Kobe Suma Sea World, which opened on June 1, 2024, is the only aquarium in western Japan where you can see orcas. With the summer vacation approaching, it’s becoming a hot topic.
I visited Suma Sea World and summarized my observations on how to enjoy it with my baby.
The orca performance was impressive and enjoyable, so if you are interested, plan your visit in advance and definitely go!
Blogger raising one child.
Sharing thoughts and discoveries about parenting on the blog.
About Kobe Suma Sea World
Kobe Suma Sea World is an aquarium located in Suma Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. It opened on June 1, 2024, after the Kobe City Suma Seaside Aquarium, which closed on May 31, 2023, was privatized.
It is a facility where you can experience various activities, such as the only orca performance in western Japan and the “Dolphin Beach” where you can learn about dolphin ecology up close.
It is about a 5-minute walk from JR “Suma Seaside Park Station” and about 50 minutes from Osaka.
Admission fees vary by day: approximately 3,700 to 2,900 yen for adults and 1,800 to 1,700 yen for children below junior high school age.
The author visited on a weekday in July 2024 with two adults and one infant.
We toured all the buildings, including Orca Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, and Aqua Live, and were satisfied with the powerful orca performance.
Advance reservations for admission tickets are recommended
Same-day tickets were available for sale at 10:30. However, it was noted that sales might not be available on certain days, so advance reservations are recommended.
Although we had reserved tickets for 10:00, we were able to enter at 10:30 despite being a bit late. It was good that we could enter even if we were late, but if there were many same-day ticket customers, it might have been crowded.
It is recommended to make a reservation in advance and arrive at the exact time.
Quite crowded even on weekdays
We heard that weekends are crowded, so we visited on a weekday, but it was still quite crowded.
Although we didn’t have to line up at the entrance, there were lines in the zone with various animal tanks in Aqua Live, making smooth movement difficult, and there was a queue for the elevator.
If you plan to watch multiple shows, be prepared to stand
The show schedule seems to vary by day, but the dolphin performance was at 11:00 and the orca performance was at 11:30, with a 30-minute gap.
Many people might want to watch both shows consecutively, but by 11:00, many seats in the orca performance venue were already taken. People coming from the dolphin venue mostly ended up in seats exposed to the sun (very hot), the front row with a high chance of getting wet, or standing.
If you want to sit in a comfortable seat, it is recommended not to rush from one show to another.
Seats and standing areas for shows can be full, preventing entry
In some cases, standing areas are also full, preventing entry. If you arrive late or try to rush from one show to another, you might not be able to get in and watch the show, so be cautious.
Activity experiences sell out quickly
Discovery Guidance, where you can interact with animals, offers Turtle Communication, Aqua Live Backstage Tour, and Dolphin Communication, all of which are appealing.
There is an additional fee for each, but from what we saw, everyone who participated seemed to enjoy them a lot.
However, these also require advance reservations, as they were all sold out by 10:30 on the day of our visit.
According to the official website, reservations can be made 3-7 days in advance, depending on membership status.
The official app allows reservations and provides a map and show schedule for the day, so installing it in advance seems to facilitate a smoother visit.
Orca lottery, one of the highlights, is also crowded
The orca lottery, where you can win a plush orca without losing, is also a highlight.
It was in front of the museum shop on the first floor of Orca Stadium, and people seemed to buy tickets at the escalator behind the area and line up at the lottery stand.
When we visited the shop around 3:00 PM to buy souvenirs before going home, there were long lines not only at the shop’s register but also at the lottery stand.
If you are determined to buy, it is better to try early. (However, if you win the first prize, you will have to carry a large orca stuffed toy with you for the rest of the day.)
Food situation can be quite challenging
According to Suma Sea World’s official website, bringing food is not allowed. Therefore, having a picnic with onigiri bought from a convenience store is not recommended.
Despite visiting on a weekday, the food-related places were quite crowded.
Buffet restaurant’s tickets run out quickly
By 10:30, when we arrived at Suma Sea World, the tickets for the buffet restaurant were already gone. The restaurant, where you can eat while watching the highlight orca, does not accept advance reservations, so if you want to eat at the buffet restaurant, it is better to line up for tickets as soon as the park opens.
Food court has entry restrictions
The food court has entry restrictions, not just on ordering food. There was a long line at the entrance. Once inside, staff members guide you to a seat, so there’s no need to worry about finding a place to sit, which is reassuring.
However, every time we passed by the food court, there was always a long line, so it seemed there were no less crowded times.
Recommendation: Go early to the orca show and buy from the food stand
As mentioned, while the orca performance seats are not abundant, they are possible to secure. Additionally, there are food stands (PORT DINER, open from 11:00) near the entrance of the performance venue where you can buy fried chicken, fries, crepes, ice cream, etc.
You can enjoy your food while waiting for the performance to start.
If it’s not too hot, you can also eat under parasols outside
Another option is SEA WORLD PLAZA, the plaza between Orca Stadium and Dolphin Stadium (immediately after entering), which has tables and chairs with parasols, surrounded by food trucks and vending machines, where you can also eat.
However, it is hot, and in the middle of summer, heatstroke and other concerns are something to be cautious about.
This place was also full when many people came out after the performance, so it is better to use it when events are taking place.
From a perspective of visiting with kids
The author visited with a 0-year-old in a baby carrier, but there were many other visitors with strollers. Here are some points that caught my attention from the perspective of moving around and enjoying the facility with kids.
Stroller rental is available, but not recommended
Strollers are allowed and can be rented for 300 yen per day. However, personally, I do not recommend using a stroller.
The facility is barrier-free, so it is possible to go anywhere, but I saw situations where it was difficult to move around due to detours and crowded areas. Particularly in the tank exhibition space, there were several strollers unable to move, causing frustration.
Additionally, you must leave strollers in designated areas to enter performance venues (without lockable poles), making for a less smooth experience.
Nursing rooms are available but vary in equipment and size
Nursing rooms were available in each building (three locations in total).
Each had a lockable nursing room, diaper changing table, formula preparation area, and diaper disposal box, but the room sizes and nursing room sizes varied.
When we visited, it was very hot, but the nursing rooms were air-conditioned, and it was comfortable to use if not crowded.
However, the nursing rooms were narrow, making it difficult to enter with a stroller, and it was challenging to pass by when multiple strollers were near the diaper changing area.
Recommendation: Decide what you want to see and plan in advance
As mentioned above, this was the situation on a weekday, so it might be even more crowded on weekends and holidays, making it still difficult to enjoy leisurely with kids.
The orca performance was very impressive, and it was fun to see various exhibits, so deciding what you definitely want to see (or buy) and where the facilities are located in advance will give you peace of mind.
I hope this information will be helpful for those planning to visit Suma Sea World.
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