Osaka Kaiyu Ticket gives you a big saving for the trip to Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium and sightseeing in Osaka.

Osaka kaiyukanOsaka, Kyoto, Kobe and Nara
Whale shark tank is the biggest reason to visit Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium.
Whale shark tank is the biggest reason to visit Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium.

I have been to Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium many times. Whenever I visit there, I use this deal, Osaka Kaiyu Ticket. I would like to share the information of this discount deal in this post.

What is Osaka Kaiyu Ticket?

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This is the combination of Kaniyukan Aquarium admission (adult 2,300 yen) and Osaka subway one day pass (800 yen). The pass is sold at 2,600 yen. You can get 300 yen discount. Even if you take subway between Umeda and Osakako where is the nearest station to Kainyukan, this pass is 260 yen cheaper than the round trip fare and admission. Child pass (under 11 years old) is available at 1,300 yen. There are also subway and major private railway unlimited ride passes available. Please find more info at the link below:

Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium official site (English)

How to purchase Osaka Kaiyu Ticket

This ticket is available at any Osaka subway station. You can purchase it at the station master office or information center of Osaka subway stations. If you are not sure where you can purchase it, ask station staff, or show the Japanese word below:

OSAKA海遊きっぷ

They will understand what you want to buy.

How to use this pass

Subway automated ticket gate at Osakako station. You can slot your pass into the gate. don't forget to pick up your card after going through the gate.
Subway automated ticket gate at Osakako station. You can slot your pass into the gate. don’t forget to pick up your card after going through the gate.

When you take a subway train, you can insert this card into automated ticket gate. This is unlimited ride pass. You can take subway as many as you want from the first train to the last train of the day. (likely 5:30 to midnight)

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When you enter Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium, touch QR code (red circle in the photo above) of your card on the entrance gate. If you are not sure how to do it, just show your pass to the staff. They will help you. If you reenter the aquarium, ask the staff. Once you touch your card at the gate, QR code does not work for reentry.

My trip to Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium

kaiyukan-map

My trip was started at Umeda station. Umeda is same location as JR Osaka station.

Osaka Kaiyu Ticket does not cover any JR trains. So I took Osaka Subway Midousuji line (red line in the map above) that is the busiest subway line in Osaka. I transferred to Chuo line (green line in the map above) at Honmachi. I disembarked from subway at Osakako station. This is the nearest station to Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium.

There are many signage of Osaka Kaiyukan. It is very very easy to find the direction.

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After I got out of Osakako station, I saw the huge Ferris wheel ahead.

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Kaiyukan is located next to this wheel. So I just went down the street to this wheel. I took 5 to 10 minutes. Red and Navy colored box shaped building was seen next to wheel. That is Kaiyukan Aquarium.

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We did not need to purchase or exchange at the ticket booth. All we had to do is tapping Osaka Kaiyu Ticket at the entrance gate. And we could enter the aquarium.

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I though Kanyukan had one big fish tank and a few small tanks. But Kanyukan had many more tanks and showed us many kinds of animals, sea lives and fishes.

The first fish tank
The first fish tank
River otter
River otter
Keep going and you will see under water of river otter tank.
Keep going and you will see under water of river otter tank.
Sea lion
Sea lion
Sea otter
Sea otter
Capybara
Capybara
Tropical fish
Tropical fish
And the biggest tank, Whale Shark tank
And the biggest tank, Whale Shark tank

Some tanks were huge and deep, like world famous whale shark tank. We could see the tanks from top to bottom.

The bottom of whale shark tank
The bottom of whale shark tank
Tropical fish tank
Tropical fish tank
Sea lion tank
Sea lion tank

There are some tanks after whale shark tank.

Jellyfish displays
Jellyfish displays
You can touch sharks and rays.
You can touch sharks and rays.

I spent 3 hours there. I was there with my 6 years old daughter and some more kids. Probably it was slower pace than average. But in my opinion, 2 hours is minimum to see this huge aquarium.

Tenpozan Market Place

Tenpozan Market Place is located between Ferris wheel and Kaiyukan
Tenpozan Market Place is located between Ferris wheel and Kaiyukan

If you want to eat, there are lots of restaurants in Tenpozan Market Place. If you go there in the morning, you can eat lunch after Kaiyukan and visit other areas. I ate Shshi and Udon noodle there.

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USJ and Kaiyukan in one day is not a good idea

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Universal Studio Japan is located other side of river. There are ferry service, Capt. Line between USJ and Kaiyukan and it takes only 10 minutes. However half day is too short to see USJ. In these days, USJ is super popular and very crowded. You should spend one full day for USJ at least. USJ and Kaiyukan in one day is not realistic in my opinion.

Comments

  1. Candy says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    Need some help here as I will be travelling with my parents soon to Osaka & Kyoto! Can you please recommend what train passes We should get?
    D1- arrive at Kansai airport –> Kyoto
    D2 – Kyoto
    D3 – Kyoto –> Osaka
    D4 – Osaka
    D5 – USJ
    D6 – Nara & Kobe
    D7 – Osaka aquarium
    D8 – Osaka –>kansai airport

    This is the rough itinerary so far! Please help!!! =)

    Thanks!!

  2. Irving Gan says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    Does the osaka kaiyu pass work on kintetsu lines?
    I am staying in sheraton above osaka – uehommachi station.
    I have 4 nights here in june 2017, what other passes would you recommend as well as places to visit besides nara and kyoto, places my kids ( 5 & 6) will love.
    yours sincerely,
    Irving

  3. emily says:

    hello!

    May I ask how to get to Sakuragawa Station from Kansai Airport, then following day Sakuragawa station to Osaka Aquarium?

    Thank you.

  4. Harper says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Can u tell me how to use Osaka Kaiyu Ticket from Agora Regency Sakai Hotel? Me and my family planned to go Osaka next month. Definitely have to add this on our bucket list of already places to visit. Thank you very much.

  5. Kim says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I will be arriving at Kansai International Airport with my husband and 3 years old son. I have looked at Osaka Kaiyukan Aquarium official website and from my understanding we have two options; starting with Nankai Line which the whole journey takes approx. 1hr 5min or Hanwa Line approx. 1hr 20min. May we use Osaka Kaiyu Ticket from the airport? If we may, can we puchase the Ticket at airport and which Line we have to use? But if we can use the Ticket for both Line, I really hope you can suggest which Line has the best view of Osaka? Or if it doesn’t trouble you, the pros and cons between those two Line? It would really make our stay memorable. Oh, I forgot to mention, my husband prefer to use the nonstop Limousine Bus because it’s easier but I bet it is expensive. Anyway, hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.

    • Hi Kim,

      Your choice is Nankai railway version of Osaka Kaiyu Ticket. Please see page 2 in the link below. You will find it.
      http://www.kaiyukan.com/language/eng/basicinformation.pdf

      You cannot take Hanwa line and other any JR lines. You can take Nankai railway from Kansai airport to Namba and any lines of Osaka subway. It gives you unlimited ride of Osaka subway.

      Actually the view is not matter either by JR (Hanwa line) or Nankai railway. It’s not much different.

      If you take limousine bus, you can add Osaka Kaiyu Ticket Osaka city version on top of limousine bus fare. It’s way more expensive as you know.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. David says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    May i know how do I go about for Osaka Kaiyu Ticket for my 5 year old daughter? I can only see the prices for adult and elementary school kids.

    Thanks in advance for your advice.

    Regards,
    David

    • Hi David,

      5 years old and under is free of charge to take subway. This is reason why Kaiyu ticket is not sold for these ages. But you have to pay an admission at 600 yen to enter Kaiyukan aquarium for your daughter.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. starglitz says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I Need an information regarding the Osaka kaiyun pass which include free admission to Osaka Aquarium and a one day unlimited ride on subways and buses around Osaka, will the pass valid to be use to get to Minoh Park…? I will go through Ishibasi and Minoh station. Thank you for your kind help.

    • Hi starglitz,

      No, you cannot get Minou by this pass. The train between Umeda and Minoo via Ishibashi is Hankyu railway. It’s not Osaka subway and you need to pay extra for Umeda to Minoo that is around 300 yen one way. You can get Umeda by subway.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  8. dado says:

    hi,

    i have question about Osaka Kaiyu Ticket.

    My plan is go from GOKURAKUBASHI to Kaiykan aquarium.
    Its possible apply Nankai Railway version (3010yen) from gokurakubashi to kaiykan aquarium ?

    if not, its possible apply Osaka City version from nakamozu?

    thanks for reply

    Dado

  9. Shyanne says:

    HI Takeshi- san,

    If i intend to go Aquarium from Osaka ITM airport. May i know how should i get around to there? Should I get the pass? As after aquarium, Im going back to Rhiga hotel. Or actually normal train card will do…

  10. Shirley says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    I am glad to find your website. We are going to Osaka (2 days), Kyoto (2 days) and Tokyo (2 days). What train pass do you recommend since we do need to take Shinkansen train to Tokyo from Kyoto? Do we use Shin-Osaka station, or is there a station in Kyoto?

    Thank you very much. You are our life-saver.

    Shirley

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