Shimane AQUAS Aquarium: What to Plan Before Your Visit
Shimane AQUAS Aquarium (Shimane Kaiyōkan AQUAS), located in Iwami Seaside Park in Hamada, Shimane Prefecture, is one of the largest aquariums in the Chūgoku and Shikoku regions, displaying around 10,000 animals from approximately 400 species.
Opened in 2000, it is popular with families and travelers as the only aquarium in western Japan where you can see beluga whales.
When planning your visit, deciding what you want to enjoy as part of your itinerary will help you find your way around with a clearer purpose.
Think about how you would like to spend your time, whether watching the animals move, reading the explanations, or sharing your impressions with your companions.
Allow around 1 to 1.5 hours to explore the aquarium, or about 2 hours if you also want to see feeding sessions or performances, planning around the starting times of the sessions that interest you.
Choose AQUAS Exhibit Areas to Match Your Interests
The aquarium's exhibits span the 1st through 3rd floors, with areas featuring beluga whales, penguins, Sea of Japan wildlife, and coral reef fish.
On the east side of the 1st floor, the Mythical Sea Zone features a large tank holding around 1,000 tons of water, with sharks—known as wani in Shimane mythology—as its symbol; together with the underwater tunnel, it lets you see sharks and rays up close.
In the Penguin Pavilion, which spans the 3rd and 2nd floors, you can watch 4 species, including king and gentoo penguins, walking around and swimming overhead.
How you approach the exhibits will depend on whether you want to watch the animals in action or learn their names and ways of life.
Instead of moving through everything at the same pace, pause when an exhibit catches your interest, while being mindful of those around you.
If you are visiting with others, discussing your interests beforehand can help you enjoy the differences in what each person wants to see.
Beluga Whales, Happy Bubble Rings, and Performance Availability
AQUAS's signature animals are beluga whales, which live in the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas.
Also called the canaries of the sea, belugas at AQUAS are widely known for creating rings of bubbles called Happy Bubble Rings®.
Another interesting detail to watch for is that newborn calves are dark gray, gradually turning white as they grow.
However, beluga whale performances are suspended until further notice.
Before visiting, be sure to check announcements on the official website for updates on performance resumption and the exhibits.
Check AQUAS Opening Hours, Closing Days, and Admission Fees
Regular opening hours are 9:00–17:00, with last admission 1 hour before closing.
During summer, from July 20 to August 31, the main building stays open until 18:00, while the Penguin Pavilion and the beluga breeding pool in the annex close at 17:50.
The aquarium closes every Tuesday, or the following day if Tuesday is a public holiday, but opens on Tuesdays during spring break, Golden Week, summer vacation, and the New Year holiday period.
Admission fees are as follows.
| Category | Individual | Group (20 or more paying visitors) |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | 1,700 yen | 1,300 yen |
| Elementary, junior high, and high school students | 500 yen | 400 yen |
| Preschool children | Free | Free |
Presenting an original disability certificate or Mirairo ID reduces admission to 850 yen for adults and 250 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students, with free admission for 1 caregiver per certificate holder.
If you plan to visit several times a year, an annual pass through the AQUAS Fan Club is another option, costing 4,500 yen for adults and 1,500 yen for elementary, junior high, and high school students.
Cash and credit cards are accepted at the ticket counter and ticket machines, but electronic money and QR code payments are not supported.
Digital tickets are also available through Asoview and Jalan, along with JTB leisure advance tickets sold at convenience stores.
Your ticket allows unlimited reentry on the day of your visit, so keep it safe.
Temporary changes and event-related notices may apply, so check the official website's event calendar for your visit date before adding the aquarium to your itinerary.
Check for any announcements of changes rather than assuming how admission works or whether reservations are required.
Avoiding reliance on old saved images alone can help prevent misunderstandings during your trip.
How to Get More from AQUAS Aquarium Exhibits
When viewing aquarium exhibits, looking at body shapes and movements rather than simply learning names can lead to discoveries of your own.
Putting what you notice into words before reading the explanations can also make the information more engaging.
Observe Body Shapes and Movements Together
Choose a feature that interests you, such as the position of the eyes or mouth or the body's outline, and observe how it looks as the animal moves.
Checking whether the same animal looks different from the front and side offers a perspective that photographs alone cannot provide.
For example, flying fish in the Sea of Japan Zone on the east side of the 1st floor are said to leap out of the water when they sense danger in the wild, gliding as far as 400 m.
In the World Seas Zone on the east side of the 3rd floor, look closely at the mouths of archerfish, which shoot jets of water to knock insects off leaves.
After imagining how an animal lives from its shape, compare your ideas with the explanation and enjoy distinguishing your impressions from what you have confirmed.
Compare the Whole Exhibit with Individual Animals
Start by looking over the entire exhibit, then shift your gaze to an animal that catches your interest to focus more easily on small movements.
At the Mythical Sea Zone's large tank, for example, take in the whole scene before looking for Japanese bullhead sharks, which favor rocky areas and seaweed beds and often remain still, and sandbar sharks, which prefer relatively flat sandy areas, to see where each spends time in the tank.
Look for things you can confirm with your own eyes, such as where an animal is, which way it is facing, and how much space it has around it.
Even if you do not see the movement you expected, avoid trying to attract the animal's attention and observe it as it is at that moment.
Plan Your Route Around Feeding Sessions and Performances
If you want to see the animals being active, plan your route around feeding sessions and performances with commentary from the staff.
Times vary by season and day of the week; one example of a weekday schedule has Penguin Feeding Time at 10:00 and 14:00 on the 2nd floor of the Penguin Pavilion, and the Sea Lion and Seal Performance at 11:00 and 14:30 on the west side of the 2nd floor.
The same weekday example also includes Nakayoshi Time, a chance to see spotted seals up close, at 11:30 and 15:00, and Mythical Sea Feeding Time, when sharks and rays in the Mythical Sea tank are fed, from 15:30.
Weekends and public holidays follow a different timetable, and activities may change due to circumstances, so check the official website or notices inside the aquarium for that day's schedule.
Use Exhibit Labels to Guide Your Visit
When explanations are provided, look beyond the animal's name to information about its habitat and food.
The following terms can help you understand Japanese exhibit labels.
| Exhibit Label Term | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Wamei (Japanese common name) | What the animal is called in Japanese |
| Bunpu (distribution) | Regions where the animal is found |
| Seisoku kankyō (habitat) | Conditions in the places where it lives |
| Shokusei (diet) | What it eats |
If you encounter several unfamiliar words, start with the information that interests you and connect it with the animal in front of you to make it easier to understand.
Exhibited animals may change with the season or their condition, so ask a nearby staff member if you cannot find an animal mentioned on a label.
Use Multilingual Audio Guides and Japanese Signs at AQUAS
During a visit to Japan, combining some language preparation with checking signs on site makes it easier to find the information you need.
AQUAS offers a free multilingual audio guide at 24 locations inside the aquarium, available in 6 languages: Japanese, English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Russian, and Korean.
If you find the Japanese explanations difficult to read, listening to an overview on the audio guide before viewing an exhibit can help you understand the animals' features.
Prepare the Facility Name and What You Want to Ask
Before traveling, save a Japanese-language version of the facility name (Shimane Kaiyōkan AQUAS) so you can show it when explaining your destination.
It is also useful to note the address, 1117-2 Kushiro-chō, Hamada, Shimane Prefecture, when giving your destination to a taxi driver or entering it into a map app.
Prepare questions such as the following alongside versions in your own language.
- Where is the entrance?
- Is photography allowed here?
- What does this sign mean?
When using a translation app, breaking what you want to ask into short sentences makes it easier to check than translating a long explanation all at once.
Coin lockers are located at the 1st-floor entrance, and the general information desk on the 1st floor handles inquiries such as wheelchair and stroller rentals.
Follow On-Site Signs for Routes and Restricted Areas
The aquarium's 1st through 3rd floors are divided into east and west areas, so checking your current floor and area on the floor map helps you find your way.
Before moving on, check arrows and directional signs, and ask a nearby staff member if you are unsure which direction you may go.
Do not assume that an area is open to visitors simply because a door is open or someone else has entered.
If you cannot read a sign, check what it says instead of walking past while guessing whether it is a prohibition or general information.
AQUAS Photography Rules and Visitor Etiquette
Before preparing to take pictures, check the rules for that area and choose a position that respects both the animals and other visitors.
Check Photography Rules in Each Area
Check on-site signs or ask the staff to find out whether photography is allowed.
Please refrain from using flash photography inside the aquarium.
If you want to use a tripod or other supporting equipment, check the applicable conditions and avoid using it until you understand the rules.
Share Space Around Exhibits and in Walkways
When stopping, check for people behind or beside you and choose a spot that does not block an entrance or walkway.
Avoid taking up a large area in front of an exhibit to call over your companions or leaving belongings to reserve a spot.
After taking photos, review them somewhere that does not obstruct foot traffic so you can make room for the next visitor.
Do Not Try to Attract the Animals' Attention
Even if you cannot see well, observe quietly from where you can see without tapping the glass or raising your voice.
Do not touch or feed animals without first checking the relevant instructions.
Iwami Fureai no Iso, on the east side of the 2nd floor, is a touch pool where you can touch sea urchins, starfish, hermit crabs, and other creatures found on nearby rocky shores and in fishing ports.
When touching the animals, keep them in the water and touch them gently without lifting them out.
Know the Rules on Food, Drinks, and Pets
Eating and drinking are prohibited except in certain areas, and smoking is prohibited throughout the aquarium.
For a break or a light meal, you can use the café corner on the 2nd floor; restaurants and shops within the park are also located about 150 m east of the main building.
Pets are not permitted inside; only guide dogs, hearing dogs, and mobility assistance dogs may accompany visitors.
Please also note that bringing in alcohol or entering while under the influence of alcohol is not permitted.
Think About Composition Where Photography Is Allowed
Where photography is permitted, think about the picture you want before moving around to follow your subject.
In places such as the Penguin Pavilion, where you can watch penguins swimming overhead, shooting from an upward angle can create striking images of them moving through the water.
The following table brings together composition ideas and considerations for others for different subjects.
| Subject | Composition Tip | Consideration for Others |
|---|---|---|
| Animals in motion | Leave space in the direction of movement | Avoid occupying a spot for too long |
| The entire tank | Step back to fit it in the frame | Keep walkways clear |
| Memories with your companions | Check the background too | Be mindful of including other people in your photo |
Visiting AQUAS with Children and Travel Companions
Even when companions view the same exhibit, different details stand out to each person, so sharing impressions as you go can make the visit more enjoyable.
Elementary school children may not enter on their own, so a parent or guardian should accompany children during their visit.
Ask What Children Notice Before Giving Them Answers
When visiting with children, rather than focusing only on guessing names, ask about their observations with questions such as, "How is it moving?"
Adults, too, may find a reason to look again at an exhibit by discussing shapes or movements the other person did not notice.
The aquarium does not make paging announcements, so if your group wants to see different things, agree on specific ways to stay in touch and a meeting place and time before separating.
Check Strollers, Nursing Rooms, and Accessible Facilities in Advance
Strollers, normally 7 in total with numbers varying due to breakdowns or repairs, and wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge, but cannot be reserved and are limited in number, so apply early at the general information desk on the 1st floor.
Nursing rooms are available on the 1st and 2nd floors, and the one beside the 2nd-floor kids' room also has a hot-water dispenser for preparing formula.
Diaper-changing tables are available in the nursing rooms and in the restrooms on the 1st and 2nd floors and in the Penguin Pavilion, while diapers in sizes M and L are sold at the 2nd-floor museum shop.
Infant formula and baby wipes are not sold inside the aquarium, so bring enough for your needs.
The aquarium has ramps and elevators, accessible restrooms on the 1st and 2nd floors and in the Penguin Pavilion, and dedicated wheelchair spaces in the beluga pool viewing area.
The 2nd-floor kids' room has play features and slides modeled on clownfish and moray eels, giving children a chance to move around between exhibits.
During your visit, ask whether your companions are tired and put how everyone feels ahead of your planned route.
How to Get to Shimane AQUAS Aquarium and Plan Your Return
Deciding where you will go after your visit, as well as how to reach the aquarium, makes it easier to put together your itinerary.
Getting to AQUAS by Train, Bus, or Car
If traveling by train, the nearest station is Hashi Station on the JR San'in Main Line, about a 12-minute walk from the aquarium.
On Iwami Kōtsū local buses, board at stop 4 outside JR Hamada Station and get off at the AQUAS-mae bus stop after around 16 minutes, or travel from JR Gōtsu Station and get off at the Nishi-Hashi bus stop after around 19 minutes.
By car, it takes about 90 minutes from Hiroshima Interchange on the San'yō Expressway, and free parking is available for around 2,000 vehicles.
If arriving by air, the drive from the airport takes around 80 minutes from Hagi-Iwami Airport or about 2 hours from Izumo Airport or Hiroshima Airport.
When using public transportation, check the operator's official information for services, boarding points, and where to get off on your travel date.
Do not confuse a route shown on a map with transportation you can actually use, and check whether transfers are necessary.
Dedicated parking spaces for wheelchair users are also available, with a sheltered route from the parking area into the aquarium.
Use Your Return Journey to Decide When to Finish
Research transportation to your accommodation or next destination first, then decide when to finish your visit to fit that schedule.
Train and bus services may be limited at certain times of day, so checking the return timetable in advance is reassuring.
It is also important to avoid packing too much into your later plans so you can adjust for changes to the day's information or how your companions feel.
Keeping a note of your return boarding point and destination in Japanese can help when asking for directions.
Things to Do Near Shimane AQUAS Aquarium
Shimane Prefectural Iwami Seaside Park, where AQUAS is located, is a coastal park with around 3.5 km of white sandy beach.
The park's swimming beach was selected as one of the Ministry of the Environment's 100 Best Swimming Beaches, and the park also has a campground and other facilities.
AQUAS Land, about a 2-minute walk from AQUAS, features one of Japan's largest adventure playgrounds, while the Hayabusa Slider is closed for repair work.
Arifuku Onsen, around a 10-minute drive away, has a public bathhouse called Gozen-yu.
Final Tips for Visiting Shimane AQUAS Aquarium
Start preparing for your visit to Shimane AQUAS Aquarium by checking its opening hours, admission fees, and beluga performance availability, then deciding which exhibits match your interests.
Observing shapes and movements, using the multilingual audio guide for exhibit explanations, and checking unfamiliar words or rules against on-site information will help you enjoy a relaxed visit.
Plan for considerate photography and your return journey, and explore at a pace that suits your companions too.
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