Kurage Wonder Research Team Observation Journal / Kurage Wonder's Birthday

Kurage Wonder was established in 2020. Here you can encounter around 30 different types of jellyfish.
Jellyfish have a wide variety of characteristics, and by learning about the highlights of each one, you may be able to find your favorite jellyfish.

Congratulations! Kurage Wonder celebrates its 5th anniversary!

July 16th marked the fifth anniversary of Kurage Wonder's opening. Kyoto Aquarium's first major renovation has tripled the size of its jellyfish exhibition area. The number of exhibited species has also increased to 5,000 specimens of 20 different species, making it one of the largest in western Japan*.

As of July 2020. Number of animals kept and exhibited by aquariums in Kinki, Chugoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa that are members of the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Researched by ORIX Real Estate Corporation.

For the five years since then, we have been working closely with jellyfish, aiming to become a bridge connecting many customers with jellyfish. Jellyfish are mysterious animals. Even though we see them every day, there is still so much we don't know about them. We will continue to do our best to share with you the discoveries and excitement we have gained through our interactions with jellyfish.

Preparations for renovation during closure

Just five years ago, the animal care staff worked hard and tirelessly to prepare for the reopening. 2020 was the year we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. A state of emergency was declared, and Kyoto Aquarium was forced to close.

The exhibition area was quiet with no visitors. However, time continued to flow as usual for the jellyfish and other animals. By monitoring the situation and collecting jellyfish in Kyoto Prefecture, and diligently breeding them in the aquarium, we managed to collect 20 different types of jellyfish.

In the five years since it opened, the aquarium has been trying new jellyfish breeding techniques little by little, and now has about 30 different types of jellyfish on display. It continues to get stronger every day.

If you want to see jellyfish, Kurage Wonder!

Do you know what kind of exhibits there are at Kurage Wonder? Whether you're a first-time visitor or a veteran who has visited many times, let's take a look at the highlights together.

First, there is the entrance to Kurage Wonder, "Prologue." Several tanks are lined up in a glass-enclosed area, displaying approximately 1,000 Moon jelly.

You can observe Moon jelly from babies born that day up to two months old.

When the Moon jelly grow up, they set off on a journey to "GURURI."

"GURURI" is a 360° panoramic aquarium. Passing through the arched entrance, you can enter the donut-shaped tank. This fantastical space, surrounded by Moon jelly as far as the eye can see, is a soothing place that jellyfish lovers will love.

By the way, the acrylic for "GURURI" was delivered in pieces and then reassembled inside the Kyoto Aquarium. The acrylic being delivered by a large crane is now a fond memory for me.

Next is the Kyoto Jellyfish Research Department, an open space where you can see the breeding and rearing process, which is usually done in the back yard, right before your eyes.

Another attractive feature is that you can always ask the jellyfish animal care staff if you have any questions or concerns about jellyfish.

Further ahead, there are more than 10 types of jellyfish on display in medium to large tanks, where you can immerse yourself in the jellyfish to your heart's content until you leave Kurage Wonder.

Occasionally, they display jellyfish that have been successfully bred or jellyfish that have just been collected from the sea, so if you visit multiple times, you might come across a different jellyfish than usual...

With the expansion of the jellyfish exhibit, jellyfish have become a popular subject in workshops held at Communication Hall more frequently.

The jellyfish mobile in the photo is a workshop where jellyfish of various colors and sizes are made into mobiles for comparison. It is a favorite workshop where you can enjoy the jellyfish at home after taking them home.

We hope to continue to be a source of support for jellyfish lovers.

To create an opportunity for people who don't yet like jellyfish to get closer to them,

We aim to create an attractive exhibition.

We hope you will continue to support Kurage Wonder in its sixth year.

For other jellyfish columns, check out #ResearchMemberObservationDiary !