What is SUMIDA AQUARIUM?
Sumida Aquarium is located directly under the Tokyo Skytree in Sumida-ku, Tokyo, and was built in conjunction with the opening of the Tokyo Skytree.
Located on the 5th and 6th floors of Tokyo Skytree Town, a shopping and dining complex, it is completely indoors and can be enjoyed on rainy days and in any season. It is also a great place to stop by when sightseeing at Skytree Tembo Deck, Tokyo Solamachi, or nearby Asakusa.
The attraction of Sumida Aquarium is that you can get very close to the creatures. You will be surprised at how close you can get to them. The exhibits are also very photogenic, and many of the cute-looking creatures, such as penguins and spotted garden eels, are very popular, especially among young women. The facility also offers a variety of experience programs for children to enjoy.
The aquarium is divided into eight areas in total. One of the features of the aquarium is that there is no sequential route. You can look around the aquarium in any direction, or you can take your time to observe your favorite area.
There is also a store that sells original goods and souvenirs, and a café with an original menu named after the aquarium’s creatures.
Eight areas in the aquarium
- Natural Aquascape area: express the great nature surrounding the water into a small aquarium
- Jellyfish area: Immersive experience from the ‘everyday life’ to the fantastic ‘extraordinary’ world
- Coral Reef area: meet marine life in the rich coral reefs
- Penguins area: take a peek into the lives of penguins
- Fur Seals area: observe the lively swimmers
- Ogasawara Sea Life: feel the sea of World Heritage Site of the Ogasawara Islands
- Edo-rium: beautiful goldfish and Japanese style space
- Aqua Base: watch the food preparing time for creatures
[Spot Name] Sumida Aquarium
[Official website] https://www.sumida-aquarium.com/en/index.html
Things to Do
Let’s observe the daily lives of unique penguins
The “Penguins area,” where penguins live in an indoor pool with a water volume of about 350 tons, one of the largest in Japan, is known as the main attraction of the Sumida Aquarium. The “magellanic penguins” living in this area are characterized by the two black lines on their chests.
Their cute appearance as well as their gestures have attracted many fans and there is even a fan club for them. They are also known for having the most curious personalities among all penguins and may even entertain you with their comical movements at times.
The aquarium has a two-story atrium: on the fifth floor you can see the penguins swimming from the side as well as from below, and on the sixth floor you can watch them from above the tank. When you see the penguins up close, each one moves in a different way and is full of uniqueness and cuteness.
Each of the many penguins has a name, named after food and plants. You can identify the penguins by the color of the rings on their arms, so please try to find your favorite penguin.
The lighting in the Sumida Aquarium is bright during the day and dim at night, allowing creatures to live as naturally as possible. This also applies to the penguin area. During the daytime, you can see penguins swimming and moving energetically while at nighttime, you’ll have the opportunity to see them resting and sleeping.
The season of romance begins around February or March each year in preparation for the spring spawning. The sight of male and female creatures being together is such a cute and should not be missed. Baby penguins are also born every year. Be sure to pay attention to the penguins’ love story and their life as a couple.
Enjoy the marine world of the Ogasawara Islands, a World Heritage Site
Ogasawara Sea Life
“Ogasawara Sea Life” is the largest tank in the aquarium. Ogasawara Islands is located 1,000 km away from the center of Tokyo, even though the islands are part of Tokyo.
The sea of the Ogasawara Islands, a World Natural Heritage site, are deep, dark, and clear blue. It is also a treasure trove of rare fish and other creatures.
Ogasawara Sea Life has a two-floor atrium: on the fifth floor you can view the tanks from the same level as the fish, and from the sixth floor you can look down on the tanks.
Also, if you go around to the back of the Ogasawara Aquarium, you will find a section called “Aqua Scope,” which is lined with small round windows. Visitors can look into the tank as if they are diving beneath the sea.
Full of goldfish! Fantastic Japanese space
Edo-rium
As the name suggests, “Edo-rium” is one of the largest goldfish exhibition areas in Japan, where visitors can see many beautiful goldfish swimming in a fantastic Japanese-style space with the theme of Edo. There are a variety of goldfish, from the kind you might see at a Japanese festival to the rarest.
The aquarium is designed to be viewed not only from the side but also from above. Enjoy observing the goldfishes with various angles.
An “extraordinary” space with countless jellyfish floating
Jellyfish Area
Among the many photogenic spots in the aquarium, the jellyfish area stands out the most. It has doubled in size since its renovation in 2020 and has been transformed into an even more extensive exhibit. The sight of beautiful jellyfish in various shapes and sizes floating in the water is mesmerizing. The gradually changing lighting creates a space where visitors can step into an “extraordinary” world.
The highlight of the jellyfish area is “Big Schale”, a 7-meter-diameter open-top, oval basin-shaped tank. It’s allowing visitors to enjoy the experience of taking a closer look at the fine details of the jellyfish’s body without the barrier of glass.
Another unique feature of the aquarium is that all 700 jellyfish of about 14 species were born at Sumida Aquarium. The aquarium has been raising jellyfish from babies for many years.
A close look at the mysterious creatures, the spotted garden eel
The Coral Reef area on the 6th floor is home to the spotted garden eel, with a total of approximately 300 individuals with three different species of eels.
The way they sway with the water flow, withdraw into the sand, and emerge again is interesting to watch.
Three different types of eels have distinct patterns and facial features, making it interesting to compare them and take the time to observe each one.
If you are lucky, you can even see their feeding time. When small plankton is placed in the tank, they stretch their bodies out and wait for the plankton to come near them.
Aqua Base to learn more about the aquarium
In the “Aqua Base” area, visitors can take a close-up look at the backyard of the aquarium, which is usually closed to the public, and learn more about the animals in the aquarium and the work of the aquarium staff. This area consists of two parts: the “Lab” and the “Kitchen”.
In the “Lab” zone, visitors can observe the growth process of jellyfish from birth to adulthood. The aquariums are divided into tanks for each stage of growth, so visitors can actually see and compare the growth of the jellyfish. All jellyfish in the aquarium are bred in this laboratory. They are working to increase the number of jellyfish by carefully nurturing each one, which grow in different ways and eat different kinds of food depending on their species.
There is also a “kitchen” zone where visitors can closely observe the staff preparing food for the penguins and fur seals. They even adjust the amount of food based on the condition of the animals depending on the days.
Enjoy Tokyo Skytree and Tokyo Solamachi
If you visit Sumida Aquarium, you should also visit Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Solamachi and Planetrium “TENKU”, which are located nearby.
Visiting Tembo Deck in Tokyo Skytree is especially recommended! There is “SKYTREE® ENJOY PACK Sumida Aquarium Plan”, which includes admission tickets to the Tokyo Skytree and Sumida Aquarium. For more details, please click here.
Tokyo Solamachi is home to more than 300 diverse stores, including not only popular fashion brands, but also stores and gourmet spots where you can experience the culture of oldtown Tokyo. It is recommended to enjoy shopping and dining here before or after your visit to the aquarium.
In Tokyo Solamachi, there is also the planetarium “TENKU,” which brings together the most advanced technologies. The screenings are varied, ranging from the dramatic to the soothing, and include collaborations with animation, making it enjoyable for both children and adults. The films screened change depending on the time of day and the season.
Please refer to the official website below for more information on the business hours and details of each facility.
[Spot Name] Tokyo Skytree
[Official website] https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/
[Spot Name] Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck, Tembo Galleria
[Official website] https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/ticket/individual/
[Spot Name] Tokyo Solamachi
[Official website] https://www.tokyo-solamachi.jp/en/
[Spot Name] Tokyo Skytree Tembo Deck, Tembo Galleria
[Official website] https://www.tokyo-skytree.jp/en/ticket/individual/
Facility Information
Business hours and ticket information
*Information as of 14/09/2023. Please check the official website for details.
[Business hours]
Weekdays: 10am-8pm
Saturday, Sunday and holidays: 9am-9pm
No closed days (open all year round)
*Admission may be closed due to maintenance or events at the aquarium.
[General Admission Fee]
Tickets can be purchased on-site on the day of the visit, or advance tickets can be purchased and entered with a smartphone without waiting in line, both for the same price.
Advance tickets are available for specific dates on weekdays and for both dates and times on weekends, holidays, and specific days. You may enter the aquarium 5 minutes after purchase (no time limit for exiting, and no cancellations allowed).
- Adult (Aged 18 and over): 2,500 yen
- High school students (Age 15-17): 1,800 yen
- Junior High School and Elementary School Students (Age 6-14): 1,200 yen
- Children (Aged 3 and over): 800 yen
*Click here for details on advance tickets.
[Address] 5-6F, TOKYO SKYTREE TOWN Solamachi1-2, Oshiage 1-chome, Sumida Ward,Tokyo
[TEL] 03-5619-1821 (9am to 6pm)
[Parking] No parking lot
[Offical Website] Sumida Aquarium
Access Information
By train
- Just a short walk from “Tokyo Skytree Station” on the Tobu Skytree Line
- 5 minutes walk from “Oshiage (SKYTREE) Station” of Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Keisei Oshiage Line and Toei Subway Asakusa Line
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there a dedicated parking lot for the Aquarium?
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No, the Aquarium does not have its own parking lot. So please use parking lots in the surrounding area. However, none of the nearby parking lots are exclusive use of aquarium visitors and affiliated with Sumida Aquarium.
- Is it safe to bring children?
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Strollers are allowed in the aquarium. There are also two nursing rooms equipped with hot water supply and eight diaper-changing stations, so you can visit with your small children.
- How long does it take to look around the Sumida Aquarium?
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If you only want to take a look, the typical duration is in about one and a half hours. Because the aquarium does not have a sequential route, it is possible to focus only on the areas you want to see. If you want to stop by a cafe and spend some time relaxing, it is recommended that you allow enough time for that as well.
