Melo Villareal
My KKday Tour of Osaka Aquarium KAIYUKAN Tour
I can never get tired of the Land of the Rising Sun. I have been to Japan several times already, but there is always something new to explore. Every time I visit Japan, I love to discover the uniqueness of each street, colorful landmarks and each sight that makes Japan a timeless favorite of mine.
Meet up
When I woke up to my fifth day in Osaka, Japan, I enthusiastically prepared for the morning and went to my hotel lobby to meet up with other bloggers and influencers from Southeast Asia.
That morning, I was especially excited because we were visiting the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Our call time was 8 AM at the lobby, and I was, of course, the first one to show up! After a while, people started arriving.
Later, our coordinator from KKday, Gift, introduced everybody. Since they came from different Southeast Asian nations, they were conversing in different languages. It was nice to hear all these languages from the bloggers and influencers but despite the difference in the language spoken, the excitement of everyone is definitely palpable and undeniable.
After the brief icebreaker, we proceeded to walk to the nearest train station. I just love public transportation facilities in Japan, it’s efficient, fast, and reliable.
Sea and forest creatures abound: Osaka Aquarium Review
The Osaka Aquarium is one of the largest public aquariums in the world, with 27 tanks and at least 16 exhibits. This tourist destination in the Kansai region of Japan houses over 620 different species and more than 30,000 marine creatures.
Notable permanent exhibitions in the aquarium include Fish Underpass – Aqua Gate, a tube-style aquarium that gives you a 360-degree view of bustling marine life. Walking through it feels like being under the sea with all those small schools of colorful fishes.
A little bit into the aquarium is Antarctica, which recreates the icy environment of the continent. This exhibition has King, Gentoo, and Adelie penguins.
If you are a fan of cute dolphins, there is also the Tasman Sea tank, which shows these dazzling Pacific white-sided dolphins.
Meanwhile, we saw these adorable groups of otters at the Japan Forest exhibition. At the river part of the exhibition were river crabs and Japanese giant salamanders, which were at first difficult to spot because they blended in with the rocks. It was challenging trying to find them, but it was fun observing these creatures in their environment.
We were greeted by another bunch of cute fellows at Monterey Bay tank: sea lions! It was funny because they looked like otters with dolphin bodies. They were curious fellows too. Some looked right back at us when we looked at them from the other side of the tank. It was almost as if they were saying hi to us and our cameras.
We ended our tour soon after visiting several other tanks. It was hard remembering all the names of the creatures as some of the guides enumerated to us, but the colors, the interactive animals, and the feeling of being under the sea are all so vivid in my memory.
About our tour
Our tour was arranged by KKday. The aquarium tour package is inclusive of e-ticket, booking fee, and our tour guide.
The aquarium is open from 10 AM to 8 PM. When booking your tour, make sure that your personal information is accurate. You will need to bring your passport which will serve as your identification card and entry to the aquarium, and if there are any disparities between your passport and your voucher or e-ticket, you might not be allowed to enter.
To know more about Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, visit this link https://www.kkday.com/
How to get there
By Plane
Cebu Pacific offers direct and affordable flights to Osaka, Japan (KIX) from Manila for as low as Php 13,222. The flight from Manila lasts for at least four hours and arrives and departs daily.
- From Kansai International Airport: Approx. 65 min. by train (changing railway lines) or approx. 60 min. by nonstop limousine bus
- From Osaka International Airport (Osaka-Itami): Approx. 60 min. by train (changing railway lines)
By Train
- Approx. 35 min. from Shinkansen bullet train Shin-Osaka Station (changing railway lines)
- Approx. 30 min. from Osaka (Umeda) Station
- Approx. 30 min. from Namba (Shinsaibashi) Station
- Approx. 5 min. on foot from Osakako Station of Osaka City Subway Chuo Line
By Osaka City Bus
- Approx. 45 min. from Osaka Station (bus route No. 88) or approx. 40 min. from Namba Station (bus route No. 60) to Tempozan Stop, adjacent to the KAIYUKAN
From Universal Studios Japan: Approx. 10 min. from Universal City Port by Captain Line fast shuttle ferry
Address:
1-1-10 Kaigandori, Minato-ku, Osaka City 552-0022 Japan
Tel: +81-6-6576-5501
Fax: +81-6-6576-5510
E-mail: [email protected]
Also Read:
- Get your JR Pass delivered straight to your address in just 3 working days
- Top 15 Places to Visit in Kyoto Japan
- Summer in Japan: Where to Go, What to Do and What to Buy
- Osaka Travel Guide
- Best Hotels and Resorts in Osaka, Japan
- 10 Ways (Plus One) to Enjoy Universal Studios in Osaka, Japan
