Showing posts with label Edogawa-ku. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Edogawa-ku. Show all posts

Thursday, February 8, 2007

14. Aquarium Review: Kasai Sea Life Park (Edogawa-ku)

The Kasai Sea Life Park is located within Kasai Rinkai Koen. If you like aquariums, you won't be disappointed. This aquarium focuses a lot on the oceans surrounding Japan. There main exhibit is a huge, donut-shaped tank filled with bluefin tuna and hammerhead sharks. Interesting to note that the designers of the tank didn't do their fish research. The design was to allow the tuna to travel in a full circle. Unfortunately, tuna like to see what's in front of them, and the narrower 'corners' of the tank didn't allow that. So, the fish constantly have to turn around when reaching those areas. Only an occasional smaller tuna gives the full circle a try!There is a display on the shoreline of the Kanto area, a kelp forest, a focus on the 'Sea of Tokyo',... There are also exhibits focusing on other oceans of the world, and the penguin exhibit is Japan's largest.Upon exiting the main building, I thought I'd seen everything. I was pleasantly surprised by a final exhibit called 'Nature Along the Water's Edge'. In the grounds outside the aquarium, they have recreated a natural setting of streams and freshwater ponds mimicing those found around the Kanto area. There was even a huge grassy lawn where fish kites could be flown. The kites were just laying in the grass for anyone to play with.

I definitely recommend visiting on a sunny day, and combining the aquarium with a picnic in Kasai Rinkai Koen. I wouldn't recommend the aquarium on a really busy day though, as it would be difficult to get a good look into all of the tanks.

Hours of Operation: 9:30-17:00 (last entry at 16:00), closed every Wedneday (changed to Thursday if it is a national holiday or October 1) and from Dec. 29 - Jan. 1.

Admission: Adults:700, Jr. High Students: 250, Seniors 65 and older: 350 yen.

*Disabled, Children under 11, and Jr. High students who reside in/or attend school in Tokyo are free. There are group discounts for groups of over 20.

**Use of strollers may be restricted on peak days.
**Free entry with Grutt Pass 2007 (#47)


Wednesday, February 7, 2007

13. Park Review: Kasai Rinkai Koen (Edogawa-ku)

Kasai Rinkai Koen is a waterfront park along Tokyo Bay, between the Ara River Flood Control Canal and the Edo River. It is also very close to Tokyo Disneyland. The park opened in 1989 and is the largest park within the 23 wards of Tokyo. I was very impressed with this park, and I plan to visit it again and again.

There are a number of things to see and do within the park. The busiest is the 'Tokyo Sea Life Park', an aquarium that has been written up separately. There are also two artificial ponds, one fresh water and the other brackish. These ponds are a bird sanctuary with an observation 'rest house'. Walking trails run in and around the sanctuary, a wonderful way to get some exercise and view nature at the same time.
On the other side of the park is a huge Ferris wheel set right in the middle of a big, green rolling landscape. All of the above attractions are connected my a labyrinth of walking trails that all lead down to the ocean.
The view out into the bay is wonderful, and if it is really clear, you can see Mt. Fuji! Two manmade sand flats have been constructed along the sea. One is a wildlife reserve, but the other is connected to the mainland by a beautiful bridge. As long as the weather is nice, this is an ideal place to visit for exercise, relaxation, to get in touch with nature,... without having to travel very far at all!
It is possible to make an overnight visit, as the Hotel Seaside Edogawa is located within the park. There are also a couple of restaurants, and during the day, a number of food carts. For those with small children or disabilities (or those who just want to take a ride!), there is a cute little tram that constantly runs around the park.

Address: Rinkai-cho 6-2-1, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo (Zip: 134-0086)
Kasai Rinkai Park Service Center: 03-5696-1331

Access:
By train: 1 minutes walk from Kasai Rinkai Koen Station of the JR Keiyo Line.
By car: Shuto Expressway Wangan Line, Kasai Exit (just before Tokyo Disneyland). Paid parking only.
By boat: This is a great way to get to the park! Boats leave regularly from Hinode Pier (see previous blog).