Izu Mito Sea Paradise
An aquarium built into a natural cove on Suruga Bay, Japan's deepest.
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Izu Mito Sea Paradise
SaveAn aquarium built into a natural cove on Suruga Bay, Japan's deepest.
In the shallow wading pool, kids chase live fish, and one dad's report has them soaked and thrilled.
MoreWhat kind of place
The aquarium sits in a natural cove, built on the idea that you step into the world of the sea rather than watch it from outside. It faces Suruga Bay, the deepest coastal water in Japan at about 2,500 meters (8,200 feet).
From the show seating you can sometimes see Mount Fuji across the bay. The permanent exhibits hold around 300 species of fish, and the deep-sea tank has a touch pool where you can put a hand on a giant spider crab.
Sources and evidence (22)
- Strollers for children under 24 months are lent free of charge; ask at the ticket counter.source
- Ramps are placed throughout, though a few are steep and a few add a detour.source
- Guide dogs, service dogs and other assistance dogs may enter, carrying the identification Japanese law requires.source
- Staff will put out a paging announcement for a lost child; ask whoever is nearest.source
- The outdoor show area is roofed, so the shows still run on rainy days.source
- The aquarium is built into a natural cove, on the idea that visitors step into the world of the sea rather than watch it from outside.source
- It faces Suruga Bay, the deepest water off Japan's coast, with a wide view of Mount Fuji across the bay.source
- The permanent exhibits hold around 300 species of fish.source
- Suruga Bay reaches about 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) deep, the deepest coastal water in Japan.source
- The big deep-sea tank (DONzoko) comes with a touch pool where you can put a hand on a giant spider crab.source
- The zone called Choizoko gathers creatures that live around 100 meters (330 feet) down.source
- The Fuwa Room, about the size of a small apartment, is where you can take your time watching jellyfish and other drifting creatures from Suruga Bay.source
- Penpara lets you walk into the space where the penguins live, close enough to catch their movements, their calls and their smell.source
- The shows feature big jumps by Pacific white-sided and bottlenose dolphins, plus sea lions and Steller sea lions.source
- Mount Fuji is sometimes visible from the show seating, across Suruga Bay.source
- You can hand food to the sea lions and dolphins at the natural pens (Shizen Shiikujo) and the dolphin cove (Iruka no Umi).source
- At Mitosea Forest there is an event where you touch an otter's fingers and shake hands with it.source
- Mitosea Lab, opened in 2021, lets visitors watch and try the keepers' behind-the-scenes work.source
- The walrus feeding time is described as one of the aquarium's crowd favorites.source
- Izuriba is an exhibit about the rivers of Izu and how they connect to the sea.source
- Children of elementary school age and younger who visit during their birthday month get a birthday gift, in limited numbers each month.source
- A new photo spot, Uchicchi's Room, opened on July 18, 2026.source
With kidsThe part that matters
If your kids run out of patience walking tank to tank, this aquarium breaks up the walk with a ball pit and an indoor sand pit, so they can stop and play without leaving the building.
One shallow pool lets them wade in and chase live fish, and they come out soaked, so pack towels and a change of clothes.
You can carry a packed lunch in and eat it at the tables in the kids' area, which matters here because there is no restaurant on site, only a takeout counter.
The aquarium's own estimate is an hour and a half to two and a half hours, and the same ticket lets you step out and come back in until 30 minutes before closing, so a break outside doesn't cost you the visit.
Sources and evidence (8)
- The indoor kids' area (Mitosea mini Paradise) has hands-on play equipment, a ball pit and an indoor sand pit.source
- At the exhibit called Ajikko Paradise, children dress up as a horse mackerel and play their way through the fish's journey, from the catch to processing, cooking and the dinner table.source
- The indoor sand playground (Sunaasobi Beach) is large and uses antibacterial sand.source
- The water playground (Isoasobi Beach) is a pool you can play in with the fish, and kids come out soaked, so towels and dry clothes are needed.source
- In at 13:06, out at 17:00 with boys of 7, 5 and 2: under four hours covered it all, two shows, feeding, kids' corner.source
- A mother alone with a one-year-old: the aisles are wide enough for a stroller, and it thins out 9-10:00 or around noon.source
- No restaurant: the takeout counter runs to fries, croquettes and churros. Show seats start filling ten minutes ahead.source
- The pool where children chase live fish soaks them — bring towels and a change of clothes. Ball pit and sandbox too.source
By age0-1 / 2-3 / 4-6
- Ages 0-1The Fuwa Room is a one-bedroom-sized space for looking, slowly, at the jellyfish and other drifting creatures of Suruga Bay — a room where you can simply stand still with a baby in your arms. Penpara takes you inside the space where the penguins live, close enough for their movements, their calls and even their smell.Strollers for children under 24 months are lent free at the ticket window, in limited numbers and with no reservations. Diaper changing tables are at the main entrance and in the toilet beside the Dolphin Sea show stage, and Mitosea mini Paradise has both a changing table and a nursing room. Children up to 3 enter free. There are slopes throughout, but some are steep and some take you the long way round. The outdoor show arena is roofed, though parts of the site are not, so bring an umbrella — a few loaners are available. With that day's ticket you may re-enter until 30 minutes before closing.
- Ages 2-3Sunaasobi Beach is a big indoor sandpit, using antibacterial sand. Mitosea mini Paradise packs hands-on play equipment, a ball pool and that indoor sandpit into one corner, so looking at tanks turns straight into moving about. Isoasobi Beach is a shallow pool where the fish are alive and a child can chase them.Isoasobi Beach soaks children through, so bring towels and a change of clothes. Children up to 3 enter free (1,300 yen from age 4). Packed lunches are allowed and can be eaten at the tables, chairs and benches around Mitosea mini Paradise and the Dolphin Sea, and in the seating of the show stadium and the Dolphin Sea show stage. There is no restaurant inside; a takeaway counter beside the show stadium sells curry, pasta, hot dogs and the like. If a child goes missing, any nearby staff member can put out an announcement.
- Ages 4-6At Ajikko Paradise a child becomes a horse mackerel, in costume and through play equipment, and follows the fish from the catch through processing and cooking to the dinner table. The deep-sea tank DON-Zoko has a touch pool with Japanese spider crabs, and at the natural pens and the Dolphin Sea children feed the sea lions and dolphins. In Mitosea no Mori there is a session where you touch an otter's fingers and shake hands.Admission from age 4 is 1,300 yen (1,200 yen through the web ticket site, and answering the survey after adding the LINE account gives a coupon worth another 100 yen off a child ticket). The kids' corner equipment is for children up to third grade, so at this age all of it is still open. Children of elementary age and under who visit in their birthday month get a birthday gift, in limited numbers each month. Reckon on 1.5 to 2.5 hours; one family that took in two shows and a feeding went in at 13:06 and left at 17:00. Penpara is where the penguins live, so watch quietly and do not touch.
By weatherRain, heat, cold
- Rainy dayThe outdoor show arena is roofed, so the shows run even in the rain. Some stretches have no roof, so the aquarium recommends bringing an umbrella; a limited number of loaner umbrellas is also available.
- Hot dayNot checked yet
- Cold dayNot checked yet
Time needed1.5–4 h
How was it with your kids?
Not greatGreat
Family checks✓ easy for your family
- ElevatorElevator：not checked
- Stroller OKStroller friendly：with conditionsconditions
- RentalStroller rental：not checked
- NursingNursing space：with conditionsconditions
- ChangingDiaper changing table：with conditionsconditions
- Family WCFamily restroom：not checked
- Own foodOutside food allowed：with conditionsconditions
- EnglishEnglish support：not checked
Tap a mark for details
* Other not checked (2)
Diaper disposal bin, Kids' toilet seat & step stool
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 13:06, out at 17:00 with boys of 7, 5 and 2: under four hours covered it all, two shows, feeding, kids' corner.
Izu Mito Sea Paradise: Japan's second-oldest aquarium turns out to suit children
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
A mother alone with a one-year-old: the aisles are wide enough for a stroller, and it thins out 9-10:00 or around noon.
Izu Mito Sea Paradise alone with a 1- or 2-year-old: what to do, prices, crowds, parking
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
No restaurant: the takeout counter runs to fries, croquettes and churros. Show seats start filling ten minutes ahead.
Izu Mito Sea Paradise with a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old: the feel of the place and how busy it gets
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
The pool where children chase live fish soaks them — bring towels and a change of clothes. Ball pit and sandbox too.
A dad's report: family time at Izu Mito Sea Paradise, with the kids beside themselves
Izu Mito Sea Paradise · Links & reads ▾
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Where it is
3-1 Uchiuranagahama, Numazu-shi, Shizuoka 410-0295source
Before you go
- Vehicles 2.1 meters (6 ft 11 in) or taller, including campers, may not fit the multi-story lot, so check with an attendant before driving in.source
- The number of strollers is limited and they cannot be reserved.source
- Wheelchairs are also lent free at the ticket counter, in limited numbers and without reservations.source
- Pets may come in only if they stay fully inside a cage or carrier, head included, and they cannot be taken out of it.source
- You cannot go in just to use the gift shop.source
More notes (3)
- Transit IC cards and some other electronic money work here, but you cannot top them up on site.source
- Some stretches have no roof, so the aquarium suggests bringing an umbrella, and a limited number of loaner umbrellas is available.source
- From July 25 to August 31, 2026, the aquarium offers a reservation-only combined plan with a nearby dairy farm park (Oratche).source
Basics
- Fee：¥2,600 for adults (junior high and up) and ¥1,300 for ages 4 to elementary school; free up to age 3. Buying on the web ticket site costs ¥2,400 / ¥1,200. Seniors 65 and over pay ¥2,200 (on-site purchase only, ID needed, not combinable). A LINE coupon takes ¥200 off adults and ¥100 off children. Visitors with a disability, and one carer each, pay half the standard rate. A SEIBU PRINCE CLUB card takes ¥400 off adults and ¥200 off children. Parking is ¥600 per entry (¥1,000 from 8 to 16 August 2026). Prices were revised on 1 April 2026source
- Hours：Open all year in principle, with maintenance closures in winter announced on the official site. Opening hours change with the season — the official home page shows the day's hours, which on 14 August 2026 were 8:30-17:30 with last entry at 16:30. Re-entry is allowed on the same day's ticket, up to 30 minutes before closing. Allow about 1.5 to 2.5 hours to go roundsource
- Time to allow：1.5–4 hsource2
- Booking：Tickets are sold at the ticket window; buying on the web ticket site costs less (show it at the window). Stroller, wheelchair and pet-carrier loans cannot be reserved — ask at the ticket windowsourceOfficial booking site ↗
Basics in detail (26)
Fees
- Regular admission at the gate is 2,600 yen for adults, meaning junior high school age and up.source
- Regular admission at the gate is 1,300 yen for children from age 4 through elementary school.source
- Children age 3 and under enter free.source
- Seniors 65 and over pay 2,200 yen, sold only on site and only with proof of age.source
- Tickets bought on the web ticket site cost 2,400 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for children age 4 through elementary school.source
- Adding the aquarium as a LINE friend and answering its survey gets you a coupon for 200 yen off an adult ticket and 100 yen off a child ticket.source
- Visitors with a disability pay half the regular individual rate, and one caregiver per person also pays half.source
- Showing a SEIBU PRINCE CLUB card takes 400 yen off an adult ticket and 200 yen off a child ticket for ages 4 through elementary school.source
- Admission prices were revised on April 1, 2026.source
- Parking is paid, with room for 300 cars and 15 large buses.source
- Parking normally costs 600 yen per visit, rising to 1,000 yen from August 8 to 16, 2026.source
Other
- There are three parking lots, one multi-story and two at ground level, and staff send you to the ground lots when the multi-story one is full.source
- There is no separate motorcycle lot, so two-wheelers park with the cars.source
- A same-day ticket lets you leave and come back, up to 30 minutes before closing.source
- Paid coin lockers sit beside the main entrance.source
- Smoking is not allowed on the grounds except in the marked smoking areas.source
- Credit cards, including DC, VISA, JCB, SAISON and American Express, are accepted at the ticket counter and the shop.source
- There is no restaurant on site; a takeout counter beside the show stadium sells light meals.source
- The takeout counter serves curry, pasta, hot dogs, fries, ice cream and coffee, among other things.source
- Because Penpara is the penguins' living space, visitors are asked to watch quietly and not touch them.source
Hours and closures
Time to allow
- The aquarium's own estimate for walking the exhibits is one and a half to two and a half hours.source
Getting there
- From Mishima Station, ride the Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line about 20 minutes to Izu-Nagaoka Station, then take an Izuhakone bus for about 25 minutes, so about 45 minutes of riding plus the wait for the bus.source
- By car it is about 30 minutes from the Nagaizumi-Numazu exit on the Shin-Tomei Expressway or the Numazu exit on the Tomei Expressway, by way of the Izu Jukan and Izu Chuo roads to the Izu-Nagaoka exit.source
Contact
- The address is 3-1 Uchiura Nagahama, Numazu, Shizuoka 410-0295.
Once you've decided
evidence & sources (8)
- Official: Stroller friendly, Nursing space, Diaper changing table
- Official: Best-fit ages (guide)
- Official: main site
The permanent displays hold about 300 kinds of fish, and the bay outside drops to 2,500 meters. A deep-sea tank comes with a touch pool where children can handle a giant spider crab. Jellyfish drift in a room of their own, and a walk-through enclosure puts you inside the penguins' living space. Dolphins and sea lions perform, and there are sessions to feed them or shake hands with an otter. Children's areas include an indoor sandbox and a pool where they play with fish.
| Stroller friendly | Yes | Free stroller loan for children under 24 months — ask at the ticket window. Numbers are limited and it cannot be reserved. Ramps are fitted throughout, but some are steep and some routes go the long way round | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | mitosea.com |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing space | Yes | A nursing room in 'Mito-C mini Paradise', the kids' corner | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | mitosea.com |
| Diaper changing table | Yes | Changing tables in the toilets at the main entrance and beside the Dolphin Sea show stage, and in 'Mito-C mini Paradise' | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | mitosea.com |
| Outside food allowed | Yes | You can bring your own lunch. Tables, chairs and benches are in 'Mito-C mini Paradise' and around the Dolphin Sea, and the seating at the Show Stadium and the Dolphin Sea show stage can be used too. There is no restaurant — a takeout counter beside the Show Stadium sells curry, pasta, hot dogs, fries, ice cream and coffee | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | mitosea.com |
| Indoor / outdoor | Indoor & outdoor | The outdoor show arenas are roofed, so shows run in the rain. Some other areas have no roof, so bring an umbrella — a limited number are lent out. Footing gets slippery in the wet | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | mitosea.com |
| Stroller access notesExtra info — guide only | Yes | Free wheelchair loan at the ticket window (limited numbers, no reservations). Ramps are fitted throughout but some are steep or take a longer way round. Guide dogs and other assistance dogs may come in, with the marking required by Japanese law. Coin lockers (paid) are beside the main entrance. Multi-story and two surface parking lots; vehicles over 2.1 m high should speak to staff first | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | mitosea.com |
| Best-fit ages (guide)Extra info — guide only | Yes | The kids' corner play equipment is for children up to Year 3 of elementary school | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | mitosea.com |
| Lost-child supportExtra info — guide only | Yes | Staff can put out a paging announcement inside the building — ask any member of staff | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | mitosea.com |
| Diaper disposal bin | Not checked yet | ||||
| Kids' toilet seat & step stool | Not checked yet | ||||
| Elevator | Not checked yet | ||||
| English support | Not checked yet |
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