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Cool off this summer in Kyoto with a seal exhibit!? "Seal COOOOOOL!" starts July 11th (Saturday)
Kyoto Aquarium (Location: Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City; General Manager: Kazuyoshi Sakano) is pleased to announce that it will be holding a special exhibition, "Seals COOOOOOL!", from July 11th (Sat) to September 4th (Fri), 2026, where visitors can learn about the characteristics and ecology of seals and feel cool.
Kyoto Aquarium exhibits three spotted seals: Hama, Shiro, and Hikaru. This special exhibition was planned with the aim of showcasing the characteristics and ecology of spotted seals, as well as the charm of seals that the animal care staff finds "cool and great!"
The exhibit features a life-size panel of the seal "Hama," along with explanations about the seal's physical characteristics and diet, as well as a recreation of the seal's fur and belly firmness. There are also displays of shed whiskers and fur, and a bucket that replicates the weight of fish a seal eats in a day, allowing visitors to learn about the seal's characteristics through hands-on experience. Since wild spotted seals inhabit cold northern seas such as the Bering Sea, there is also a cool box where visitors can experience the Bering Sea's water temperature of approximately 12 degrees Celsius. In the scorching Kyoto summer, you can learn about the seal's habitat and feel refreshed. In addition, there is a seal gallery showcasing the best seal photos selected by 11 animal care staff, where you can see the most favorite moments of three seals.
Furthermore, a limited-time food and drink item commemorating the exhibition, "Cooool Soda with a Lying Seal," will be available for purchase. In addition, seal-themed goods will be sold, including 12 different "Seal Pin Badges" featuring photos of the three seals, "Spotted Seal Hair Keychains" containing seal hair shed this year, and "Hugable Seal Ball Chains" with a soft, squishy texture.
Let's stay cool and soothed by the seals during Kyoto's scorching summer.
■ Overview of the special exhibition "Seals COOOOOOL!"
Event period: July 11th (Sat) - September 4th (Fri), 2026
Venue: 1st floor rest area (in front of the "Penguin" area ramp) / 2nd floor "Communication Hall"
Price: Free *Aquarium admission fee not included.
1. A COOL BODY! A life-size seal panel that lets you feel its fur <br />A nearly life-size model of Hama, a seal approximately 1.6m long, will be on display, along with panels explaining the physical characteristics of seals.
The model replicates the firmness of a seal's belly, so try touching it to see what it feels like.
In addition, there are exhibits of fish buckets that allow visitors to experience the amount of whiskers and fur that seals lose and the amount of food they eat in a day, so you can learn about seals by touching and observing them closely.
2. The Bering Sea is COOL! A cooling box that lets you experience the coldness of the sea is now available. <br />Wild spotted seals inhabit the cold northern seas such as the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk.
A cooling box will be available that allows you to experience the Bering Sea, where the water temperature is a chilly 12 degrees Celsius even in summer. By putting your hand inside the box, you can feel the temperature of the Bering Sea.
Try experiencing the water temperature as if you were a wild seal.
3. CUTE & COOL! Seal Gallery Favorites from the animal care staff <br />This gallery showcases the best moments of Hama, Shiro, and Hikaru, the three seals we keep at our aquarium. There are 11 photos in total, each selected by one of our 11 animal care staff as their favorite moment for you to see.
Furthermore, from June 1st (Monday) to June 21st (Sunday), 2026, we solicited videos and photos of our seals on X using the hashtag "#KyotoSeaSealMoment". The best entries will be displayed on monitors and shelves in "Communication Hall" on the second floor.
Exhibition location: 2nd floor "Communication Hall"
■Special Exhibition Commemoration! Seal-themed Goods & Food Menu
1. All 12 types available: "Collect them all and it's so cool! Kyoto Aquarium original seal pin badges"
Our three seals, Hama, Shiro, and Hikaru, will be featured on gachapon (capsule toy) badges. Each badge features a special photo of the three seals, with a total of 12 designs. Don't miss this chance to get a badge of your favorite seal!
Sales start date: July 11, 2026 (Saturday)
Sales location: Exit of "Communication Hall" on the 2nd floor. Price: 300 yen (tax included)
*While supplies last.
2. Spotted Seal Hair Keychain <br />At Kyoto Aquarium, seals undergo a molting period once a year in the spring, when they shed all of their fur. This spring, the animal care staff collected seal hair and will be selling keychains containing the seals' fur. Attach it to your bag and feel like a seal wherever you go!
Sales start date: July 11, 2026 (Saturday)
Sales location: Museum Shop on the 1st floor
Selling price: 850 yen (tax included)
*While supplies last.
3. Huggable Seal Ball Chain <br />The popular "Huggable Plush Toy" inspired by a seal is now available as a keychain! The plush toy, with its soft, squishy texture and fluffy form, is now available in a size that's easy to take with you wherever you go. Don't miss this opportunity to get yours!
Sales start date: Scheduled for late July 2026. Sales location: Museum Shop on the 1st floor.
Selling price: 1,550 yen (tax included)
*While supplies last.
* Details regarding the start of sales will be announced on Kyoto Aquarium's official social media accounts.
4. Lying Seal COOOOOOL Soda <br />A new drink inspired by a seal lying on the rocks has arrived, and it comes in two flavors: Blue Hawaii and Mint. It is topped with cider-flavored jelly and ultra-low temperature ice crystals, and you enjoy it by breaking up the surface of the drink with a spoon. Please enjoy it along with your seal observation.
Sales period: July 11th (Sat) - September 4th (Fri), 2026
Sales location: Kaiju Café
Selling price: 900 yen each (tax included)
*While supplies last.
* Please note that the sales location, sales hours, and other details may be changed without prior notice.
