Tokyo Sea Life Park 葛西臨海水族園

The Tokyo Sea Life Park was completed in 1989 as a project to mark the 100th anniversary of Ueno Zoological Gardens in 1882. Featuring a signature glass dome, 30.7 meters high and seemingly floating above surrounding Tokyo Bay, it is a landmark venue for all lovers of aquatic life. Visitors can enjoy and discover around 600 species of fish and sea birds, as well as a range of innovations rarely found elsewhere. These include the tide pool tank, where visitors can touch seashore creatures, and one of Japan's largest penguin habitats.

The aquarium is easily accessible from Tokyo Station via the JR Keiyo Line. It's a 5-minute walk from Kasai Rinkai Park Station.

The glass dome at the Tokyo Sea Life Park, was designed by the internationally renowned architect Yoshio Taniguchi. The unmistakable structure stands out from a distance, at a height of 30.7 meters above the ground.

On entering, visitors can take in the showpiece exhibit of the park – a 2,200-ton donut-shaped tank, which houses a large school of tuna. But what will really wow you is how fast they swim around it in an awesome display of aquatic power. The visually impressive structure replicates the open ocean environment and also houses schools of sardines and hammerhead sharks.

The outdoor section houses four species of penguins, including Humboldts, Southern Rockhoppers, King penguins, and Fairy penguins, which can be observed on land and swimming through the water. The venue, which encompasses a wave pool and large rocky mountains, also features other seabirds, such as puffins. The cliffs include nesting holes for breeding.

A trip to this aquarium will prove fascinating for any visitor keen to know more about the creatures that populate the waters of Tokyo Bay. On display are myriad marine life from the subtropical Ogasawara islands, the Izu Islands, and the tidelands of Tokyo Bay. The bright indoor room, bathed in natural sunlight, is a great place for visitors to observe the fish up close or to watch the aquarium keepers at work.

Throughout the park, freshwater creatures that once inhabited the Tokyo area are exhibited in environments similar to their natural habitats.

Visitors to the Freshwater Life Pavilion can see crucian carp and bitterlings swimming in the "Pond and Swamps" tank, and cherry trout and Japanese dace swimming against the strong currents of the "Mountain Streams" tank. The aquarium complex is also home to mudskippers, Japanese lobsters, flap　nose rays, purple sea urchins, and an abundance of jellyfish.

There are guided tours that explain the creatures based on specific themes while sea life specialists bring the park to life. During staff presentations, breeders describe how the exhibited forms of sea life behave, explain the ecosystem around them, and share exciting anecdotes.

The park is nestled within the much larger 77.8-hectares of Kasai Rinkai Park. The complex also includes a plaza lawn and a giant 117-meter-high Ferris wheel. Visitors can also enjoy cruising on the Water Bus, or even hop over to Tokyo Disney Resort—just one stop away on the JR Keiyo Line. A feast of fun for all ages awaits.