# Kobe Suma Sea World

> The aquarium that replaced Suma Aqualife Park, opened on 1 June 2024, with an orca stadium, the only orcas on show in western Japan. Adult tickets cost 2,900 to 3,700 yen depending on the date, and a timed ticket bought online is the safe bet.

- Prefecture: Hyogo
- Type: Aquarium
- Address: Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
- Closed: There are occasional closing days; they are marked on the calendar on the official site.
- Hours note: Usually 10:00 to 18:00, with longer hours on some days. Last entry is 1 hour before closing. Hours change by date, so check the daily calendar on the official site.
- Admission: 3100 yen
- Official site: https://www.kobesuma-seaworld.jp/

Kobe Suma Sea World opened on 1 June 2024 on the site of Suma Aqualife Park, the old city aquarium, which shut in May 2023 when Kobe handed the park over to private operators. The reason to come is the Orca Stadium, home to the only orcas on show in western Japan. The performances throw a lot of water, and the aquarium does not undersell it, so think before you sit near the front. Next to the pool, Orca Lab and Orca Hall explain how orcas live, and Blue Ocean, a buffet restaurant, puts the whales on the other side of the dining-room window. There is a Dolphin Stadium as well, and Aqua Live covers the rest of the sea life. Tickets are timed and priced by date: 3,100 yen for adults in normal periods, up to 3,700 yen at Obon and down to 2,900 yen in the quieter weeks from December to March; children under 4 are free. Same-day tickets are not always sold, so buy online. Sales open on the 1st of each month for two months ahead, and cancelling is free until the day before. You can leave and come back the same day with a hand stamp. JR Suma-Kaihinkoen Station is 5 minutes away on foot, and Suma Beach is right outside.

## FAQ

### How much are tickets?

Prices change by date. Adults (high school age and up) pay 2,900 to 3,700 yen, 3,100 yen in normal periods; children (elementary and junior high) 1,700 to 1,800 yen; ages 4 to 6 the same as children; seniors 65 and over 2,300 to 3,100 yen. Children under 4 are free.

### Do I need to book in advance?

It is strongly recommended. Tickets are timed and sold online from the 1st of each month for two months ahead, and same-day tickets are not sold on some busy days. You can enter any time after the time on your ticket, ideally within an hour. Cancellation is free until the day before; on the day there is a 100% fee.

### Can I leave and come back in?

Yes, on the same day. Tell a staff member near the exit before you leave and they will stamp the back of your hand, which is checked when you come back in.

### What are the opening hours?

Usually 10:00 to 18:00, with longer hours on some days, and last entry 1 hour before closing. There are occasional closing days, so check the daily calendar on the official site.

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Source: Kobe Suma Sea World — Japan Voyage