🗺️ Kushimoto Marine Park串本海中公園

Kushimoto Marine Park began operations in 1970 and is Japan's first underwater park. Located 140 meters off the coast, the park features the "Underwater Observation Deck," which serves as its symbol. From the observation deck, visitors can overlook the ocean and watch schools of hundreds of striped fish swimming freely in the water, as well as admire the coral reefs scattered on the seabed at a depth of 6.3 meters. Within Kushimoto Marine Park, the "Kushimoto Aquarium" is located near the entrance to the bridge leading to the underwater observation deck. The aquarium breeds and displays around 500 species, totaling about 5,000 marine creatures. A highlight is a massive tank that recreates the beautiful scenery of Kushimoto Bay, influenced by the Kuroshio Current. Visitors can see table coral communities and colorful tropical fish frolicking around the coral reefs. Additionally, in the sea turtle breeding area, there are displays of baby sea turtles born in the aquarium, and visitors can feed the baby turtles. It is worth mentioning that aquariums where visitors can feed sea turtles are quite rare in Japan. The "Kushimoto Diving Park" within Kushimoto Marine Park is one of the few diving spots in the Honshu region of Japan, attracting many diving enthusiasts from outside the prefecture. The park offers various diving courses and experiences. Beginners can enjoy underwater walking experiences, and there are snorkeling programs designed for elementary school students, allowing participants to fully experience the unique charm of Kushimoto Bay in the underwater world at 35 degrees north latitude.

You can observe various underwater creatures and colorful coral reefs from the ocean viewing platform. It is a popular aquarium with around 500 species of marine life. It is one of the few diving spots in the Honshu region.