Kitanodaiji Aquarium

At the Northern Land Aquarium, you can observe the "Ito," which is the largest freshwater fish in Japan. Ito is a member of the salmon family and is a rare species that only inhabits very limited areas such as parts of Hokkaido and the Chishima Islands. Its body grows from one meter to a maximum of 1.5 meters, so its powerful swimming in the tank is a must-see. The aquarium breeds 20 Ito that have been raised for 15 years.

As soon as you enter the entrance, you will be greeted by Japan's first waterfall basin aquarium. The aquarium beautifully recreates the sight of fish swimming under the rushing water that flows into a natural waterfall basin. Since the waterfall basin is where food flows down from upstream, the fish gather there. The sight of fish swimming against the water pressure is a rare and valuable sight that cannot be seen in other aquariums.

At this aquarium, you can see tropical freshwater fish from around the world swimming in water that mixes hot springs and cold water, taking advantage of the terrain where hot springs gush forth. The aquarium houses the pirarucu, which inhabits the world's largest tropical cloud forest, and the arapaima, a large ancient fish known for its size. You can also encounter colorful cichlids that inhabit the Nile River in Africa. The water in this aquarium is known to insiders as "magical hot spring water" because the fish grow quickly and cleanly when raised in warm water.

The city of Kitami, where the aquarium is located, experiences a harsh environment where temperatures drop to below minus 20 degrees Celsius in winter. Taking advantage of this cold weather is the "frozen aquarium," which can only be seen during the winter. As the temperature drops, the surface of the water freezes over, but the river itself does not freeze. Under the frozen surface of the water, the fish swim energetically just like they do in the summer. Please enjoy this rare and valuable sight that is difficult to see in nature. You can also feel the power of life.

In addition to viewing fish in large aquariums, the facility also offers various experiential spots. There are unique attractions such as taking photos between gate-shaped aquariums and experiencing viewing goldfish swimming from directly above in kaleidoscope-shaped aquariums that cannot be found in other aquariums. You can also experience the "Doctor Fish" where fish eat old human keratin. When you put your hands in, the fish gather around your hands and you are enveloped in a strange sensation. It's especially recommended for women because when you take your hands out of the tank, your skin becomes smooth.