This is the second part of the guide to enjoying Kobe Suma Sea World!
The second part introduces the adorable sea animals like penguins, seals, sea lions, and turtles, as well as a restaurant where you can dine while watching orcas.
In the second part,
I’ll introduce the adorable sea animals and dolphins!
I’ll also talk about the impressive restaurant!
●Here’s the first part!
●Here’s the article introducing the attractions of Kobe Suma Sea World.
Contents
- Touch sharks and rays at the Touching Pool!
- There are many cute marine animals! Rocky Life
- A long-time favorite since the “Suma Sui” days! The Dolphin Performance.
- Learn about orcas at the Orca Lab!
- West Japan’s first restaurant where you can dine while watching orcas!
- Don’t forget to grab a souvenir!
- You can also get to Kobe Suma Sea World from It’ta de!
Touch sharks and rays at the Touching Pool!
After the Tropical Life, we headed to the Touching Pool to touch sharks and rays!
The texture felt like soft rubber. When touching them, make sure to follow the staff’s instructions and adhere to the rules! If you touch them suddenly, it can startle the animals!
There are many cute marine animals! Rocky Life
After enjoying the touching pool, head to Rocky Life to see marine mammals like penguins and seals!
The penguins were swimming too! It was so adorable to watch them glide through the water!
Is this the penguins’ home? They were grooming themselves and basking in the sun, looking so cute!
Since it was time for the dolphin show to start, I quickly moved to Dolphin Stadium!
A long-time favorite since the “Suma Sui” days! The Dolphin Performance.
The Dolphin Performance has been a huge favorite since the “Suma Sui” days! The adorable dolphins showcased a perfectly synchronized performance with their trainers. While it’s not as splashy as the orca performance, sitting in the front row might get you a little wet, so it might be a good idea to have a poncho ready!
The show has started!
They also showed us this adorable sight! It looks like they’re smiling—so cute!
The dolphins had a different kind of cuteness compared to the orcas! At the Dolphin Hall on the first floor of Dolphin Stadium, you can see dolphins swimming right in front of you. It’s a great opportunity to observe them in a different setting from the performance, so be sure to check it out!
Learn about orcas at the Orca Lab!
Kobe Suma Sea World is all about learning while having fun, and one of the highlights is the “Orca Lab.” This area offers the latest research data on orca ecology, including skeletal specimens. The impressive orca skeleton is definitely worth a visit!
West Japan’s first restaurant where you can dine while watching orcas!
After visiting Orca Lab, we headed to the restaurant we had been looking forward to! This restaurant, “Blue Ocean Orca Stadium,” located on the first floor of the Orca Stadium, is the first in Western Japan where you can enjoy a meal while watching orcas swim.
There are different seating areas: the “Premium Seat” right next to the aquarium, the “Ocean Area” slightly farther from the tank, and the “Beach Area” at the back of the restaurant. The prices vary depending on the seating, so be sure to check when making a reservation!
The traveling cats booked a table in the Ocean Area, and we could still clearly watch the orcas swimming! It was such a soothing experience, offering a different charm compared to the performances!
Of course, the food was also delicious! I got so caught up in watching the orcas that I forgot to take pictures, but there’s a live kitchen where chefs prepare dishes right in front of you, so you can enjoy freshly made meals at any time! There were many dishes focusing on local ingredients from Hyogo, such as roasted beef made from Hyogo beef and seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, offering a unique dining experience centered around local production for local consumption. This is one of the charms of Kobe Suma Sea World, giving visitors a different way to enjoy the aquarium compared to others!
Location | Orca Stadium 1st floor |
Business hours | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (subject to change depending on the season) |
※This is a very popular restaurant. If you are planning to dine here, making a reservation is a must.
※The menu changes with the seasons. Please be sure to check the official website for updated hours and menu details before your visit.
Don’t forget to grab a souvenir!
Don’t forget the souvenirs! At Kobe Suma Sea World, there are many exclusive animal-themed goods available! Of course, there are also items featuring the original character “Orcy”!
There’s also a lottery where you can win adorable plush toys! You can even find cute orca plush toys, so be sure to take one home with you!
You can also get to Kobe Suma Sea World from It’ta de!
Access to Kobe Suma Sea World
Address | 1-3-5 Wakamiya-cho, Suma-ku, Kobe, Hyogo |
Hours | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Varies by season) |
Closed | Check the official website for holiday details |
Official Website | https://www.granvista.co.jp/english/ |
●From It’ta de JPN (It’ta de Japan): Approx. 1 hour 20 minutes
●From It’ta de ChouChou: Approx. 1 hour 20 minutes
●From It’ta de LYCKA: Approx. 1 hour 30 minutes
●From It’ta de MORRIS/RETRO: Approx. 1 hour 20 minutes