Kobe｜Átoa Aquarium combined with art elements

I firmly believe that everyone has visited some aquariums; however, have you ever been to an aquarium combined with art?

This unique aquarium is located in Kobe and features various sea animals, stunning art effects, and interactive exhibits.

Today, let's know more about the detailed information about this aquarium together!

How to go to Átoa Aquarium?

First, take the Port Loop sightseeing bus to Shinko Town Station and then take a 1-minute walk.

Once you see the specially designed gray building, it means you have already arrived at Átoa Aquarium.

Its exterior is distinct from other aquariums, making you feel like you've arrived at an art museum!

This is an aquarium with many artistic elements and a theater.

There are approximately 3,000 types of creatures and 50 artworks, across a total of 8 themed areas, providing visitors with a unique visual and sensory experience.

Let's embark on this artistic journey by purchasing tickets at the counter on the second floor!

📍CAVE_First Cave

Our first stop is the mysterious First Cave. At a glance, the ceiling is adorned with colorful fish-shaped lights.

Through the reflection in the mirror on the wall, the number of fish seems to increase. When it lights up the entire room, it also guides visitors in the direction to move forward.

There are several aquariums next to the cave, showcasing a variety of fish.

📍MARINE NOTE_Life Vibration

The space enveloped in blue light creates the illusion of being underwater.

A round tank that is both majestic and enormous is located in the center of the aquarium, viable for anyone who enjoys watching school of fishes swimming pass carefree, or finding appearance of rays and sharks.

Beside lion fishes that swim in elegance, garden eels that popped up adorably from the bed, there are also other marine life insde the tank around, which make the undersea even more attractive.

📍ELEMENTS_Elf Forest

After departing from the undersea, we arrived at the forest of elves. The shadows of the branches and leaves projected onto the walls and floor, forming the mysterious ambiance of the forest.

The life of freshwater fish and amphibians that live by the river is being exhibited, for example, lizards, chameleons, turtles, frogs, etc.

The scenery of the forest that potraited on the walls will release mist infrequently, accompanied by the music and audio effects, as if entering a misty forest.

📍 FOYER_Interrogation Room

The ambiance was built like a library in this section, There are a lot of biology-relating publications and fish specimens exhibiting on the shelves.

An enormous round chart was exhibited on the floor, displaying the different categories of different fish species!

Tanks can be found around the seating section to allow all visitors to observe the beautiful Black-and-White Manta Rays up close, feeling the rays swim by your side, which creates a unique experience.

📍MIYABI_Peace and Light

Inside the traditional Japanese-style space, the beautiful scenery of Japan's four seasons was vibrantly exhibited through light sculpture artistry.

You can also appreciate the school of koi fish swimming in the water.

Different patterns are projected onto the walls and onto the floor, as if walking through a piece of literature.

This Light scuplture performance that are delicately conducted by Artists of Light and Shadow, depict the story about a fish with scales the represent the four seasons. Along season changes, gradually evolve into the "Sakura Dragon".
Every moments of the light scuplture performance are extremely beautiful and indulging.

Do you see the bamboo tube in the picture. It has a special name called "sosui''. It will fill up with water gradually, with a sound of thud, it pour the water into the round plate.

You will be able to appreciate the appearance of the Tosa Goldfish swimming inside the red round plate, with the bamboo tube aside, not only elegant on sight but also full with Japanese ambiance.

There are also other types of goldfishes, watching them swimming through water is utterly soothing ! Every sections are worth stoping by and appreciate the details~

📍PLANETS_Magical Planet

Light dots akeen to stars spread across the whole exhibition, as if enter the universe while stepping your foot in.

Here possess the largest shpere aquarium in Japan-AQUA TERRA, in composition with the mist, curtains of laser beam and audio, the fantastical scenery is 360 degree in display.

Every spectacular moment are not worth missing out, also attract a lot of people to stop by to appreciate.

📍Lottery Stalls

There are lottery stalls inside the institution, 1000 yen per drawing, The dolls grow bigger as you hit a bigger lottery.
As the curator, i drew second prize twice, it's a bit disappointing, but still I get to exchange a cute otter plushie and a black-white ray plushie.

I personally reccommend to try it out and aim for the jackpot !

📍GALLERY_Discovery Corridor

The section offer five sensory experiences, within the frame hanging on the wall of the corridor, respectively displaying digital, light and shadow, scent, audio artistry interactive implements, all of them have their own feature, intoducing to you in the following!!

①Digital Artistry_Camouflage

Once standing in front of the screen, a marinelife will appear on the screen in correspondence with your outfit.

②Light Artistry_Color Shadows

After placing the exhibition on to the certain position, three beams of light while project on to it, can you distinct the creature from the shadows?

③Scent Artistry_ Fragrance

Do you know the smell of a penguin's bottom? By touching the black dot below, a scent that is produce by animal specialist will be release from the exhibition!

The smell is too hard to describe that requires you to experience it in person!

④Audio Artistry_Drumming

Sense various heart frequencies of different animals through interacting with different creatures graphics on the screen!!

These interactive exhibitions not only built a more profound understanding of the animals, but also brought unique experiences.

📍SKYSHORE_Skyside Garden

There is a cafe locate on the 4th floor that serves cute light meal and drinks, The adorable lookings make them extra hard to eat~~

You will be able to watch adorable otters, capybaras with a listless appearance and penguins resting on the rock in a close distance while taking a break.

Few steps upward, you will arrive at the rooftop where you can enjoy the wind from the ocean drfiting through, also capture the whole ocean scnery of Kobe Port with your naked eyes.

📍MUSEUM SHOP

There are various of adorable animal plushies, delicate gits and stationaries that are compatible for souvenirs.
Personally, I reccommend the merch of black and white rays, It's really cute!

📍TOOTH MART_Food Court

The Food Plaza that locate on the first floor is consist of 9 vendors, the dining evironment is spacious, suitable for dining if you're exhausted from a shopping spree.

Above the circular bar in the center of the plaza, you can see the bottom parts of the tanks and appreciate different school of fishes that swims careless around.

After touring the entire exhibition area, rather than calling it an aquarium, it was more like experiencing a magnificent art exhibition in my opinion.

You are able to see creatures that you usually has less chance to contact and understand them deeper, also acquire extra knowledge about them.

Every exhibition area is worth a tour. Hurry and visit the Kobe átoa Art Aquarium!!

átoa AQUARIUM×ART　Official Website

🗺️ Address：7-2 Shinminato-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture　Googlemaps

🎫 Ticket price：over junior high school 2600 yen／primary school student 1500 yen／over 3 years old 500 yen／free for those under 3 years old

🏠 Business Hours：10:00-19:00(Last Entry: 18:30)

※Please refer to the official website for the latest information.