Toba Aquarium
The only aquarium in Japan keeping dugongs, said to be the animal behind mermaid legends.
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Toba Aquarium
SaveThe only aquarium in Japan keeping dugongs, said to be the animal behind mermaid legends.
The world's first transparent tube over the water lets you watch sea lions and seals from inside it.
MoreWhat kind of place
Toba Aquarium is laid out as twelve themed zones, from a coral reef and a polar sea to Japanese rivers and a room of odd creatures set up like a research lab.
It is the only aquarium in Japan that keeps dugongs, the sea mammal long said to lie behind mermaid legends. The clear walk-through tube over the sea mammal pool was the world's first built above the water.
The marine gallery holds sixteen skeletons from fifteen species, mostly sea mammals, plus eight taxidermy mounts.
Sources and evidence (27)
- The baby room is between the dugong zone (H Corner) and the Plaza Shop, and it can be used for nursing and diaper changes.source
- The baby room has three private nursing rooms.source
- There are two diaper-changing beds in the baby room.source
- The baby room provides hot water for formula.source
- Men can go into the diaper-changing area, but the nursing rooms are for women only.source
- The hot water for formula comes from the drinking-water hot pot.source
- Disposable diapers (pull-up type, size L) and wipes are sold at the Plaza Shop next door.source
- Diaper-changing beds are also fitted in the restrooms throughout the building.source
- To use the first-aid room, speak to the information desk, which will point you to a nearby medical clinic if needed.source
- There are coin lockers, for a fee, on the second floor.source
- The building is divided into twelve themed zones, and you can walk them in any order you like.source
- The building is fully covered, so you can go around without an umbrella; you only need one if you use the multi-story parking garage.source
- Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside.source
- You can re-enter on the same day, with a clear stamp pressed on your hand as you leave.source
- There is free aquarium Wi-Fi, along with Docomo, au, and SoftBank Wi-Fi.source
- The TV monitors placed around the building show the time.source
- Credit cards are accepted, single payment only.source
- Assistance dogs (guide, service, and hearing dogs) may come in when they show that they are on duty; dogs in training are not admitted.source
- This is the only aquarium in Japan that keeps dugongs, the sea mammal said to lie behind mermaid legends, and one zone is given over to them.source
- In the sea mammal zone you walk inside a clear tube over the water, the world's first, and watch sea lions and seals from close up.source
- The twelve zones, A through L, are the performance stadium, the sea mammal kingdom, the ancient sea, coral reef diving, the seas of Ise-Shima and Japan, the jungle world, the forest of miracles, the mermaid sea, the polar sea, Japanese rivers, the strange creatures lab, and the water corridor.source
- The strange creatures lab gathers animals with unusual shapes and habits in a room styled like a research laboratory.source
- In the sea lion show, the aquarium's popular sea lions perform alongside their keepers.source
- Times are posted for the penguin walk and for the walrus meet-and-touch session.source
- Times are posted for the sea otter feeding.source
- A whole corner is given over to crayfish, set up as a place where children can learn and adults can feel a little nostalgic.source
- The marine gallery displays sixteen skeletons from fifteen species, mostly sea mammals, plus eight taxidermy mounts from eight species.source
With kidsThe part that matters
The whole building is under cover, so you can walk its twelve zones in any order you like without an umbrella, rain or not.
In the sea mammal zone, kids walk into a clear tube over the water and watch sea lions and seals swim past.
Strollers are lent free in the entrance hall, but there are only twenty and they cannot be reserved, so take one on your way in rather than walking back for it later.
The baby room, between the dugong zone and the Plaza Shop, has three private nursing rooms, two diaper-changing beds, and hot water for formula.
Families spend about three to five hours here, and a stamp pressed on your hand as you leave lets you step outside for a break and come back the same day.
Sources and evidence (5)
- Their timed 11:55-17:00 route with a 4-year-old and baby. At the sea lion show, stroller parking on the right is quiet.source
- Four hours-plus with a 4- and 2-year-old. Aisles stay wide enough for the stroller; Zone G splashes, so bring a change.source
- Bento is allowed: eat it in the show seating between shows, the 2F outdoor area, or on the Bayside Street benches.source
- Midsummer afternoon: in at 14:14, out 2h46 later. Chilled halls get cold, so bring a layer; food orders stop at 16:00.source
- Ten minutes from JR Toba is a long walk on small legs. Nursing room on 2F, three changing spots; eat early for seats.source
By age0-1 / 2-3 / 4-6
- Ages 0-1The aquarium is laid out in twelve themed zones with no set route, so you can move back and forth as the baby's mood goes. Ramps and elevators throughout mean you can see almost every corner with the stroller, and since the building is fully covered you go around without an umbrella even in the rain.The baby room sits between the H corner (dugong) and the Plaza Shop, with three private nursing booths, two diaper changing beds and hot water for formula; men may come in for diaper changes, but the nursing booths are women only. Changing beds are fitted in the restrooms around the aquarium as well. Diapers (pants type, size L) and wipes are sold at the Plaza Shop next door. Strollers are lent free at the entrance hall — 20 of them, no reservations — but for safety they cannot go into the show arena, so park them in the marked space.
- Ages 2-3In the Kingdom of Sea Animals you stand inside the world's first transparent tube above the water and watch sea lions and seals living right beside you. Times are posted for the penguin walk, the walrus meet-and-greet and the sea otter feeding, and the dugong — said to be the animal behind mermaid legends — is kept only here in Japan.Admission is 800 yen for a child from age 3. Strollers cannot go into the show arena, so park one in the marked space and hold your child to watch. To make the penguin walk and the other timed events, the TV monitors around the building show the time. If you need a break outside, get the clear stamp on your hand at the exit and you can come back in the same day.
- Ages 4-6With no set route, a child can choose which of the twelve zones to head for next. The Strange Creatures Laboratory gathers animals with odd shapes and odd ways of living, one corner is given over entirely to crayfish, and the Marine Gallery lines up 16 skeleton specimens of 15 species and 8 taxidermy specimens of 8 species.Admission is 800 yen for a preschool child (3 and over) and 1,600 yen once they are in elementary school. The aquarium is open every day of the year, 9:30 to 17:00 with last entry at 16:00, extended to 9:00-17:30 with last entry at 16:30 in the summer period from 1 to 28 August. One family with a 4-year-old and a baby went in at 11:55 and left at 16:50, so allow half a day. Tickets can be bought online as web tickets or at convenience stores.
By weatherRain, heat, cold
- Rainy dayThe aquarium is all-weather inside, so you can go around without an umbrella. The only time you need one is if you use the multi-story parking garage.
- Hot dayNot checked yet
- Cold dayNot checked yet
Time needed3–5 h
How was it with your kids?
Not greatGreat
- 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
- Own foodOutside food allowed：not checked
- EnglishEnglish support：not checked
* 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
Their timed 11:55-17:00 route with a 4-year-old and baby. At the sea lion show, stroller parking on the right is quiet.
Toba Aquarium turned out to be a lovely aquarium for families — discounts and a full report
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Four hours-plus with a 4- and 2-year-old. Aisles stay wide enough for the stroller; Zone G splashes, so bring a change.
Toba Aquarium: a family guide, including what to watch out for
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Bento is allowed: eat it in the show seating between shows, the 2F outdoor area, or on the Bayside Street benches.
Eating at Toba Aquarium: can you bring a bento? The in-house restaurant menus and food nearby
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Midsummer afternoon: in at 14:14, out 2h46 later. Chilled halls get cold, so bring a layer; food orders stop at 16:00.
Is Toba Aquarium good for families in midsummer? A 2-hour-46-minute afternoon visit, crowds and heat
Japanese · opens translatedFirst-hand
Ten minutes from JR Toba is a long walk on small legs. Nursing room on 2F, three changing spots; eat early for seats.
A family visit to Toba Aquarium in Mie: can toddlers enjoy it? What the place is like with kids
Toba Aquarium · Links & reads ▾
Where it is
3-3-6 Toba, Toba-shi, Mie 517-8517source
Before you go
- Strollers are lent free of charge in the entrance hall; the number is limited and they cannot be reserved in advance.source
- Sixteen wheelchairs and three mobility scooters are available. They cannot be reserved, so ask a staff member when you arrive.source
- Ten priority parking spaces are set aside for people who have trouble walking. They cannot be reserved and go first come, first served.source
- You can buy tickets online in advance, and convenience stores in Japan sell them too.source
- Digital annual passes went on sale on January 1, 2026, and annual passes are now sold online only.source
Basics
- Fee：Adults ¥2,800, elementary and junior-high students ¥1,600, children aged 3 and over ¥800. Groups of 25 or more pay ¥2,600 / ¥1,500 / ¥700. An annual passport costs ¥9,000 / ¥5,000 / ¥2,500 and is valid one year from purchase; since 1 January 2026 it is sold online only. Holders of a disability certificate and one carer pay ¥2,000 / ¥1,200 / ¥600source
- Hours：9:30-17:00, last admission 16:00. Open every day of the year. During Golden Week (2-6 May), summer (1-28 Aug) and Silver Week (19-23 Sep) it runs 9:00-17:30 with last admission at 16:30source
- Time to allow：3–5 hsource23
- Booking：Web tickets can be bought online in advance, and tickets are also sold at convenience storessourceOfficial booking site ↗
Basics in detail (16)
- For safety, strollers cannot go into the show arena; leave yours in the marked stroller spaces.source
- Ramps are placed around the building, but a few spots still require stairs, and at some tanks you cannot get right up to the glass.source
- Ramps and elevators around the building let wheelchairs and strollers reach nearly every zone.source
- A step-free entrance for strollers, wheelchairs, and anyone who has trouble walking is on the main road side, next to the ticket windows.source
- The Bayside restaurant is step-free apart from a few spots, and the Hanasango restaurant is reached by a ramp.source
- The address is 3-3-6 Toba, Toba City, Mie 517-8517, and the phone number is 0599-25-2555.source
- It is about a 10-minute walk from Toba Station on the JR and Kintetsu lines.source
- Admission is 2,800 yen per adult.source
- Admission is 1,600 yen for elementary and junior high school students.source
- Admission is 800 yen for young children, from age three.source
- For groups of 25 or more, admission is 2,600 yen for adults, 1,500 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and 700 yen for young children aged three and over.source
- An annual pass costs 9,000 yen for adults, 5,000 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and 2,500 yen for young children aged three and over, and it is valid for one year from the day you buy it.source
- A holder of a disability certificate (including the certificate for intellectual disability) and one carer pay a reduced 2,000 yen for adults, 1,200 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and 600 yen for young children.source
Once you've decided
evidence & sources (7)
- Official: Stroller friendly, Stroller rental, Nursing space
- Official: Family restroom, Elevator
- Official: Indoor / outdoor
- Official: main site
Twelve themed zones run from A to L with no fixed route, so you can circle back at will. Dugongs, said to be the source of the mermaid legend, are kept nowhere else in Japan. In the Sea Mammal Kingdom a transparent tube crosses the water and sea lions and seals pass around it. The Odd Creatures Lab gathers animals with strange shapes and habits. Sea lion shows, penguin walks and otter feeding times are posted. Everything is indoors, so rain does not spoil the day.
| Stroller friendly | Yes | Free stroller loan in the entrance hall — 20 available, no advance booking. A barrier-free entrance sits beside the ticket window on the national-road side. Strollers cannot go into the show arena; park them in the marked area. Strollers you bring yourself are turned away if they are push-trikes, kick scooters, or large carts and strollers that carry more than one child | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | aquarium.co.jp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroller rental | Yes | Free, 20 strollers in the entrance hall. Numbers are limited and no advance booking is taken | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | aquarium.co.jp |
| Nursing space | Yes (3) | Three private nursing booths in the Baby Room, between the Dugong corner (H) and the Plaza Shop. Hot water for formula is provided from the drinking-water dispenser. The nursing booths are for women only, though men may come in for diaper changes | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | aquarium.co.jp |
| Diaper changing table | Yes | Two changing beds in the Baby Room, and changing beds are also fitted in the toilets around the aquarium. Diapers (pull-up, size L) and wipes are sold at the adjoining Plaza Shop | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | aquarium.co.jp |
| Family restroom | Yes (4) | Four accessible toilets. The one in front of the Dugong corner has a universal changing bed; the one below the entrance hall has an ostomate station | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | aquarium.co.jp |
| Elevator | Yes | Slopes and elevators throughout, so nearly every corner can be seen with a wheelchair or a stroller. A few spots still need stairs, and at some tanks you cannot get right up to the glass | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | aquarium.co.jp |
| Indoor / outdoor | Indoor | All-weather indoors — you can go round without an umbrella (you only need one if you use the multi-story parking garage) | Web-checked | checked Aug ’26 | aquarium.co.jp |
| Diaper disposal bin | Not checked yet | ||||
| Kids' toilet seat & step stool | Not checked yet | ||||
| English support | Not checked yet | ||||
| Outside food allowed | Not checked yet |