Art Aquarium opened its first ever permanent museum at the end of August. The new aquarium and museum in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, is home to over 30,000 goldfish, or kingyo.
Art Aquarium started having summer exhibits in Tokyo in 2007. It then traveled to other locations in Japan and around the world with exhibits that were seen by over 10 million people. This is its first permanent location.
The permanent exhibit is reported to be three times bigger than the previous temporary versions, covering 2,321 square meters over two floors.
The exhibit will change with the seasons, as will the menu at the museum’s cafe. It will also have live performances of traditional Japanese dances on the second floor.
Exhibits include the “Goldfish Forest,” which has pillars filled with fish and water designed to look like a forest. There is also a huge fishbowl surrounded by 17 aquariums, and an area inspired by Japan’s Edo period, which was the period of time in its history between 1603 and 1868.
The designs are the work of artist Hidetomo Kimura, who tries to tell people about Japanese culture through his art. He says he uses goldfish because he believes the animal itself is a piece of art. In Japan, goldfish are said to represent money and good luck.
Regular tickets to the museum are 2,300 yen (almost $22) for adults, with children aged 12 and under getting in for free.
