Place · May 19, 2026
Umitamago Aquarium
A complete visit to Umitamago Aquarium near Beppu, including transport, tickets, walrus and dolphin shows, penguins, exhibits and the cafe.
Essential Information
Address: 3078-22 Kanzaki, Oita 870-0802, Japan
Opening hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Check the official website before visiting, as opening hours may vary by date.
Admission:
- Adults and senior high school students: 3,000 yen
- Primary and junior high school students: 1,500 yen
- Children aged four and above: 1,000 yen
Tickets are available from the official website, although I think buying them on arrival is also fine.
Recommended visit: Half a day, allowing enough time to see all the shows.
Official website: https://www.umitamago.jp/index-tc/
This is one of the best official attraction websites I have used. The information is comprehensive and available in several languages.
The aquarium works well for families, couples and adult visitors.
Getting There
We waited at the Beppu Tower-mae bus stop and got off at Takasakiyama. The journey only took around ten to fifteen minutes.
The official transport guide has more detail: https://www.umitamago.jp/access-tc/
The aquarium is immediately visible after leaving the bus.
The entrance and ticket office are upstairs, while the exit is on the ground floor. The lift was not obvious, so we used the stairs.
Both cash and credit cards are accepted.
Entrance and Facilities
Remember to collect a leaflet at the entrance. It includes a map and show schedule, making it much easier to plan your visit.
There is a lift inside for visitors with limited mobility.
You can either go directly outside to the performance area or continue exploring indoors.
The walrus show was still some time away, so we looked around first.
There were photographs of baby animals.
The first section contains creatures from shallower water.
I heard that this fish normally lives in rivers. Beppu has many hot springs, and the warmer water apparently allowed it to start living in the drainage channels.
After walking around for a while, it was nearly showtime. We found a staircase leading back upstairs and took it.
At the top, we saw sea turtles and starfish.
Visitors can put their hands into the starfish water. A toilet and hand-washing basin are nearby.
We were lucky enough to see a keeper applying medicine to an otter. It was adorable.
The rays raised their heads out of the water. I was not sure whether touching them was officially allowed, but everybody seemed to do it.
Walrus Show
We went outside for the walrus show.
To our surprise, pelicans appeared first.
I had never seen a bird performance before.
I would like to share every recording, but the experience is much more impressive in person.
Children were invited to interact with the walrus.
Although I could not understand the Japanese commentary, the atmosphere was excellent.
The pelicans even had their own transport vehicle, which appears a few minutes into this video.
At the end, visitors could touch the walrus.
After the show, you can look into the walrus habitat.
Dolphin Show
We planned to wait for the dolphin show.
On the way back, perhaps because some children had arrived late, the staff allowed them to interact with a sea lion.
I recommend following the children’s groups. The aquarium is especially generous with activities for them.
Then it was time for the dolphin show.
If you want to sit close to the show, remember to buy a raincoat.
The dolphins performed backflips.
Penguins and the Outdoor Animal Area
Back inside, there were many more fish, including some I have not often seen in other aquariums.
The jellyfish and similar creatures looked beautiful under the lights.
The deeper-water section on the ground floor also had a varied collection.
Outside, a staff member led children into the water. I think they were going to let the children touch a dolphin.
A group of children and staff moved from the seal area onto the path, so we could not see exactly what happened.
The staff brought the penguins out for a walk.
Visitors could see them from extremely close range.
They were close enough to touch simply by reaching out.
One amusing detail is that the walrus and seals have publicly visible resting areas.
Watching them sleep and rest made them look like workers taking a break.
Children’s Activities
The ground floor has play facilities for children.
They can experience the power of an electric eel.
One child was so amused that they wanted to try it again immediately.
There were also salamanders.
More Photos
The long-legged crab will probably make many visitors think about food.
I think this was an oarfish, sometimes associated with earthquake legends.
Cafe
We had lunch at the aquarium cafe.
The capsule-toy area is immediately inside the entrance, giving children plenty to choose from.
From our seats, we could watch the sea and seabirds outside.
Personal Impressions
I have not visited a huge number of aquariums, and the fish collection was broadly similar to others.
What made Umitamago special was how close visitors could get to the animals. I had never experienced anything quite like it.
I would recommend it to families, couples and anybody who enjoys animals.
End
Watching highly intelligent animals such as dolphins living in captivity still left me feeling sad. They probably want freedom too.