We visited Kamogawa Sea World on a very hot summer weekend, arriving shortly after opening, and it was already absolutely packed. We aren't sure whether there was a special event happening that day, but parking was full when we arrived, so we had to use an overflow lot about a 10-minute walk from the entrance. There was also a line to get into the park.
Despite the crowds, we had a good time overall. Most of the habitats we saw looked clean and well cared for, with plenty of vegetation where it was appropriate. I particularly enjoyed the turtles, jellyfish, and penguins. I was especially excited to see emperor penguins, as I'd never seen one in person before! The seals were also adorable, lazily sunbathing and looking perfectly content to spend their day doing very little.
Most of the park is indoors, which was a welcome escape from the summer heat. The marine mammal areas and eateries are outdoors, though, and there's a lovely view of the ocean from that section of the park. It was a nice reminder of the natural environment these animals come from.
Unfortunately, I had mixed feelings about the marine mammal exhibits, particularly the dolphins and orcas. While I can't claim to be an expert in marine mammal care, I found myself feeling sad while watching them. I didn't see an obvious area for the orcas to explore outside their show tank, and I struggled to imagine how such a large animal could be comfortable spending so much time in a space of that size. The experience left me feeling conflicted: I enjoyed seeing these animals up close, but I also couldn't stop thinking about how restricted their environment appeared to be.
Overall, we had a good visit, and there are some genuinely lovely exhibits here. I would encourage someone in the fence to give it a try, but I don't think I'd make the trip back myself.
Amazing experience for adults and kids! Didn't expect to get so close with sea animals. The whale, beluga and dolphin shows are must-see!!! We had a great time here! Staying at 鴨川館 onsen hotel opposite to it is a wise choice, double the happiness! If you'd visit mother farm on the way, you can buy the package ticket which would save you more than 1000 yen ;)
Lovely sea world by the sea. Absolutely nice views. There are many good animal shows throughout the day - the highlight of the aquarium. Worth visiting and kids enjoyed it. Just remember to buy the poncho or bring extra clothes if u have to sit at the front for the orca show - definitely will be wet for most who are seated.
Surprisingly good and highly recommended. You get really close to all the marine animals – the orca and dolphin shows were amazing. Just a heads-up: make sure to buy a raincoat or bring a spare set of clothes and slippers, because you really will get soaked through! It made for a wonderful day out for both adults and kids alike.
It took about 2 hours to get there from Tokyo. The shuttle bus does not run often, so you may have to wait up to 30 minutes or call an Uber. I came for the killer whales, but my favorite part was seeing the baby walrus being bottled fed. If you want to see the killer whales, you should get there an hour before they perform and wear a poncho. I don't recommend tourists coming here since it's an all day event, but once you're there, it's worth it. The food at the Ocean restaurant was also very affordable and I got a good view of the killer whales through the viewing window.
