Visit to Kaiyukan

On Sunday we made the two-train, two-subway journey to the Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan). It was well worth the trip. We entered through the Aqua Gate- a tunnel shaped tank with colourful fish, small rays and Hammerhead Sharks. The tour took us to stops along the Ring of Fire Volcanic Belt of the Pacific Ocean. We began with the Japanese freshwater tanks that included Asian Small-Clawed Otters and Giant Salamanders. Then on to the coast of the U.S to see the playful Sea Lions and Harbour Seals, the Gulf of Panama for Red-Footed Tortoise and strange swimming rodents called Capybara which live in the rainforests of Equador. The Antarctic was a chilly pleasure as the kids watched the fast swimming penguins. After watching the dolphins of the Tasman Sea, Lucas pulled us to the big Pacific Ocean tank. He wanted to see more sharks. And did we see sharks. Living within this 5,400 tonne tank were two Whale Sharks, a Tiger Shark, Hammerheads, Black- Tipped Reef Sharks, giant Manta Rays and lots of Bluefin Tuna for them to eat among other fish species.  The kids were wide-eyed and so excited they were yelling out the names of the species as they swam by and jumping up and down. Then it was a visit to the Sea Turtles, giant Spider Crabs and jelly-fish smaller than a finger nail and we were at the end.

It was time for a sushi lunch (oh, the irony). Eleanor has taken a liking to raw fish and tempura while Lucas hasn’t ventured farther than a bowl of white rice. They spent a lot of time drawing pictures of the creatures they had just seen. We all had ume (plum) sorbet for dessert. It was the perfect way to end a wonderful morning.