oiran section at Aquarium Ga-kyo (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
Experience the beauty of nature, Zen and Japanese traditions at a new art aquarium in Tokyo’s Odaiba.
UWS Aquarium Ga-Kyo inside Aqua City Odaiba shopping mall immerses visitors into Japanese concepts of art and beauty through stunning exhibits featuring koi, goldfish and other sea creatures.
I entered through a curtain of misty smoke into the first section of the art aquarium incorporating elements of “Wabisabi,” or the beauty in simplicity. Here, vividly colored nishikigoikoi carp fish seemingly dance among nature’s elements and painted scrolls in large-scale terrariums and tanks while New Age Asian-inspired music played.
koi fish (carp) (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
entrance (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
admission (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
wabisabi (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
(Photo by Denisse Rauda)
(Photo by Denisse Rauda)
(Photo by Denisse Rauda)
(Photo by Denisse Rauda)
koi fish (carp) (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
Next, the “oiran” section includes colorful projections on traditional paper umbrellas as glittering goldfish in intricate bowls create a “neo-Japanese mood,” as described by the aquarium’s brochure.
The “mangekyo” kaleidoscope section was truly hypnotic. Here, the lighting of the room came from the elaborate tanks and mirror balls reflecting light onto a large mural. This was existential because I really felt like I was in a kaleidoscope looking into kaleidoscopes of goldfish as they swam through the ever-changing designs. We stayed in this room a while because it was a true trip.
kaleidoscope (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
kaleidoscope (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
kaleidoscope (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
kaleidoscope (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
kaleidoscope (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
kaleidoscope (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
The next section was the “yuraku,” which means pleasure or amusement. Here visitors are taken to a summer festival favorite, games. Try your hand at scooping goldfish in the interactive project mapping or purchase an omikuji fortune for an additional fee. This area has photo spots where you can try on masks and robes for some memorable pics.
The final section of the aquarium is “Ryugu.” The center of the aquarium, Ryugu is named after and inspired by Ryugu-jo, the palace of dragon god Ryujin, which is said to lie below the waters off Odaiba, according to the brochure. Here enormous exhibits blend water, earth, air and water into a harmonious and calming space to enjoy some time watching a variety of goldfish, koi fish and jellyfish swimming around their crystal tanks.
Ryugu (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
Ryugu (Photo by Denisse Rauda)
I could spend hours watching the beautiful jellyfish in the giant clear orb tanks floating around and getting caught in the rushing stream pushing through the tank center. Bordering this section was a wall with various tanks displaying other marine creatures like sea snakes and varieties of curious fish.
Though the aquarium is small, UWS Aquarium Ga-Kyo takes full advantage of the space to include art, lighting, natural elements or fish tanks from floor to ceiling. No matter where you look, there is something beautiful to see at this art aquarium.
There is also a small gift shop on the way out selling some Japanese art and goldfish-themed souvenirs. Odaiba is a great place to spend a day shopping, playing arcade games and eating at one of the hundreds of restaurants in the area. So, make a day of it and spend a little time enjoying the quiet, mesmerizing art aquarium tucked in a corner at Aqua City Odaiba.
Things to know
Address: Aqua City Odaiba 3F, 1-7-1 Daiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-0091
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Price: Adults (Junior high and older) 1,500 yen; Elementary students 800 yen; pre-school age free entry.
