One hour from Tokyo by train! Highlights of the Enoshima Aquarium

The Shin-Enoshima Aquarium is located in Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It is only a five-minute walk from Katase Enoshima Station, and there are many sightseeing spots such as Enoshima and Kamakura in the vicinity. It only takes about an hour and a half to get there from Tokyo, and you can feel like you are traveling for a bit.

In this article, I will thoroughly report on the highlights of the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium in each area of the building!

Access to the Enoshima Aquarium

Shin-Enoshima Aquarium（新江ノ島水族館）
Location：2-19-1 Katase Kaigan, Fujisawa City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 251-0035, Japan
Opening hours：Weekdays 10:00-17:00 (last admission 16:00)
Holidays 10:00 – 18:00 (last admission 17:00)
Closed：No (open all year round)
Admission：【Adult】 2,500yen
【High school students】 1,700yen
【Junior high school students and younger】 1,200yen
【Infants (3years and older)】 800yen
※Opening hours vary depending on the season.
Access：5-minute walk from Katase Enoshima Station on the Odakyu Line.

Jellyfish welcome you at Katase Enoshima Station

When you get off the train at Katase Enoshima Station and head towards the ticket gate, the first thing you see is the “jellyfish tank. For a limited time, a jellyfish tank was also installed in Osaka’s Namba subway station and Yokohama station, but in 2020, a jellyfish tank was installed in Katase Enoshima station in cooperation with the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium as part of renovation work.

The circular tank with a diameter of 2 meters has 2.65 tons of seawater flowing in a slow rotating motion and displays about 40 jellyfish.

Incidentally, the company that constructed this tank is Nippura Corporation, which boasts a 70% share of the global market for large acrylic panels for aquariums. Nippura Corporation, which boasts a 70% share of the global market for large acrylic panels for aquariums, is a proud Japanese manufacturing company that has delivered its products to about 60 countries around the world, including the large aquarium where whale sharks are displayed at the Churaumi Aquarium.

I’m very interested in learning more about acrylic panels and Nippura Corporation, so that’s another post for another time!

Katase Enoshima Station is like something out of a fairy tale!

This is Katase Enoshima Station, which has just been renovated in 2020. Before the renovation, the station was known as the “Dragon Palace”, but now the entrance is more rounded and the castle tower has a greater presence.

From the front of the station, you can see the jellyfish tank that I mentioned earlier, and it looks as if jellyfish are swimming around inside the station. The station has evolved into a “fairy tale dragon palace” that looks as if it exists in the sea.

Arriving at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium!

The entrance has a very open feel. The roof covers the entire entrance, so even if you line up on a rainy day, you won’t get that wet. There is also a festive plaza in the center, which is decorated with a Christmas tree when Christmas is near.

By the way, I went at around 10:00 a.m. on a Sunday, and there was already a long line. When I left the aquarium around 1:00 p.m., there was no line at all, so I would recommend going between noon and 1:00 p.m. rather than early in the morning.

It seems to start getting a little crowded after 2pm. As for the museum, except for the food and beverage areas and souvenir stores, I didn’t feel so cramped for the amount of people lined up.

The motif next to the entrance is also very cute

It is easy to pass by the entrance to the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium because you don’t pass by it between the entrance and the exit, but be sure to pay attention to the jellyfish motif next to the entrance.

There is a jellyfish secretly flying in the sky. They are adorable, so be sure to take a picture of them.

Thorough explanation! Points of interest at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium

When you go up the entrance, you will find the Welcome Lounge, where you will find the history of the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium and a floor map. Annual passports are sold at the Welcome Lounge.

The annual passport is good for two admissions, so if you come more than twice a year, the annual pass is a better deal.

When I went to visit this time, there was a collaboration between Bicliman and the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium.

A large water tank suddenly appeared！「Sagami Bay Zone」

The exhibition area begins with the Sagami Bay Zone. Sagami Bay is located near the open sea, where warm and cold currents collide, and is known as a “treasure trove of marine life,” with a wide variety of creatures living from the sandy beaches to the deep sea. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the main exhibition zone of the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium is the area that conveys the charm of Sagami Bay.

The first exhibit area, starting from the entrance, is wide and open, with a flow line that allows visitors to avoid the crowded tanks, so you won’t feel stressed.

It can be a bit depressing when the aquarium is suddenly crowded, but at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium, I didn’t feel like I was missing out.

Also, you can see the big tank as soon as you enter the aquarium, and you can see the whole aquarium from the second floor, which really gets you excited.

Even though there is a floor map of the aquarium, it’s hard to know when you will reach the next area. But when you can see what you are looking for, you can take your time and relax.

I felt that the aquarium was designed in such a way that even people who are not used to visiting aquariums can tour around with peace of mind.

Note the small window behind the large tank.

The Sagami Bay zone is centered around the large aquarium, with a slope leading down from the second floor to the first floor. Just on the other side of the entrance, behind the tank, there is a small window that you can look through as shown in the photo, but this small window was amazing.

This small window was amazing. It was a spherical acrylic glass about 30cm deep, which allowed you to see the entire tank like a wide-angle lens, giving you a more three-dimensional feeling. You can see the whole tank like a wide-angle lens.

In addition, various events are held in the large aquarium at certain times, so be sure to check the pamphlet when you visit.

Interesting how they keep the deep sea creatures!「Deep Sea Ⅰ」

Next to the large tank and past the Sagami Bay zone, we entered the Deep Sea I area. As you can see from the picture, the ceiling of the Deep Sea I area is low and it is a little darker than the other areas. This oppressive feeling seems to express the world of the deep sea.

In order to nurture deep-sea creatures for a long time, the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium recreates the environment of the deep sea in its tanks. The reason why the tank is illuminated in red is to protect the eyes of the fish.

In addition, chemical substances such as hydrogen sulfide and methane gas generated in the deep sea are also reproduced in the tanks.

Featured Photo Spots「Jellyfish Fantasy Hall」

The Jellyfish Fantasy Hall is one of the most popular photo spots in the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium. The concept of this exhibition area is “healing”.

The Sagami Bay Zone and the Deep Sea I Zone have many exhibits that you will enjoy knowing about, so refresh your mind here!

From the entrance of the Jellyfish Fantasy Hall, you can suddenly see a spherical tank. The jellyfish that swims around in this tank is called “Cannonball Jelly”. It’s actually edible.

The Jellyfish Fantasy Hall also offers projection mapping, and since we were there in November, autumn leaves were being projected on the wall.

The contrast of colors was very stylish, but the camera was a bit disappointing. It would be nice to have a camera that is good in the dark.

When taking pictures, please be careful not to use flash photography or auxiliary light.

The Big Sea World「Pacific Ocean Zone」

This is an area where you can see the marine life that lives in the Pacific Ocean. You can see a variety of colorful marine fish and powerful large sharks.

The shark tank is very large and has no reefs or other decorations, so you can take your time to watch the sharks swimming freely. The shark tank is very large and has no reefs or decorations, so you can take your time to watch the sharks swimming freely.

The upper part of the shark’s body has a three-dimensional effect, while the lower part is horizontal and straight, kind of like a cloud. Incidentally, when dolphins hunt sharks, they poke them in the stomach from below to weaken them.

Valuable Materials「The Imperial Family’s Biological Research」

This is an area where you can see valuable specifications of the Emperor Showa’s research on hydatids and the Emperor’s research on the classification of gobies.

In addition to the actual research materials, there are also displays of the hydrozoans that were the subject of the research.

The Hayama Imperial Villa was located in Hayama Town, Miura County, Kanagawa Prefecture, as a place of retreat for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and members of the Imperial Family, and the sea around Sagami Bay was used as a place for research from the Imperial Villa.

Surprised by the unknown biology of jellyfish!「Jellyfish Science」

The “Jellyfish Science” area is where you can learn about the biology of jellyfish.

Do you know how jellyfish are born and how they grow? They grow in a very unique way, completely different from other sea creatures.

A small creature called a punula larva becomes an anemone like creature called a polyp, which creates a clone of itself and becomes a creature called a strobila. As the strobila divides, it becomes a baby jellyfish called ephyra, which when it grows up, becomes the jellyfish we know and love.

Be soothed by the aquarium’s popular people「Penguins and seals」

After using your brain a little, you can relax with the cute penguins. In the “Penguins and Seals” area, you can see adorable penguins and seals playing with a ball.

The water level is at eye level, so you can watch the penguins swim right in front of you. It’s a very popular tank in the museum. I had to pass it on to the children, so I quickly headed to the next area.

Incidentally, in the penguin tank, there is an event called “Penguine!” where the Enosui treater plays with the penguins in the pool and teaches them about their personalities and how to recognize them. event, in which the Enosui treater plays with the penguins in the pool and teaches them about their personalities and how to identify them.

The main event of the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium！Dolphin show 「KIZUNA」

The name of the dolphin show at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium is “Kizuna”. This is the first time in the world that the aquarium has successfully produced third, fourth and fifth generation bottlenose dolphins in captivity.

It can be said that the bond between people and dolphins is stronger at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium than at other places. The dolphin show lasts about 30 minutes and the highlight is the cute chorus of dolphins and the big jump of three dolphins at the same time at the end.

It’s a very fun show that will make you laugh, heal you, and surprise you.

The acrylic glass is this thick even though the dolphins are jumping and splashing in such a large tank. Moreover, it is curved. I wondered if it wouldn’t get distorted.

I wondered what they do on typhoon days. Do they drain the water? I hope to cover the other side of the story someday.

By the way, there is an event at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium where you can shake hands with dolphins.

Focus on the environmental issues surrounding sea turtles「Sea Turtle Beach」

The sea turtle area is displayed outdoors. There are many sea turtles swimming freely and leisurely. I wonder if I would feel happier if I could meet them in the ocean.

In the sea turtle area, you can learn about the ecology of sea turtles and the environmental issues surrounding them, while being soothed in this way.

Speaking of environmental problems in the ocean, plastic bottles, plastic bags, and other plastic trash are a common problem. Sea turtles are omnivores, eating everything from seaweed to shrimp and crabs, but it is said that they are especially fond of jellyfish.

In fact, they are said to be particularly fond of jellyfish. They eat plastic bags floating in the ocean and choke on them because they mistake them for jellyfish.

I think it is very good to seek convenience, but there is always someone or something sacrificed behind it. We must not forget the basic premise that we live on the earth.

This is where the “Touch a Sea Turtle” event is held, where you can feed the sea turtles.

It’s bigger than you think！「Capybara」

Capybaras can also be seen at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium. They are surprisingly large when you see them in the flesh, aren’t they?

By the way, have you ever wondered why capybaras are displayed in aquariums?

Actually, capybaras are aquatic creatures that are good at swimming. Wild capybaras live in the Amazon River basin in South America and can swim quickly through the water to catch their prey.

Although they are often thought of as land animals, capybaras are similar to seals and penguins in that they can cope with both land and sea.

There is also a “Feed the Capybara” event here, where you can feed the capybara.

Visit Japan’s first manned research submersible「Deep SeaⅡ」

In the Deep Sea II area, the manned research submersible Shinkai 2000, which has been certified as a Machinery Heritage Site, is on display.

The Shinkai 2000 was Japan’s first manned research submersible, and has made 1,411 dives over the past 20 years, from January 1982 to November 2002. It is capable of diving to a depth of 2,000 meters, with a normal dive time of seven hours and a capacity of three people: two pilots and one researcher.

Visitors can learn about the actual cockpit, the history of deep-sea research, and the world’s submersible research vessels.

Incidentally, there is currently a manned research submersible in Japan called the Shinkai 6500, which can dive to a depth of 6,500 meters.

It can reach a depth of 6,500 meters in about two and a half hours, which is a bit scary.

The adorable figure is soothing！「Otters」

Otters have recently become popular on YouTube and other media. You can see them at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium.

They are so cute with their five little round fingers and their “innocent expressions”.

I went to see the otters in the morning, but they didn’t seem to have come out yet, so I went back in the afternoon and found no ……

Unfortunately, I couldn’t see him this time. However, when I turned around, I saw a little fake otter, so I made this as a “What if I could see an otter?

If you could see an otter……

I wondered if it was probably like this.

Summary of events you can experience at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium

We have compiled a list of events that you can experience at the Shin-Enoshima Aquarium, where you can not only see but also interact with the animals.