Located on the Hiyoriyama Coast in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan, Kinosaki Marine World is an aquarium that combines marine life exhibits with exciting entertainment and hands-on attractions. Visitors can observe fish and marine mammals, enjoy dolphin and sea lion shows, experience activities that recreate the sensation of diving underwater, and even interact with dolphins and other sea creatures.
One of the aquarium’s most unusual attractions is its fishing pond, where visitors can catch horse mackerel and have their catch freshly prepared as tempura on the spot. This combination of wildlife encounters, live performances, and interactive activities makes Kinosaki Marine World an appealing destination for families and travelers looking for more than a conventional aquarium visit.
Kinosaki Marine World offers a variety of live performances featuring dolphins and sea lions, along with sea lion diving demonstrations and penguin walks. These entertaining presentations give visitors a closer look at the animals’ natural abilities and distinctive behaviors.
The aquarium also features attractions designed to create the feeling of being immersed in the underwater world. At the interactive area known as DIVE, visitors can encounter marine creatures at close range and enjoy experiences that bring them closer to the ocean environment.
The FISHING area offers a memorable activity that combines fishing with dining. Visitors can catch horse mackerel in a dedicated fishing pond and take their catch to the adjacent Aji Bar, where it is prepared as tempura. The experience is both a fun challenge and an opportunity to enjoy the fresh flavor of fish caught by hand.
SEA ZOO houses a diverse collection of freshwater and marine creatures, including walruses and Steller sea lions. One of its notable exhibits features a giant salamander, among the largest specimens currently kept in Japanese aquariums and zoos.
The spacious tanks allow visitors to observe aquatic animals at close range, offering an introduction to the diversity and wonder of life in the water. Outdoor pools also provide opportunities to see marine mammals and penguins.
Opened in 2012, TUBE features animals such as Steller sea lions, spotted seals, harbor seals, Humboldt penguins, and king penguins. Visitors can observe these animals in their habitats and enjoy presentations showcasing their behavior and abilities.
SEA LAND is the venue for popular dolphin and sea lion performances. The animals featured include Pacific white-sided dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, South American sea lions, walruses, and Humboldt penguins.
Through these live shows, visitors can appreciate the animals’ intelligence, agility, and distinctive personalities while learning more about the relationships between marine animals and their trainers.
The DOLPHIN TANK area primarily presents educational shows about the lives and behavior of Pacific white-sided dolphins. The aquarium also conducts a breeding program for these dolphins, with presentations explaining aspects of their reproduction, development, and training.
As the dolphins grow and develop, the educational content and demonstrations offer visitors new opportunities to learn about these intelligent marine mammals.
The DIVE area consists of three sections: DIVE HALL, ROCK FIELD, and DOLPHIN COVE. Together, they provide a variety of interactive experiences inspired by the marine environment.
In 2017, the attraction formerly known as Dive Adventure was renewed as Fish Dance, featuring a school of approximately 500 yellowtail swimming together alongside projected imagery. The synchronized movement of the fish creates an impressive spectacle.
At ROCK FIELD, visitors can touch intertidal creatures such as sea urchins and starfish. The area also offers a free fish-feeding activity, allowing guests to observe fish living among rocky coastal habitats at close range.
At the dedicated fishing pond, visitors can try their hand at catching horse mackerel. The fish can then be taken to the adjacent Aji Bar and served as freshly prepared tempura.
This distinctive attraction combines the excitement of fishing with the pleasure of tasting a freshly caught meal, making it one of the aquarium’s most memorable experiences.
Kinosaki Marine World is home to a wide range of aquatic animals, from large marine mammals to fish and coastal species. Its collection includes giant salamanders, Pacific white-sided dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, Steller sea lions, spotted seals, harbor seals, Humboldt penguins, king penguins, walruses, California sea lions, and South American sea lions.
Visitors can also see Japanese spider crabs in the aquarium’s tanks. The different exhibits provide opportunities to compare the characteristics and habitats of animals living in freshwater, coastal waters, and the open sea.
Kinosaki Marine World is accessible by public transportation from Kinosaki Onsen Station on the JR San’in Main Line. From the station, take a Zentan Bus bound for Hiyoriyama and get off at the final stop, which is just a short walk from the aquarium. Buses generally operate two to three times per hour, making the aquarium convenient to visit during a stay in the Kinosaki Onsen area.
Kinosaki Marine World is more than a place to observe marine animals. Its lively performances, interactive exhibits, and distinctive fishing experience offer visitors a variety of ways to discover the wonders of the sea. Combining a visit with a stroll through the atmospheric hot spring town of Kinosaki Onsen or an excursion along the scenic Sea of Japan coast makes for a rewarding day in northern Hyogo Prefecture.
9:00-17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
(Opening hours may change during GW, summer, and Bon vacation periods)
Adults 2,600 yen
Child (elementary/junior high school student) 1,300 yen
Infants (3 years old and up) 650 yen
About 10 minutes by Zentan Bus from JR Kinosaki Onsen Station.
About 70 minutes by car from Bantan Interchange Road or Kita-Kinki Expressway “Wadayama IC