Art Aquarium Museum, Ginza, Tokyo
Updated: Apr 3
Showcasing beautiful goldfish as living art, this breathtaking museum is a must see in Tokyo. There are thousands of rare and common goldfish in ten exhibits, swimming in mesmerising multi-colored vessels of various shapes and sizes. In a style typical of Japan, they are displayed in a way that encompasses all that is beautiful about nature.
The Art Aquarium Museum in Tokyo is not your typical aquarium. Here, art, design, and entertainment seamlessly blend with the captivating beauty of goldfish, creating a fantastical world unlike any other.
This blog post will take you on a journey through this unique museum, exploring its dazzling exhibits, fascinating history, and the cultural significance of goldfish in Japan. You can also book your tickets here with Klook, and find out exactly how to get to the museum. So, get ready to be mesmerized by a captivating fusion of art and aquatic life!
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Save money and get your Art Aquarium Museum ticket with Klook
● Reservations can be made in advance
● Combo deals with other attractions available
● Accepts card payments from banks outside Asia
Our Art Aquarium Ginza highlights
The building that houses the Art Aquarium Museum is easy enough to locate however once inside it is a little confusing. It is a 9 floor department store and on the floor plan it shows the museum as being on floor 8. Thankfully we asked at the reception area as they kindly informed us that it is actually on floor 9. You can find details of how to navigate the building later on in this post.
Our first stop was the Ginza Mantoro, a magical 'silent' spot of traditional hanging Japanese lanterns. The multi-layered lanterns mimic the historical design of those at the Kasuga Taisha Shrine in Nara. This was a really pleasant start to our tour!
Next up was a lovely exhibit called the Goldfish Corridor. This is designed to mimic the style of Japanese temples and is lined on either side by large floor-to-ceiling goldfish tanks illuminated in slow changing colors. It was a great start, although this seemed to be the busiest area so it was hard to enjoy it in all its glory! But we loved it all the same, and immediately had a nice sense of ease given the lovely calming music that accompanied us throughout.
We then moved on to the 'Goldfish Waterfall', one of the larger displays that contains multi-layered rectangular tanks with subtle overflowing cascading water. This is an open and interactive exhibit so we could walk in between the tanks and observe the goldfish in a way that almost felt like we were in the tanks with them!
The Mask Collection was very interesting; a wall featuring some 60 historical masks collected by the museum from all over Japan. Many of these masks would have been used in rituals and ceremonies over time. Some of them looked fairly ghoulish; we were a tad disappointed each one did not come with any information. But they were cool to observe and we really enjoyed this exhibit.
Our next exhibit was 'A Show of Kingyo'. This is a collection of around 20 small square pedestals hosting a short open topped square aquarium on top. Surrounding the aquarium are beautiful 'Kimono obi' glass multi-colored marbles. There were certainly some very interesting looking goldfish here!
We could sense the exhibits getting bigger and better as we moved on and the 'Origamirium' is a great example of that. This giant fishbowl is inspired by the Japanese tradition of origami (hence the name and shape) and also has hanging paper origami fish surrounding it which you can walk amongst. Very, very beautiful!
The absolutely stunning 'Chochinrium' greeted us next and was perhaps one of our favorite exhibits. Based on traditional Japanese 'Matsuri Lantern' lighting, either side of the central walkway is lined with pedestal-mounted large glass sphere style bowls designed to magnify the fish to make them look bigger. The tops of the bowls, the lighting, the ceiling decorations; it was all very magical here!
The penultimate exhibit features bamboo style tubular tanks which alternate lights of white, green, pink and red. Each tank bubbles inside and wrap around a beautiful Christmas Tree in the centre. It is designed to resemble a bamboo forest and is a quiet space of tranquility and appreciation.
Last but certainly not least is this incredible collaboration project in which vibrant and unique color and synergy truly stands out amongst various strategically placed goldfish bowls. Japanese flower arrangement is called Ikebana and intermingling this stunning style with the fish of the aquarium makes this final exhibit a fitting crescendo for this museum!
"This is the world's first collaboration between Goldfish and myself, so I'm filled with anticipation. Goldfish and flowers, I can't help but look forward to how I can co-star the perfected beauty created by this world. all visitors will enjoy this world-first collaboration between goldfish and ikebana, a Japanese art that boasts to the world."
- Shogo Kariyazaki
Read on for more information on tickets for the Art Aquarium, how to get there in Tokyo, and our experience rating.
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Why are goldfish so significant in Japan?
Goldfish hold a special place in Japanese culture for several reasons, and have so for over 500 years! Here are a few of the reasons behind it:
⪢ Symbol of Luck and Prosperity
The Japanese word for goldfish, 'Kingyo', has characters that mean 'gold' and 'fish'. This association with gold naturally paints them as symbols of wealth and good fortune. Their red and orange colors are also considered lucky and believed to ward off evil.
⪢ Historical Importation
Goldfish were introduced to Japan from China around the 1500s. They were initially a luxury item, kept only by wealthy individuals contributing to their association with high status.
⪢ Accessibility
During the Edo period (1603-1868), goldfish breeding techniques advanced, and they became widely popular among the common people. This widespread availability further ingrained them in Japanese culture.
⪢ Aesthetics
Their vibrant colors, graceful movements, and variety of shapes and forms have a captivating aesthetic quality that the Japanese have long appreciated.
⪢ Cultural Representation
Goldfish appear frequently in Japanese art, literature, and even festivals. They symbolize summer and a sense of delightful nostalgia.
The history of the Art Aquarium Museum
While the Art Aquarium Museum Ginza officially opened its doors in May 2022, its story goes back further. It wasn't the first "Art Aquarium" experience, but rather the second chapter in a longer journey.
⪢ The Beginning (2007)
The concept first emerged as a temporary exhibition in Tokyo in 2007. This initial exhibit showcasing goldfish in artistic displays proved incredibly popular, running for two months.
⪢ Traveling the World
Following the success of the first exhibition, the "Art Aquarium" concept embarked on a journey, holding limited-time exhibitions in various locations both domestically and internationally over the next 15 years.
⪢ Permanent Home (2022)
Finally, in 2022, the Art Aquarium found a permanent home in the heart of Ginza. This new iteration, the Art Aquarium Museum Ginza, represents an evolution of the concept, offering a more immersive and permanent experience focused on showcasing goldfish as living art. In over 40 exhibitions, it has amassed over 10 million visitors!
Getting Tickets for the Art Aquarium Museum in Tokyo
⪢ For adults and students (12+ years old)
Web Ticket: ¥2,300 JPY ($15.26 USD / $20.72 CAD / £12.06 GBP)
(Online purchase on the day is possible)
Same Day Ticket: ¥2,500 JPY ($16.59 USD / $22.52 CAD / £13.11 GBP)
Use the ticket vending machine on the 9th floor of Ginza Mitsukoshi New Building for same-day tickets. Credit / debit cards and cash are accepted.
Check online first: If online tickets are sold out, same-day tickets will not be available.
⪢ Children (under 12 years old)
● Free admission for up to 2 children per adult
● Normal fee will be charged from the 3rd child
⪢ Audio guides
Guides are available for ¥500 JPY (£2.62 GBP / $3.32 USD / $4.50 CAD).
**Prices are correct at time of publication (February 2024). Please check the museum website for the most up-to-date information.
Get your Art Aquarium Museum ticket with Klook
● Reservations can be made in advance
● Combo deals with other attractions available
● Accepts card payments from banks outside Asia
Art Aquarium Museum opening times
The Art Aquarium Museum is open every day 10am - 7pm. Last entry is 6pm.
⪢ Best time to visit
If you want to enjoy the Art Aquarium in a more relaxed and peaceful atmosphere, we recommend visiting during weekdays, and in the early morning, around 10am to 12pm.
How to get to the Ginza Art Aquarium Museum in Tokyo
The best way to get to the museum is via the highly efficient and world-renowned subway system in Tokyo (in our opinion). Check below for the nearest stations, and tap the map for further navigation.
⪢ Nearest subway stations
● Ginza Station - Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line, Hibiya Line - A7 exit (directly opposite)
● Ginza-itchome Station - Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line - Exit 9 (5 minute walk)
● Higashi Ginza Station - Toei Asakusa Line/Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line - go in the direction of Ginza Station via the underground walkway (2 minute walk)
● Yurakucho Station - JR Line - Central Exit/Ginza Exit (9 minute walk)
⪢ By car
There is a parking lot within the Ginza Mitsukoshi building. Parking tickets are available at the museum shop inside the Art Aquarium Museum. Museum visitors get 1 hour free for each parking ticket (1.5 hours free for Nishi-Ginza parking lot). You can also gain additional free hours when spending over ¥2000 JPY in the store.
⪢ Ginza Mitsukoshi Building
When you arrive at the Ginza Mitsukoshi Building, you will find that the floor plan at the entrance states that the museum is on floor 8. This is not correct; entrance is actually on floor 9, via the Ginza Terrace Garden.
You are unable to access floor 9 by escalator and can only get there by the main building elevators. When you exit the elevator turn left and take a few steps, you will see the entrance just to the right. Tap here for building route guidance.
⪢ Address: 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8212 Ginza Mitsukoshi (admission reception / same-day ticket: 9th floor of the new building)
⪢ Contact form: https://artaquarium.jp/info/
⪢ Phone: (+81) 03-3528-6721
⪢ Website: artaquarium.jp
⪢ Instagram: @artaquarium_museum_official
⪢ Facebook: @artaquariumofficial
A fascinating journey through interactive exhibits that combine technology and nature, enveloping you in a world of zen and Japanese culture
Our Art Aquarium Museum Ginza experience rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
We thoroughly enjoyed the exhibits and felt that it was all very beautiful! It was very busy, which did make it a little difficult to enjoy everything as the spaces were quite small. Booking later in the evening might have sounded like a good idea, but it seems many people do that, so perhaps the early morning is better! We would absolutely recommend it though, and we are sure it will be a memory that like us, you will not forget from Tokyo!
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