The "Northern Land Aquarium" is located in Rubeshibe Town, Kitami City, Hokkaido, and exhibits freshwater fish. Although it is smaller in scale than the larger aquariums, it has gained popularity nationwide thanks to its unique exhibition and information sharing methods. What exactly is it that makes it so popular? We will introduce its appeal.

What is the Northern Land Aquarium?

Its predecessor, the Mountain Aquarium and Local Museum, opened in 1978. It closed in 2011 due to the aging of the facilities, but reopened in 2012 after moving to its current location and being nicknamed the Northern Land Aquarium.

Japan's first waterfall basin aquarium

This semi-dome shaped aquarium allows you to look up at it from below, and you can observe Dolly Varden trout and yamame trout swimming dynamically from the bottom of the waterfall basin.

The way the bubbles form and the way the light shines through it is truly fantastical, making it a popular photo spot.

A world first! A frozen river "Four Seasons Aquarium"

Outside the building, there is an aquarium that recreates a river, and you can observe the fish from inside. It is a new sensational aquarium that makes you feel as if you are looking at the cross section of a river. The fish on display change with the seasons, and it is especially exciting in the fall when chum salmon, pink salmon, and cherry salmon appear!

Male cherry salmon (Photo: courtesy of Kitanodaichi Aquarium)

Rubeshibe Town, where the aquarium is located, is an area where winter is so severe that temperatures can drop below -20°C... and in the harsh winter, the surface of the water actually freezes over! There is no other aquarium in the world where you can see the fish living under the ice.

A sight that you would never normally be able to see (Photo: Courtesy of the Kitano Daichi Aquarium)

The mythical fish, the huchen

The "Large Hucho Tank" is home to the Hucho, Japan's largest freshwater fish, also known as a "phantom fish" due to its rarity. The sight of schools of 1-meter-sized Hucho swimming in groups is also very impressive.

You can see how big it is compared to a person.

Another popular program is the feeding commentary performance "Itadakimasu Live," where you can see the hucho eating live rainbow trout. While the sight of the hucho chasing the rainbow trout with all their might and the escaping rainbow trout, and the predation itself, gives a sense of excitement and the harshness of the natural world, but also reminds us that we humans also receive "life" every day to survive.

When prey is introduced, the fish suddenly become very agile (Photo: courtesy of the Kitano Daichi Aquarium)

There are plenty of other fascinating fish!

The corner showcasing tropical freshwater fish from around the world is filled with unique fish that are different from those found in Hokkaido.

The Amazonian arapaima is the world's largest freshwater fish

Colorful freshwater fish of Africa

Asian Translucent Grass Cat

In the touch corner, doctor fish, a staple of aquariums, are on display. When you put your hand in the tank, they gather around and eat the dead skin, but what's most noteworthy is their size! Even aquarium enthusiasts are amazed by them.

Doctor fish is a common name; its official name is Garra rufa (Photo: Courtesy of the Kitano Daichi Aquarium)

What do you think? I think the introduction so far has been enough to convey its appeal, but in a sense, the real action begins from here...