It is the only aquarium in Japan currently housing a dugong, a species often linked to the folklore of mermaids.
The facility was the first in the world to successfully record the captive birth of a second-generation finless porpoise.
The aquarium does not follow a set walking path; the 'free-route' system allows guests to explore the 12 zones in any sequence.
It holds one of the most diverse collections of aquatic life in Japan, consistently maintaining over 1,000 distinct species.
The aquarium serves as a critical research hub for the study of the endangered dugong population in the Philippines.
Some exhibits utilize 'open-air' pools that lack top covers, allowing for natural lighting and direct interaction between the animals and the environment.
The aquarium's sea otter exhibit is globally renowned for the animals' high activity levels and specialized training demonstrations.
Toba Aquarium is one of Japan's largest aquariums, housing approximately 1,200 species and 30,000 individual creatures. The facility is organized into 12 themed zones based on natural environments rather than taxonomic groups. It is famously the only aquarium in Japan to hold the dugong. The layout is designed as a continuous, non-linear loop, allowing visitors to walk through zones in any order. The aquarium features an extensive collection of marine mammals, including sea otters, finless porpoises, and walruses. It emphasizes captive breeding programs and scientific research in marine biology. The facility spans multiple floors with various interactive viewing windows. It is located on the coast of the Shima Peninsula in Mie Prefecture. The aquarium actively participates in the rescue and rehabilitation of sea turtles and other injured marine life.
The large underwater viewing tunnel for the sea animal zone, which provides a panoramic perspective.
Prioritize viewing the sea otter feeding times as they are the most popular demonstrations.
Check the daily schedule board upon entry to time your movement between the dispersed feeding demonstrations.
Bring a comfortable pair of shoes, as the non-linear layout encourages significant walking to cover all 12 zones.
Do not try to follow a linear map; accept that you may double back on your path due to the free-flow design.
Open every day of the year with no regular closing days.
Do not use flash photography at animal exhibits, as it causes stress to the species.
