Whenever Japan as a topic comes up in conversation, Tokyo almost always gets first billing. The city of Osaka however is really no less impressive, encompassed by the Osaka Prefecture that is the second most populous in the country and boasting a population of 8.84 million people. Over Osaka’s 1,400 years of rich history, the metropolitan area has evolved from a political and economic hub to a destination ripe with world-class food, shopping, and family-friendly attractions.
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan
Located near Osaka Bay, Kaiyukan is among the largest public aquariums in the world and home to 30,000 creatures belonging to 620 species. There are 15 main tanks, each representing a unique Pacific Rim environment including “Japan Forest,” and “Antarctica,” the latter complete with a colony of penguins. The crown jewel is “Pacific Ocean,” a 29.5-foot deep, 111.5-foot-long tank containing 5,400 tons of water and several gargantuan whale sharks. (www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng)
Resident penguins of Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Benjamin Yong
