Kobe Suma Sea World is a modern aquarium in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, where education and entertainment come together in an engaging experience known as “edutainment.” Visitors can discover the fascinating world of marine life through spectacular animal performances, interactive exhibits, and opportunities to observe aquatic creatures up close. One of its biggest attractions is its orca performance, making the aquarium a particularly exciting destination for families and marine-life enthusiasts.
The facility also features educational areas incorporating digital technology and a beach-style area where visitors can interact with dolphins. From learning about the behavior of marine animals to enjoying impressive performances, guests of all ages can deepen their understanding of the ocean while having fun.
Kobe Suma Sea World carries forward the legacy of the former Kobe Municipal Suma Seaside Aquarium, affectionately known as “Suma-Sui.” Located in Suma Seaside Park, the original aquarium was a much-loved attraction for generations of residents and visitors. It closed on May 31, 2023, bringing its long history to an end.
The site was subsequently redeveloped as part of a major revitalization project and reopened as the privately operated Kobe Suma Sea World on June 1, 2024. The new facility builds on the area’s aquarium heritage while introducing modern exhibits and new ways for visitors to experience marine life.
The history of the former Suma Seaside Aquarium began on May 10, 1957, when Kobe Municipal Suma Aquarium opened. Initially managed by the Kobe City Transportation Bureau, it became an important attraction for the city and its visitors.
In 1987, the original facility was demolished and replaced by a new aquarium, later known as Kobe Municipal Suma Seaside Aquarium. The new complex was among the pioneers of large-scale aquariums in Japan and became widely popular for its innovative exhibits and diverse collection of aquatic animals.
In 1987, the aquarium welcomed approximately 2.4 million visitors in a single year, setting a national attendance record at the time. The record was later surpassed by Tokyo Sea Life Park in 1990 and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan in 1991.
The Suma Seaside area was also registered as part of Minato Oasis Suma, a waterfront community development initiative. The former aquarium played an important role in attracting visitors to the surrounding coastal district.
In 2019, as plans to rebuild the aging aquarium moved forward, a film titled Suma-Sui was produced to preserve the memories and history of the original facility. The film documented the aquarium’s significance to the local community and helped pass its legacy on to future generations.
The former Suma Seaside Aquarium was known for its pioneering achievements in aquatic animal care and exhibition design. In 1977, it became the first institution in the world to successfully breed the longnose gar. It was also the first aquarium in the Kansai region to exhibit sea otters, introducing visitors to animals that were rarely seen in the area at the time.
One of the former aquarium’s signature attractions was the Wave Tank, a large tank equipped with a wave-generating system. Measuring 25 meters across the viewing frontage and holding approximately 1,200 tons of water, it was notable for its innovative design, which was described as a world first. Visitors could observe sharks, sea turtles, and other marine animals in a vast aquatic environment.
The Amazon Pavilion featured what was described as Japan’s first tubular underwater tunnel, allowing visitors to experience the sensation of walking through an aquatic habitat. Among the animals on display were arapaimas, enormous freshwater fish native to the Amazon Basin.
The Fish Live Theater featured a tunnel aquarium filled with schools of piranhas. The immersive design allowed visitors to observe these fascinating fish from close range while learning about their behavior.
The Forest Aquarium was divided into two buildings, each featuring distinctive freshwater habitats. The North Building housed lungfish and Japanese giant salamanders in partially underground tanks, while the South Building displayed Asian arowanas. The South Building was inherited from the earlier Suma Aquarium and represented part of the site’s original history.
The former Sea Otter Pavilion offered feeding demonstrations, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about the animals’ behavior and daily care. The Dolphin Live Pavilion, which opened on March 27, 1989, hosted dolphin shows every day, becoming one of the aquarium’s most popular attractions.
Other facilities included sea turtle and penguin pools, specimen exhibition rooms, the Warakuen Exhibition Hall, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop. Together, these attractions made the aquarium a comprehensive destination for learning about marine and freshwater life.
Beginning in 2008, the former aquarium introduced an unusual winter attraction by placing kotatsu, traditional Japanese heated tables, in front of the Wave Tank. Visitors could sit beneath the warm tables while watching sharks and sea turtles swim through the water.
The aquarium also exhibited mangrove killifish with assistance from a professor at Nagasaki University’s Faculty of Fisheries. In addition, it accepted university students from various parts of Japan for internships, contributing to education and the development of future marine science professionals.
The former Kobe Municipal Suma Seaside Aquarium was completed in 1987. Its design was undertaken by Kobe City and Daiken Sekkei, an architectural design firm. The building had a total floor area of approximately 12,505 square meters and consisted of three above-ground floors and one basement level.
Its structure combined steel-reinforced concrete and reinforced concrete. The exhibition tanks held approximately 3,100 tons of water in total, including outdoor tanks. The facility stood at 1-3-5 Wakamiya-cho, Suma-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.
The history of public aquariums in Kobe dates back to 1895. To support the Fourth National Industrial Exhibition held in Kyoto, Kobe City established the Wada Misaki Aquatic Animal Exhibition Facility at Warakuen, an amusement park in the Wada Misaki area. This facility is regarded as an early milestone in the development of full-scale public aquariums in Japan.
In 1897, the city expanded the facility and operated it as Warakuen Aquarium during the Great Japan Fisheries Exposition. It was notable for having what was described as Japan’s first full-scale filtration system. Its exterior reportedly featured an unusual Indian-inspired design, making it an innovative attraction for its time.
In 1930, Minatogawa Aquarium was built in Minatogawa Park to coincide with the Kobe Port Exposition. However, as the Second World War intensified, the aquarium closed in 1943. The building was subsequently destroyed during the Great Kobe Air Raid in 1945.
Kobe’s aquarium tradition resumed in 1957 with the opening of Suma Aquarium. The facility later developed into Kobe Municipal Suma Seaside Aquarium, becoming one of the city’s best-known family attractions.
The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck on January 17, 1995. Although the former Suma Seaside Aquarium’s buildings suffered no major structural damage, the power outage that followed stopped its filtration systems and hot-water supplies. As a result, many aquatic animals died.
This disaster highlighted the importance of reliable backup systems and emergency preparedness in facilities that care for living creatures. The experience had a lasting influence on how the aquarium approached operations and animal care.
Kobe City eventually decided to privatize and redevelop the former Suma Seaside Aquarium. A corporate group that included Sankei Building and Granvista Hotels & Resorts was selected as the preferred negotiating partner for the redevelopment project.
The result was Kobe Suma Sea World, which opened on June 1, 2024. Combining the area’s long aquarium heritage with contemporary exhibits, animal encounters, and educational experiences, the new attraction continues Kobe’s tradition of bringing visitors closer to the wonders of aquatic life.