Epson Aqua Park Shinagawa

Epson Aqua stadium dolphin show

Operated by the Prince Hotel, Epson Aqua Park Shinagawa is a fun place for the whole family. There is an entire entertainment complex with rides, a concert hall, and restaurants. The aquarium was reopened on July 10th, 2015 after a expansion of exhibition space oriented towards adults and a rename from Epson Shinagawa Aqua Stadium. The aquarium has added jellyfish, Asian small-clawed otters, capybaras and are training two penguins, named Sora and Orenjikuro, for a dance show at the Aqua Stadium.

Epson Aqua Stadium Nighttime Performance

Hungry? One restaurant called ‘Aqua Dining Tropics’ is like dining in a marine world surrounded by a dozen tanks filled with colorful tropical fish.

Aqua Dining Tropics

Attractions Square on the ground floor of the complex has a indoor roller coaster based on the hit animation “Galaxy Express 999”. Virtual Ride Theater has exciting visuals displayed on the huge screen and the ride carries you into a variety of different performances depending on what is showing when you visit. Port of Pirates is a pirate ship with blasting cannons and cries of pirates which lets you feel the thrill of leaping from wave to wave as the ship swings back and forth like a pendulum. Dolphin Party is a carousel that spins around an underwater paradise, the home of sea goddesses.

Dolphin Party @ Epson Aqua Aquarium

Shinagawa Prince Cinema has a 11-screen theater where you can relax and watch a variety of different movies. Karaoke Yamanote-sen has 26 rooms each bearing the name of a station on the Yamanote Line. All rooms are equipped with Premier DAM for the best in sound and images letting you exercise your lungs and experience genuine Japanese karaoke. Bowling more ‘up your alley’? The Bowling Center has 2 floors, 80 lanes, and the latest machines. Enjoy an exhilarating game of bowling alone or in a group. .

Dwarf Sawfish @ Epson Aqua Aquarium

However, the featured attraction is the aquarium with its dolphin and sea lion shows. There are over 20,000 sea creatures from over 350 species, including penguins, lobsters, and a dazzling array of fish.

Eric Likness has a good video of most of the shows and attractions in the Epson Aqua Park Shinagawa.

A highlight is the 20-meter long underwater tunnel. The Epson Aqua Stadium has some rare species including a Dwarf sawfish which is the only one on display in the world.

Underwater tunnel @ Epson Aqua Aquarium

For an extra fee, you can participate in one of the “interactive plans” which include touching the sea lions or dolphins, feeding the manta ray, or “training” the dolphins. The Dolphin Pool has excellent performances with dynamic jumps by bottlenose dolphins and speedy Pacific white-sided dolphins called “kamairuka” in Japanese meaning “sickle dolphin” which comes from its crescent-shaped dorsal fin. The shows can all be seen from the 1,350 seats all around the circular, 25-meter diameter, 5-meter deep pool. Warning, there are well marked ‘slash zone’ areas near the front seats where you are almost guaranteed to be soaked from head to toe if you dare!

EPSON Shinagawa Aqua Stadium

The facilities are modern and well set up for children, there are changing tables in the bathrooms and a curtained area for nursing, though there are no stroller rentals. Hours of operation are extremely variable, so it is good to confirm for the day you plan to visit. Generally they are noon – 10 pm on weekdays and 10 am – 10 pm on weekends.

Penguins @ EPSON Shinagawa Aqua Stadium

Hotel guests staying at the four Prince Hotels in the Takanawa and Shinagawa areas enjoy special discount offers to the Aqua Park,  and using the related entertainment facilities. At Aqua Park simply show your Hotel room key or Proof of stay  to get the discount shown below.

• Adults (High school students or older) 2,200 yen → 1,700 yen
• Elementary/middle school students 1,200 yen → 900 yen
• Children (4 years old or older) 700 yen → 400

Hotels Participating are: 

• Shinagawa Prince Hotel
• The Prince Sakura Tower Tokyo
• Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa
• Grand Prince Hotel Shin-Takanawa

The website for Epson Aqua Stadium is: http://www.princehotels.co.jp/shinagawa/aquastadium/e/

Getting there:

The Epson Aqua Park is across from the JR Shinagawa station. Though a big station serving shinkansen bullet trains as well as local lines (Yamanote, Keihin-Tohoku, Yokusuka, Tokaido, and Sobu lines), there are only two main exits, which makes it easy to navigate. Take the west/Takanawa exit. Cross the street straight ahead to the stadium.

photos by: neco & scaaar, dacheket, dacheket, morigamikenta, Hyougushi, neco