Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium Tickets

Sendai Umino-Mori Aquarium is Tohoku’s flagship aquarium, built near the port of Sendai as part of the region’s revival after the 2011 disaster, and that spirit runs right through it. Its heart is a huge open tank recreating the rich coastal waters off Sanriku, where warm and cold currents meet, presented without a frame like a living mural of the local sea.

The seas of Tohoku and beyond

The main tank’s swirling schools of silver fish, lit by natural light, tell the story of one of the world’s great fishing grounds, and the surrounding exhibits work through the region’s bays, rivers and aquaculture with obvious local pride. Upstairs the mood lightens with penguins, otters and international zones, while the large stadium hosts dolphin and sea lion performances that anchor the daily schedule. It is a manageable size, comfortably done in two to three hours.

Worth combining

The aquarium sits near the Sendai port outlet mall area, and the Matsushima coast, one of Japan’s classic scenic trios, is a short train ride further along the bay, so a sea themed day out of Sendai comes together easily.

Getting there

Take the JR Senseki Line from Sendai Station to Nakanosakae Station, about eighteen minutes, then walk roughly fifteen minutes toward the port following the signs. On busy days shuttle services sometimes operate, and taxis from the station are quick.

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