July 5, 2024 Celebrate Sea Day without going to the ocean By Metropolis Sea Day, also known as Marine Day or Ocean Day, is the only Japanese national holiday in July and falls on the 15th this year. Originally meant to commemorate the return of a Meiji emperor to the Yokohama Port, it now marks the end of the rainy season — well, roughly. For those of us who live further from the bay, or who don’t fancy getting sand in our shoes on the beach, there are still ways to celebrate Sea Day without actually going to the coast.
Japan boasts a number of aquariums where visitors can experience the beauty and diversity of marine life. Here are some of our top picks. On July 1, Churaumi opened the world’s first exhibit of a captive-bred tiger shark.
The shark tank also houses other rare breeds, such as the silvertip shark and the silky shark, which can be seen nowhere else in mainland Japan. The largest tank, Kuroshio Ocean, offers a mesmerizing view of over 16,000 fish and 70 species. With the aquarium’s array of regional shark, coral and manta ray species, visitors can witness the wonders of Okinawa’s waters, from reefs to the deep sea.
March – September 8:30am – 6:30pm Adults ¥1,850, Students between ¥610 – ¥1,230 (discounts for groups of more than 20) 424 Ishikawa, Motobu-chō, Kunigami City, Okinawa Check the website for access information In the heart of bustling Tokyo is an unexpected marine oasis that’s also Japan’s first urban highrise fishbowl — Sunshi.
