Io World Kagoshima Aquarium

The Kuroshio Tank features a whale shark swimming leisurely, while the “Sea of the Nansei Islands,” modeled after the coral reefs of Amami, exhibits the creatures of the surrounding area. In addition, there is “The Sea of Kagoshima,” which recreates Kinko Bay and the sea around Kagoshima. In addition to these exhibits, visitors can also see the world’s largest freshwater fish, the pirarucu, sea otters, and dolphins. Come and meet these wonderful sea creatures in this fun aquarium.

The aquariums in Kagoshima offer a wide variety of fascinating facilities and captive species. The following is a partial list of the main facilities and the animals kept at the aquarium.

Kuroshio Ocean “Kuroshio Tank”: With a water capacity of 1,500 tons, this aquarium exhibits whale sharks, tiger sharks, mud eels, white sharks, sturgeon, bluefin tuna, bonitoes, mackerel fishes, and more.

The Nansei Islands Sea: Tamarins, spermfishes, butterfly fish, snappers, corals, sea ferns, etc. are on display.

Sea of Kagoshima: hawksbill crabs, moray eels, spiny lobsters, flathead flounders, spiny lobsters, Japanese sardines, catsharks, etc. are on display.

Observation Hall: A whole-body skeleton of a Pseudobagrus ichikawai is on display, offering a panoramic view of Sakurajima on the other side of the island.

There is also a section on the Satuma Haorimushi, seaweed and fish, a freshwater tank, the life of a jellyfish, a tank for giant eels, and a cafeteria.

Dolphin Pool: A dolphin tank where visitors can watch dolphins feeding free of charge.

Visitors can also interact with starfish and sea cucumbers at the amusement store and touch pool.

The whale shark “Yuyuyu” is being bred in the aquarium. The 1,500-ton Kuroshio Tank is not large enough, so the “Kagoshima method” is used to return whale sharks to the wild before they reach 5.8 meters in growth. When returning the whale sharks, they are fitted with a transmitter to track their migration route and assist in their return to the wild. Yuyuu” is kept in the Kuroshio Aquarium and is a popular attraction for visitors.

A full-body skeletal specimen of a very rare whale, the Pacific white whale, is on display in the observation hall on the fifth floor. This whale skeletal specimen is a specimen of an individual that drifted ashore in Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture in 2002, and it is a rare and special exhibit where visitors can observe a full-body skeletal specimen.

In addition, the Jellyfish Corridor opened in 2017 and is the world’s first exhibit of amagasa jellyfish, which live in the deep sea. Furthermore, in 2020, a ray that had been bred as the Tongari Sakata Shark for 23 years since the aquarium opened was identified as a new species, the Mononoke Tongari Sakata Shark, attracting attention as a new species discovered in the waters around Japan.

The aquarium is located from the fifth floor to the second basement, and visitors can walk along a route to view the exhibits. Dolphin shows are also held at certain times of the day. Enjoy interacting with a variety of fascinating creatures.