pets cannot be brought inside, even in a cage or a carrier.source
- Entry to the sea lion show is sometimes limited when it gets crowded.source
- Events sometimes start at a different time or are called off.source
More notes (3)
- If you plan to leave and come back, staff will mark your hand with ink that shows under black light, and you can re-enter as many times as you like that day.source
- Photos and video for personal use are allowed, but flash is not permitted in some exhibit areas, to protect the animals.source
- Otter touch time, on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays only, lets you touch an Asian small-clawed otter; numbers are limited, so pick up one of the reservation cards put out near the hands-on area around 15:00.source
Basics
- Fee：General admission (including high-school students) ¥1,420, junior-high ¥710, elementary school ¥710, and small children ¥400. 'Small children' means age 4 up to school age — under 4 is free. Groups of 20 or more pay ¥1,140 / ¥570 / ¥570 / ¥320. Annual passes are ¥3,560 / ¥1,730 / ¥1,730 / ¥1,010 and let you in as often as you like for a year from the day you buy one at the aquarium window. Admission tickets are cash only; the museum shop takes VISA, Mastercard and transport IC cardssource
- Hours：9:00-17:00, last admission 16:00. The aquarium is closed for the whole period from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027. From 13 to 16 August 2026 it stays open an hour longer, until 18:00 (last admission 17:00)source
- Time to allow：1–2 hsource2
- Booking：No booking is needed for individual visits; groups of 20 or more submit a group booking form. Admission tickets cannot be paid for by card or e-money — bring cash. If you want to come back the same day, staff stamp your hand with black-light ink and you can re-enter as often as you likesourceOfficial booking site ↗
Basics in detail (14)
- Walking the exhibits takes about an hour and a half, or about two hours if you sit in on events and stop at the shop.source
- Admission is 1,420 yen for adults, and high school students pay the same adult rate.source
- Admission is 710 yen each for junior high school and elementary school students.source
- Admission is 400 yen for preschool children.source
- The preschool rate covers children aged 4 up to school age, and children under 4 get in free.source
- Groups of 20 or more pay 1,140 yen for adults, 570 yen each for junior high and elementary school students, and 320 yen for preschool children.source
- An annual pass costs 3,560 yen for adults, 1,730 yen each for junior high and elementary school students, and 1,010 yen for preschool children.source
- The annual pass is good for one year from the day you buy it, lets you come as often as you like, and is sold at the aquarium's ticket window.source
- Credit cards and electronic money are not accepted for admission tickets, though the museum shop takes Visa, Mastercard, and transit IC cards.source
Once you've decided
evidence & sources (5)
The aquarium stands inside a national park, and its displays center on the Seto Inland Sea around it — some 380 species. The largest tank holds 350 tons of water, and on weekends a diver goes in to feed the fish. Set times through the day let you touch penguins and seals; in summer, children can step into the tide pool. Four otter pups born in 2026 stay mostly in their nest box, shown live on a monitor by the tank.
| Stroller friendly | Yes | Wheelchairs and strollers are lent out, but numbers are limited. The aquarium's own parking lot has only two accessible spaces, so most families arrive on foot from the ferry | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | miyajima-aqua.jp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing space | Yes (1) | A nursing room next to the information desk on the 1st floor. Ask a member of staff if you need hot water for formula | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | miyajima-aqua.jp |
| Diaper changing table | Yes | A changing table in the nursing room beside the 1st-floor information desk, plus changing tables in the multi-purpose toilets and in both the men's and women's toilets on the 1st and 2nd floors | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | miyajima-aqua.jp |
| Family restroom | Yes | Multi-purpose toilets on both the 1st and 2nd floors, each with a changing table | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | miyajima-aqua.jp |
| Outside food allowed | Yes | You may bring food in, but not eat while walking round the tanks — use the rooftop plaza or the Live Pool (except during the sea lion show). On a wet day the covered seating at the Live Pool works too. There is also a food and drink corner, Miyaji Marine Kitchen, on the 2nd floor, open 9:00-16:30 (last orders 16:00 for food, 16:15 for drinks) | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | miyajima-aqua.jp |
| Diaper disposal bin | Not checked yet | ||||
| Kids' toilet seat & step stool | Not checked yet | ||||
| Elevator | Not checked yet | ||||
| English support | Not checked yet | ||||
| Indoor / outdoor | Not checked yet |