Umitamago (Oita Marine Palace Aquarium)
大分マリーンパレス水族館 うみたまご
A seaside aquarium across from Takasakiyama, known for its sea lion shows and close-up interactions with dolphins and otters. A good choice for families.
Oita Marine Palace Aquarium, nicknamed 'Umitamago' (Sea Egg), opened in 1964 and was rebuilt in 2004. It sits on the shore of Beppu Bay, directly across from Takasakiyama Natural Zoo, and the two are connected by a pedestrian footbridge. Highlights include the funny sea lion shows, dolphin shows, and the 'Asobi Ba' interactive area on the second floor, where you can get close to dolphins and seals. There is also a large Beppu Bay migration tank. Admission is about 2,600 yen. There is a combined ticket with Takasakiyama, and it's open 09:00 to 17:00.
Getting there: Take a bus for about 15 minutes from Beppu Station or Oita Station to the 'Takasakiyama Shizen Dobutsuen-mae' stop. It's best to see the monkeys in the morning and visit the aquarium in the afternoon.
Opening hours
9:00 am–5:00 pm (extended in season)
Nearby sights
- Takasakiyama Monkey Park
- Takegawara Onsen
- Beppu Tower
- Beppu Beach Sand Bath (Kaihin Sunayu)
- Hyotan Onsen
- Hells of Beppu (Jigoku Meguri)
- Beppu Onsen Hoyoland
- Myoban Onsen