Destination #4: Marine World Uminonakamichi, Fukuoka, Japan

Marine World Uminonakamichi in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan, is a public aquarium that showcases various marine habitats around the Kyushu area (from inshore waters, the coral reef community, and the different jellyfishes that can be found in the area). It is one of the recommended places to visit if you happen to be visiting for a few days. You can make this as part of your travel itinerary as a half day trip out of the busy city. The park features a number of attractions including a show pool with scheduled performances of dolphins and a huge aquarium that showcases the open ocean marine life off the coast of Kyushu (with a scheduled light and sound sardine show). A timetable listing down the feeding time of various animals are available at the information desk at the entrance if you want to observe the eating habits of the various sea creatures on exhibit.

The park has undergone a major renovation a while back and things have certainly improved from my last visit. The park was packed when we visited (I have visited 3 times so far and this is the busiest I have seen it) but perhaps since it is still the summer vacation and coincidentally the week of the Obon festival has more to do with the park being full of people.

It was so gratifying to see the excitement and wonder from my niece who would go "Oooh!" and "Aaaah!" at each of the exhibits that catch her attention.

There are several ways of going to the park but the most convenient for me is taking the JR Kashii Line train heading to the Uminonakamichi Station and then it is a short walk from there to the park entrance. There are sufficient signages showing the way.

Normal price entrance fee is at 2,300 Yen but discounts are available for group tours, students, and for the elderly.