The Toba Aquarium is massive, housing the biggest collection of species in Japan totaling nearly 1,200 varieties of marine life. It is known as the only aquarium in Japan with dugongs on display, an animal said to be the origin of the mermaid legend. The building is divided into 12 themed zones where visitors can freely stroll around the exhibits without worrying about going in a certain order. Come see the many different marine creatures such as the sea lions in a popular show at the Performance Stadium, the Marine Mammal Kingdom, where you can see harbor seals and northern sea lions up close in a clear tube, Jungle World, which recreates a tropical rain forest environment where African manatees and capybara live, and the Polar Sea area where you’ll find creatures that live in the coldest areas of the world, such as sea otters and Commerson’s dolphins.

This aquarium is packed with things to see and do, such as Coral Reef Diving, where you’ll see colorful tropical fish and sea turtles swimming amongst vividly colored coral, the Sea of Ise-Shima and around Japan, which introduces the marine life that live in the ocean around Ise Bay and Japan, the Woods of Miracles, which is home to reptiles and amphibians that live near the water, and Japanese River, which recreates the water environments of beautiful Japanese rivers, such as waterfalls and rapids. Each day there are interactive events such as the Penguin Walk, walrus petting time, and feeding time for sea otters, sea lions, and northern sea lions.