Kyoto Aquarium
Last updated: August 26, 2026
Kyoto Aquarium brings river and sea life to Umekoji Park — Kamo River giant salamanders, penguins, seals and dolphins, minutes west of Kyoto Station. One of Japan's largest inland aquariums, it recreates Kyoto's own waters from mountain stream to open sea, capped by a panoramic jellyfish tank that wraps the room around you. Daily dolphin sessions, penguin feedings and hands-on workshops make it an easy half day for families — and a welcome indoor change of pace between temples.
Itinerary
- Stop at: Kyoto Aquarium
Frequently Asked Questions
It sits in Umekoji Park, about a fifteen-minute walk west of Kyoto Station's Central Exit. The closest stop is Umekoji-Kyotonishi Station on the JR San'in (Sagano) Line — one stop from Kyoto Station and about seven minutes on foot from the aquarium.
The route opens with Kyoto's own rivers — including the Japanese giant salamanders of the Kamo River — then moves through penguin and seal habitats, the Kyoto Sea tank and a jellyfish zone built around a panoramic tank. Daily programs add dolphin school sessions, feeding times and craft workshops.
Yes — it's a compact, mostly indoor aquarium with daily feeding times, a dolphin program and hands-on workshops pitched at families. Umekoji Park's lawns are right outside, and the Kyoto Railway Museum sits at the other end of the park for an easy combined day out.