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. millie says:

    hi takeshi,

    Saw your post and looks very informative..
    just want to ask some questions regarding the kaiyu pass..

    1 day pass meaning 24hrs travel?
    Do they offer rail to get from aquarium to USJ? or is it only accessible only by ferry?

    Because we are planning to
    Day 1 aquarium , Tempozan n Legoland
    Day 2 USJ

    any better suggestion?
    Thank you..

    Millie

    • Hi Millie,

      Unfortunately one day pass does not mean 24 hours. It’s valid for 0:00 to 23:59.

      Ferry is not covered by this pass. When yo go to USJ by train, you have to take JR train from Nishikujo to Universal city station. JR trains is not covered either. This pass covers only subway and city bus.

      So you can use this pass for day 1. But on day 2 for trip to USJ, just purchase regular fare ticket.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Priscilla says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    I am planning to visit Katsuoji Temple and Nara in one day, I will have JR pass on that day, but whats the best transportation to go to Katsuoji Temple that would include the train and bus ride from and to the station? Thank you in advance!

    • Hi Priscilla,

      You have to take subway Midousuji line and Kita-Osaka Kyuko line to Senri Chuo station, and then take taxi or bus to get Katsuoji. All transportation are not covered by JR pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  3. Kato says:

    Hi takeshi.,
    I will have JR West Rail pass (sanyo-san) and I want to go from Kyoto to Osaka for one day and visit osaka aquarium and osaka Castle.
    What would be the fastest or easiest :
    – take shinkansen and buy osaka kaiyu ticket at Shin-Osaka and then subway Midosuji-Line
    or
    – take JR Kyoto Line for Osaka Station and buy ticket at Osaka Station and take subway from there?

  4. Ken says:

    Hi,

    question, will this pass cover going to Osaka instant ramen museum? its abit further out. was thinking of going to that in the morning then Osaka aquarium in the afternoon.

    • Hi Ken,

      No. You cannot get there by this pass. You can get Umeda by this pass but after arriving Umeda, you need to take Hankyu railway train which is not covered by this pass. You need to pay single ticket to Ikeda on Hankyu railway Takarazuka line. It costs around 200 to 300 yen for one way.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Jasmine Lee says:

    Hi, Takeshi,

    We will travel from Kyoto to Osaka, then place luggages in
    5 Chome-2-8 Uehonmachinishi, Chūō-ku, Ōsaka-shi, Ōsaka-fu 542-0062,
    And plan to visit Kaiyukan Aquarium with Osaka Kaiyu Pass. Is this pass cover the subway from Kyoto to Chuo-Ku ?

    Pls give advice.
    Thank you

    • Hi Jasmine,

      No. There is no subway lines between Kyoto and Osaka. There are some subway lines in Kyoto but it’s not connected with subway line in Osaka. You need to pay single fare to get Osaka and then purchase Osaka Kaiyu ticket.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Azhar says:

    hi

    plan to go to osaka end of this June 2017.
    Is it possible, to buy the kaiyu ticket and then use the train card first to Osaka Castle and then later go to Kaiyukan.. (reason Kaiyukan open at 10 am but Osaka Castle at 9am)..

    regards

  7. Lydia Chue says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    My first trip to Japan together with my daughter. Duration 1 Oct to 6th Oct. My apartment location will be near Shinimamiya and Hanazonocho station.
    Planned itinerary :
    DAY 1 – reached Kansai Airport around 4pm then to apartment. Later then to Dotonbori near Namba – free and easy
    DAY 2 – Kaiyukan and Osaka sight seeing
    DAY 3 – USJ
    DAY 4 – Kyoto sight seeing and back to apartment
    DAY 5 – Nara and Wakayama
    DAY 6 – Free and easy and to Kansai Airport

    There are so many travel and sight-seeing passes to choose from. Not sure which is the best for my itinerary. Would prefer passes with direct transit to the airport for the last day.

    Thanks and regards.

  8. Ethel Kok says:

    Hi there, I’m planning 7 days 6 nights Osaka-Kyoto-Nara-Kyoto-Osaka trip
    2 Oct 10pm- reaching KIX airport
    few questions for you JPrail 🙂
    1) wondering which train/pass to take to our homestay near Osaka, Nishinakajimaminamigata Station from KIX at night

    3 Oct am – depart to Kyoto
    2) which train/ pass you suggest to go to our house near Kyoto Station

    6- 8 Oct – back to Osaka again, stay near to Awaza Station this time.
    3)which train and pass you recommend to take as I also saw Kaiyukan promotion?

    Plan to visit Sea Aquarium,Ferris Wheel , Umeda Sky building Dotonburi in Osaka and flight at 10pm on the 8th !

    Thank you for your patient reply! Thank you so much 🙂

  9. Seau wei says:

    Takeshi,

    We will travel from Kyoto to Osaka. Then place in luggages in hotel/ chuo ward area. Think of going to kaiyukan afternoon and have dinner near kaiyukan area. Then we will back to hotel.
    We are 2 adults and 1 kids 11 years old, and another one kids is 13 years old. Total 4 person

    Any travel pass I can use for this? And which is the most economical?

    Need your advise. This.

  10. Emily says:

    Hi takeshi.

    Thank you for the reply. We are planning on this itinerary but a bit confused which passes to buy. 6 adults and 2 kids

    Day 1 arrive kix 9pm – sakuragawa
    Day 2 planning on osaka castle + shinsaibashi
    Day 3 osaka aquarium + shinsaibashi
    Day 4 kyoto
    Day 5 kyoto
    Day 6 usj
    Day 7 nara
    Day 8 Free time
    Day 9 free time
    Day 10 leave osaka

    Hope you can suggest ideal places for 3 parents, 2 adults in 20-30s – 2 toddlers aged 2&5yo

    A friend gave us 2 kyoto-osaka sightseeing pass 2 days. How do we use or maximiZe this? Do we buy another 4 so all 6 adults take it or not use it at all?

    Thank you 🙂

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