Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
Last updated: August 26, 2026
The Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium spreads across two buildings at the head of Nagoya's harbour, and between them it spans 3.5 billion years of life in the sea. The North Building belongs to the cetaceans — orcas, beluga whales and dolphins in one of the largest outdoor tanks in the world — while the South Building journeys from Japanese waters to Antarctica through coral seas, deep-sea creatures, sea turtles, freshwater Australian life and colonies of penguins. Moored on the same pier is the Fuji, an Antarctic ice-cruising ship preserved in her original condition.
Itinerary
- Stop at: Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium
Frequently Asked Questions
The North Building tells the story of the cetaceans — whales, dolphins and porpoises and the intelligence they evolved for life in water — around the vast main pool. The South Building is a voyage from Japan to Antarctica: schools of fish, colorful corals, deep-sea creatures, freshwater Australian life, sea turtles and more than a few penguins.
Take the Meiko subway line to Nagoyako (Nagoya Port) Station, the line's final stop — the aquarium is about five minutes on foot from exit 3, at the Garden Pier waterfront along with the Fuji and the port's other museums.
It's one of Japan's best days out with kids — the orca and dolphin pool alone holds their attention, and feeding times run at different tanks through the day, so there's nearly always something happening. The penguin colonies in the South Building are a reliable finale.