Echizen Matsushima Aquarium

The highlight of the Echizen Matsushima Aquarium is the thrilling dolphin show performed by two bottlenose dolphins. Their jumps, with bodies over 300 kilograms, are truly breathtaking! The male dolphin, Lavo-kun, born here, also works hard every day. During Golden Week and summer night business hours, you can even watch a rare night dolphin show!

Although many people may know about various sea creatures, few have actually touched them. The interactive touch tank at the Echizen Matsushima Aquarium allows visitors to touch and interact with marine life. From relatively common creatures such as starfish, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins to even sharks (not the big, evil ones, of course!), visitors can touch a variety of creatures. In addition to the touch tank, there is also a booth where visitors can experience feeding the animals. This facility is sure to delight children and adults alike.

One of the most popular events at Echizen Matsushima Aquarium is the penguin stroll tour. Twice a day, visitors can watch a group of Humboldt penguins take a stroll. The penguins come walking right up to you, so be sure to take plenty of commemorative photos with these adorable creatures! In addition, during the winter season, you can also observe a stroll by the king penguins that inhabit the area around Antarctica.

The newly opened souvenir shop in March 2017 is also a must-see. It's filled with many attractive items, such as lots of stuffed animals and original towels that can only be purchased at Echizen Matsushima Aquarium. They also have regional goods, such as Kanazawa Prefecture's traditional craft, Kutani ware magnets. Some of the products can even be checked on the website.

Echizen Matsushima Aquarium is a rare aquarium nationwide that offers a private rental plan at night. The price is 120,000 yen! This is a flat rate for up to 300 people, so it might be surprisingly affordable! The rental is usually from 6pm to 8pm, but you can extend it until 9pm by paying an additional 50,000 yen. If you have an opportunity to gather with a large group of people or if you are a couple who loves aquariums, why not consider renting it out?