Meet Japan’s Largest Pool and Approximately 500 Species, 50,000 Marine Creatures

Extremely Popular! The Spectacular Dolphin Performance

The main attraction of the Port Of Nagoya Public Aquarium is the breathtaking dolphin performance held in the ‘Main Pool’ located on the 3rd floor of the North Building. With dimensions of 60 meters in width, 30 meters in depth, and up to 12 meters in depth, the gigantic pool is the stage for the dolphins’ dynamic jumps that will undoubtedly captivate you!

The stadium can accommodate around 3,000 people and is designed so that everyone can have a clear view of the dolphins. Even if the pool is too wide and the dolphins seem far away, there’s no need to worry. Large video screens are set up in front of the stadium, and cameras, three above water and one underwater, follow the dolphins’ swimming in real-time. Missed a moment? Replay videos are also broadcasted.

From the ‘Underwater Viewing Seats’ on the same North Building’s 2nd floor, you can enjoy the dolphin performance through a gigantic underwater observation window, observing their powerful swimming as they prepare to jump. It’s an experience unique to the Port Of Nagoya Public Aquarium, making you feel as if you’re in the sea alongside the dolphins.

The seating area is carpeted, allowing you to sit back and relax comfortably. Whether from above the water or below, the dolphin performance is a must-see from any perspective!

Watch the Public Training Sessions of Orcas and Belugas

In the North Building, not only are there ‘Dolphin Performances,’ but also public training sessions for orcas and belugas. These sessions are made even more engaging with clear explanations from the caregivers about the animals’ ecology!

During the ‘Orca Public Training’ sessions held at the 3rd-floor stadium in the North Building, you can witness the impressive movements of these massive creatures up close. In fact, the Port Of Nagoya Public Aquarium is one of only two places in Japan where you can see real orcas! Their natural behaviors are also introduced with explanatory videos to enhance the experience.

Moreover, from the ‘Sea of Aurora’ area on the 3rd floor of the North Building, you can observe the ‘Beluga Public Training’ sessions from above the water! Unlike dolphins and orcas, belugas have the unique ability to maneuver gracefully despite their large size, a trait adapted from their natural habitat environments. An interesting feature is the hand-operated pump located nearby, where you can touch water at the same temperature as the pool in which the belugas swim.

See, Hear, and Feel the Ecology of Orcas and Belugas!

Nagoya Port Aquarium’s Original! The Fantastical Sardine Tornado

In the South Building, you can follow the route once taken by the ‘Antarctic Observation Ship Fuji,’ moored at the Nagoya Port Garden Pier, and observe creatures living in various waters as it once journeyed towards the Antarctic.

Among the highly recommended areas is the ‘Kuroshio Large Aquarium’ located in the ‘Sea of Japan’ area. Here, you can observe the behavior of sardines as they form schools in search of food. The spectacle of about 35,000 sardines creating a tornado, swimming dynamically as if they were a single organism, is truly mystic and captivating. Behind this mystical scene, the caregivers generate the tornado by suspending weights with food at the end of a rope into the tank and pulling the rope with precise timing. This causes the sardines to swim vigorously towards the food, creating the tornado effect.

Additionally, the ‘Sea of Japan’ area features a ‘Tunnel Aquarium,’ where you can observe leisurely swimming fish from below, and a ‘Micro Aquarium,’ where you can observe small creatures living near Nagoya Port through a camera, both of which are highlights worth seeing.

At the Port Of Nagoya Public Aquarium, visitors can also enjoy ‘Feeding Time,’ where you can watch the creatures eat their meals!

A particularly recommended experience is the Cape penguin feeding time held at the Shiokaze Plaza in the North Building. The penguins come out of their exhibit to receive their food outside, and their waddling walk is extremely popular among visitors!

There are various other feeding times as well. In the South Building on the 3rd floor, at the penguin tank, caregivers explain about the four types of penguins while feeding each one, distinguishing them individually. Similarly, at the Sea Turtle Tank on the 3rd floor of the same building, you can watch sea turtles eat their food while listening to explanations from the caregivers.

These feeding times not only allow you to see the caregivers checking on the animals’ health, making it feel like you’re getting a behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium, but also offer insights into the daily operations. In the Kuroshio Large Aquarium, which was mentioned earlier, the feeding of migratory fish such as mackerel and amberjack involves them swiftly moving to catch slices of fish like mackerel, providing an up-close experience of the marine ecosystem.