Come on, Shinsekai!
NEW WORLD NEW AQUA WORLD
Sharks are amazing, but there's more to it than just sharks.
There are 60 creatures from 580 different species living in 68,000 aquariums of various sizes.
We will take you to the “New World Sea” full of dynamism and excitement.
| Formal name | Aqua World Ibaraki Prefecture Oarai Aquarium |
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| Official abbreviation | Aqua World Oarai |
| Address | 311-1301 Isohama-cho, Oarai-cho, Higashiibaraki-gun, Ibaraki Prefecture 8252-3 |
Aqua World Oarai Tagline: "Come on, New World Sea!"
Aqua World Ibaraki Oarai Aquarium (Aqua World Oarai) has the tagline "Come on, New World Ocean!" and is pursuing new possibilities for aquariums, including raising and researching sharks, offering a variety of programs and exhibits in an effort to create a space where the charm of living creatures can shine even more.
Super Shark New World Ocean: Sharks are amazing. The number one species of sharks kept in captivity in Japan.
Aqua World Oarai is known for having the largest number of shark species in Japan. Currently, it houses around 60 different species of sharks, and is constantly researching the ecology and reproduction of these diverse species.
Currently, we are raising about 60 species of sharks, including not only streamlined and gracefully swimming predators such as the great nurse shark, but also many other sharks with unique personalities that you would not realize were sharks just by looking at them. In December 2023, we will be exhibiting the great nurse shark for the first time at our aquarium.
A first in Japan and the fifth zoo in the world to successfully breed grey nurse sharks
Since opening in 2002, our aquarium has been working on breeding the "viviparous" sand tiger shark. On June 2021, 6, a baby sand tiger shark was born. Sand tiger sharks are an endangered species of shark, and this was the first time in Japan that they have been successfully bred in an aquarium, which at the time only four aquariums overseas had done so (parents: sand tiger shark No. 17 (male), No. 4 (female)). The baby (No. 4) was female, and at birth it was 3 meters long and weighed 9 kilograms. It has now grown to over 0.9 meters and can be observed swimming leisurely in the "Shark Sea 4.3" aquarium. On May 2, 1, the same parent (No. 2023) successfully bred the second time in Japan (died on June 5 of the same year). As of February 11, No. 3 has been pregnant for three consecutive terms. ⇒She gave birth on March 6, 6, and No. 2025 was born. For details,click here .
| Sand tiger shark Exhibition place | 3rd floor: Eternal Sea Zone: Shark Sea 1 (Sand Shark No. 11 is on display at Shark Sea 2) |
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Other shark reproduction research
In addition to the sand shark, we have successfully bred 30 other species of shark in our tanks, 16 of which are the first to be bred in Japan. In recent years, a baby striped shark and a baby Australian marbled catshark have successfully hatched, both of which are the first to be bred in Japan. We will continue to research the ecology and reproduction of a variety of sharks by raising them in our aquarium.
It's not just sharks. Aqua World Oarai has a variety of "New World Seas" to offer.
Beautiful New World Ocean: Jellyfish 365
The large jellyfish tank "Jellyfish 365" features images projected onto the walls around the tank, lighting on the floor, and seasonal scents, as well as moon jellyfish floating leisurely in the water. Enjoy the changing of the seasons and the life cycle of moon jellyfish.
Visual production using lighting and graphics
The graphic images were created based on the themes of "the fluttering of cherry blossom petals" in spring, "fireworks exploding in the night sky" in summer, "the beautiful moon and autumn leaves" in autumn, and "the sparkling aurora and snowflakes" in winter. Jellyfish appear at various stages of development in the images, and you can follow their growth process along with fantastical background music.
The exhibition corner will also feature a new "fragrant space design" that changes with each visit, with scents reminiscent of "cherry blossoms" in spring (March to May), "fresh greenery" in summer (June to August), "autumn leaves" in autumn (September to November), and "snow" in winter (December to February). You can enjoy different scents depending on the time of year you visit the tank, creating a soothing space that is immersive and makes you feel as if you have entered the world of jellyfish.
| place | 2nd floor Mysterious Sea Zone Large jellyfish tank "Jellyfish XNUMX" |
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New Ocean of Life: IWASHI LIFE
IWASHI LIFE is a powerful performance in which approximately 20,000 sardines move in a school of powerful fish in time with the background music. It is a powerful performance that expresses the sardines' tough daily survival in the harsh natural world. The sight of the sardines moving dynamically in a school and changing into various shapes as if they were one living organism gives a strong sense of the toughness of life.
| place | 2nd and XNUMXrd floor Encounter Sea Zone "Large aquarium in the sea of encounters" |
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| Time | It depends on the day, so please check the opening hours on the day of your visit.Program Schedule. |
Amazing New World Ocean: Ocean Terrace
In March 2023, the outdoor facility will be renovated into an open-air Ocean Terrace with the concept of "Get closer and be amazed." The tanks for Humboldt penguins, California sea lions, and South American fur seals in the area are designed to allow visitors to observe the animals from various angles, creating new connections between people and the creatures.
At Ocean Terrace, there are daily programs such as "Sea Lion Walking Time," where the sea lions perform as they walk around the viewing area, and "Mogu Mogu Time," where you can learn about the ecology and charm of the animals while watching them eat.
| place | Surprising sea zone “Ocean Terrace” |
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| Program | It depends on the day, so please check the opening hours on the day of your visit.Program Schedule. |
Tiny Sparkles in the Neogene Ocean: Sparkling Coral Reef Fish
In the spring of 2025, we installed two new pumps to create water currents in the "Sparkling Coral Fish" tank, where colorful, vibrant small fish swim, and added decorations such as artificial rocks and coral to update the presentation of the tank.
This tank was created in 2022, based on the strong desire of the zookeeper in charge, who had done fieldwork in Okinawa during his student days, to "recreate the beautiful environment of a coastline covered with coral reefs, where colorful small fish swim in schools." Since then, we have made a number of value-added improvements to further enhance the reproduction, and this time, we have created a new water current in the tank, bringing it closer to a natural environment with complex tidal currents, allowing the fish to move more vividly. In addition, many damselfish species have formed schools around the newly added artificial coral, recreating their behavior and ecology in the natural world.
In addition, a new addition to the tank is the Humphead wrasse, also known as the Napoleon fish, which can grow up to 1.5m in length. The current Humphead wrasse is about 50cm long, so please come and see it as it grows.
| place | 3rd floor: Eternal Sea Zone "Sparkling Coral Reef Fish" |
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Night Aquaworld: Night Aquaworld
In an atmosphere different from daytime, the fantastical space created by the world of creatures and the sea will take visitors to a new "Night New World Ocean."
| Date | Every Saturday *Not available on extended daytime business days or special night event days. |
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| Time | 18: 00-20: 00 (Last entry 19:00) |
Shark exhibit that boasts the largest number of species kept in Japan ~Moonlight Shark~
In "NIGHT AQUAWORLD," you can enjoy the mysterious shadows and powerful appearance of the sharks, which are different from the daytime exhibits, thanks to spot lighting that resembles moonlight. Please come and see the aquarium filled with new shark charms that can only be expressed by our aquarium, which has been breeding and exhibiting a wide variety of sharks for many years and has been researching and studying them for many years.
"Large Aquarium of Encounters in the Sea" ~Sea Life Healing~
The "Large Encounter Sea Tank" recreates the rich sea off the coast of Ibaraki where the Oyashio and Kuroshio currents meet, and displays around 20,000 different kinds of creatures, centered around around 80 sardines. In "NIGHT AQUAWORLD," the entire tank is lit up with shades of blue, evoking the image of a quiet nighttime sea. At night, the sardines gather together in the tank to protect themselves, making the shape of the school clearer and their movements reminiscent of the Milky Way in the night sky.
Ocean Night Live ~MEETS the BEATS~
``Ocean Night Live,'' which is only available at night, is a program in which dolphins and sea lions create a fantastic space with lights, music, and images.
Ocean Night Live ~MEETS the BEATS~The theme of the show is "Encounters with animals, music, and customers," and with animation playing upbeat music in the background, the dolphins will perform their signature jumps and the sea lions will thrill the audience with their rhythmic performance. The audience will clap along to the show, bringing the whole venue together, and you can enjoy a special, heart-pounding time with the animals.
| Venue | 4th Floor Ocean Theater |
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| Time | May to August (5:8), September to April (19:15) Approximately 9 minutes |
Symbol mark of Aqua World Oarai
The symbol mark is based on the motif of a shark. Aqua World Oarai is focusing on raising and researching sharks.The largest number of species kept in Japan.
The three rings represent the exhibition space that extends to "Oarai, Ibaraki, and the world's oceans" and the Earth's "past, present, and future," and express the "Kuroshio, Shiome, and Oyashio currents" that are characteristic of the coast of Ibaraki. The dynamism of the shark moving forward toward the future is also the silhouette of each citizen of the prefecture, symbolizing tomorrow's Ibaraki.
Our museum has been using this symbol since it first opened in 2002.
Aqua World Oarai uniform
The blousons and polo shirts vary in shape and color depending on whether they are for service staff or animal care staff. The blousons have collars and hems designed to suit their respective duties, and feature images of the animals kept at the aquarium.
The polo shirt's colors and striped pattern are inspired by the museum's symbol mark, making it a uniform that summarizes Aqua World Oarai's vision.
Original textile (fabric) designed specifically for Aqua World Oarai
The blouson and pants of the new uniform are made of textiles with illustrations of creatures kept at the museum, such as the sand tiger crocodile, Canadian otter, and Humboldt penguin.
This is an original design depicting creatures swimming freely, with a navy blue base inspired by the ocean. The creatures shown in the illustrations can actually be observed inside the museum, so please take a look at the uniforms as well.
Mascot character of Aqua World Oarai
bururu and piruru
A body with big eyes full of curiosity and a heart that bounces like a ball.
They are shark-like "messengers from the future" - blue Bururu and pink Piruru.