Otaru Aquarium

Jaro a month ago

I decided to visit because many online posts said it was an aquarium dedicated to the conservation of marine life. I expected something like the orangutan sanctuary in Sepilok, Borneo, where animal welfare comes first. Unfortunately, while I admire the ideology, the actual application is lacking. The tanks are way too small and outdated and when I reached the second circular room and saw three finless dolphins swimming in circles in a tiny tank I was devastated. They also have a penguin walk, so if you bring kids, that’s a cute thing to see.

mRkhong 89 2 months ago

I have mixed feelings about this place, some parts were quite depressingly small and old for some of the animals. But feeding of the seal and dolphins and the penguin stroll was really nice and great for kids. Still room for improvement/renovation. Other than that, it’s probably the most interesting thing in Otaru. Price wise is reasonable.

Zach Lee 3 months ago

Despite it being quite an old aquarium, it was a very enjoyable and educational visit. Look out for the dolphin show, the walrus feeding and the highly disorganized but comical penguin shows. The cafeteria serves very tasty and affordable food so it is a great place for lunch. Note that it is closed for winter though so go during the other seasons. Tickets can be bought on site. Drive there or take the bus from Otaru Station bus terminal.

pinkey sompalli 4 months ago

It’s a must to do if ur in sapporo with kids. It’s an outdoor aquarium so plan accordingly when there is no rain ☔️ or snow ⛄️ There were sea lions 🦭, dolphins 🐬, penguins 🐧 etc There are shows check the timings and go. Penguin 🐧 sea lions 🦭 etc are on the other side of the mountain 🏔️ nearby to the ocean 🌊. It’s so chilly 🥶 so be prepared with warm clothes. Baby Stroller was difficult 😞 to carry upslope and down slope as the road was very steep down but worth the struggle I can say. Dolphin 🐬 show is a must never miss it. There are turtles 🐢 which are so huge, shark 🦈, mantle and other fish 🐠 in the aquarium inside. Entry for Parking 🅿️ area is closed by 15:00 so plan accordingly. Parking fee is 600¥. Parking fee is collected as soon as u park ur car 🚗 ( remember that he doesn’t accept 10,000¥ notes ). They accept only 1000¥ or 5000¥ or exact change. I Suggest to go here by car 🚗 as the access by bus 🚌 and other means of transportation are less convenient.

Andhika Wijaya 7 months ago

While the aquarium is old, it's kinda bigger that what I initially thought, with separate areas for dolphin, penguins, and sea mammals. And the surrounding is pretty scenic too. The main star is the marine mammal park. The distance between each area makes it a bit rough to walk for elderly. Fortunately we found a free transport service that's available to help elderly visitors moving from the marine mammal area to aquarium building.