Katsurahama Aquarium

photo by pelican from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0

photo by Mugu-shisai · CC BY-SA 3.0

Open since 1931: 250 species in just 7,000 animals, and a pink walrus for a mascot.

An aquarium opened in 1931 by its first director, Nagakuni Kirei, with the idea of ‘letting local people see live fish too’: at first it was just a fishing pond and a pool with fish from Tosa Bay. It moved to its current site, still on Katsurahama beach, on 20 March 1984. Despite its small size it houses about 250 species and about 7,000 animals, including the akame, the ‘phantom fish’ typical of Tosa Bay, sea turtles and penguins; it is known for the explanatory signs hand-drawn by the staff and for its mascot, a pink walrus called Otodo-chan (designed in 2016). In 2019 it received an award from the Kochi tourism body for its contribution to promoting tourism.

Located right on Katsurahama beach, in the same park as the Ryōma statue. It is included as an exception to the band cap (a decision by the traveller, 05/09/2026, on amusement parks, zoos and notable aquariums) and does not take up one of the 12 places for this file's own entries.

ℹ️ Open 9:00–17:00, practically every day of the year (the only closing day given on the official website is 1 January). Adult ticket ¥1,200. Address: 〒781-0262 高知県高知市浦戸778, tel. 088-841-2437.

🚉 Katsurahama · 4 min walk

Sources: city.kochi.kochi.jp · katurahama-aq.jp · kochike.jp · ja.wikipedia.org

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