Kobe Suma Sea World Preview: On-Site Report
On the site where Suma Aqualife Park once stood—Kobe Suma Sea World—opened on June 1, 2024.
Theme-park media outlet Happyell was invited to cover the press previews held on May 28, 29, and 30.
This report covers our visit to both Sea World and Sea World Hotel.
Orca Show (Killer Whales)
In western Japan, Kobe Suma Sea World is the only place where you can see an orca show.
It is Sea World’s flagship show, so it is a must-see—and probably the main reason many visitors come.
Two orcas put on a spectacular, powerful performance.
The Orcas’ Names
• Stella (38 years old)
• Ran (18 years old)
*As of May 2024
Here is how to tell the mother-and-daughter pair Stella and Ran apart.
Look at the back edge of the dorsal fin.
The orca with a notch around the middle is Stella.
The orca without a notch is Ran.
My Impressions of the Orca Show
The sheer power of these enormous orcas is incredible.
I watched the orca show after the dolphin show, and even when they did the same kind of jump to hit a ball, I was amazed to see such a huge orca launch itself into the air.
When an orca lands after a jump, there is a tremendous splash and a huge amount of water surges out of the pool.
If you are sitting near the front, this goes far beyond simply getting a little wet.
To compare it to something, it feels like a bathtub filled to the brim is dumped over you all at once from above.
The impact was incredible.
The speed at which the orcas move their huge bodies through the large pool is also impressive.
Trainers ride on the swimming orcas and even stand on them—performances made possible by the animals’ enormous size.
But my strongest impression was: “They’re adorable♪”
The orcas’ faces are genuinely adorable.
Not only female members of the media but men too could be heard spontaneously saying, “So cute.”
I was so captivated by the two orcas that I almost forgot I was there for work.
For highlights of the orca show, recommended seats and viewing areas, and seats where you can stay dry, see the following article.
Play Video: Orca Show
Play Video: Orca Show Performance Highlights
Seats that get wet (soaked, slightly wet, and dry seats)
Where Can You See Orca Shows in Japan?
If you live in Kansai, you may be wondering, “Does Shirahama Adventure World no longer hold an orca show?”
Shirahama Adventure World held its final orca show in 2005.
Besides Kobe, there are currently two places in Japan where you can see orcas:
• Kamogawa Sea World, Chiba Prefecture
• Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Aichi Prefecture
Dolphin Show
The dolphin show was extremely popular back when this was Suma Aqualife Park, and you can enjoy it at Kobe Suma Sea World too.
The main pool alone is about five times larger than before.
The main pool holds about 3,500 tons of water, and there are three additional pools.
*The old Suma Aqualife Park pool held 690 tons, so this is about five times larger.
Four dolphins performed in the show.
The large pool gives them room to swim at full speed, and there were scenes where all four dolphins performed at the same time.
My Impressions of the Dolphin Show
There were many performances with the trainers, including dolphins pushing a trainer from behind at high speed and launching a trainer into a big jump from below. The show conveyed a strong bond between the people and the orcas.
And of course, the dolphins are adorable♪
You can watch the show not only from the above-water seating area, but also from underwater on the first floor.
The dolphins swim beyond a thick acrylic wall.
You can also see through acrylic panels by the front seats, but the underwater view feels completely different.
Most of all, you keep making eye contact with the dolphins♪
There were several moments when an adorable dolphin came toward us from the back of the pool, which was genuinely exciting♪♪
You can also clearly see the dolphins pushing the trainers from behind as they swim.
The sound is another highlight.
You can distinctly hear sounds such as the dolphins slapping the water.
After seeing the stage show, I definitely recommend watching it again from underwater at Dolphin Hall on the first floor.
For highlights of the dolphin show, recommended seats and viewing areas, and seats where you can stay dry, see the following article.
Play Video: Dolphin Show Performance Highlights
*Please wait a little longer for the article to be published.
Dolphin Beach
You can take part in a dolphin interaction experience and take commemorative photos with a dolphin.
Sitting in a shallow pool, you can touch a dolphin directly.
The water is very shallow, so children can participate with peace of mind.
The fee is ¥2,000 per person, making it an approachable option for anyone who wants a casual dolphin encounter.
*Experience time: 20 minutes (including explanations and time to change clothes)
*This dolphin experience can be purchased together with your Kobe Suma Sea World admission ticket. It becomes available seven days before the visit date for online members who have already purchased a ticket; for everyone else, it becomes available three days before.
Aqua Live (Aquarium)
This area features fish, seals, sea lions, penguins, jellyfish, and more.
There is also an area you can visit for free without buying an admission ticket.
Paid backstage tours are also available.
You can enjoy a variety of marine life and environments, including exhibits recreating scenery from the Seto Inland Sea, tropical-feeling areas, and coral-reef displays.
The facility spans the first through fourth floors, and if you explore carefully, it looks easy to spend more than two hours here.
My Impressions of Aqua Live
The moment you enter the building, you hear the sound of a waterfall.
Then there is the humidity and temperature that make you feel as though you are in the mountains.
It really gives you a sense of nature.
Impressions of the Seto Inland Sea Fish Exhibits
Beyond the waterfall, fish of conservation concern were swimming.
From rain falling and forming a waterfall to familiar creatures found along the coast, the exhibits let you experience the life cycle of water and changes in fish habitats.
One especially interesting feature is a tank where fresh water and seawater mix.
It was fascinating to see what the water is like at the boundary between river and sea, and how freshwater and saltwater fish live there.
This is the kind of detail you might miss without an explanation.
We were able to hear a detailed explanation on the press tour, which made it especially interesting.
Another exhibit recreates the Naruto whirlpools. Strong currents swirl around while sea bream and other fish swim powerfully through them, and you can see the fish up close.
I have eaten Naruto sea bream as sashimi and simmered fish several times, and I found myself wondering whether its delicious texture comes from surviving in such rough waters (laughs).
Open-Ocean Tank (Giant Acrylic Tank)
This may be Aqua Live’s best photo spot.
If there had been a bench here, I could have sat and watched forever—it was such a soothing space.
Penguins, Sea Lions, and Seals Are Adorable
Lots of energetic penguins swim as if they were birds flying through the sky.
Friendly sea lions.
Adorable seals.
I think they will become very popular.
You can watch them forever. They are simply adorable.
The Rays Come Over to Be Touched
Many rays swim in a relatively small tank, and when guests put their hands in, the rays come over close enough to be touched.
They feel incredibly soft.
They are a little slippery, but I was surprised by how gently soft they felt.
Even if you do not touch them, you can see the rays’ cute faces up close, so simply watching them is relaxing.
The Building’s Unusual Layout
The entrance is on the third floor, and as you gradually make your way through the exhibits, you suddenly realize you have reached the first floor.
After seeing the free zone, you then tour the outdoor third and fourth floors. The building has an interesting, almost maze-like layout.
*If you follow the designated route, you generally should not get lost, but there is one point to be aware of.
You go down to the first floor once, but you cannot exit unless you pass through the third floor or the outdoor fourth floor.
There is an escalator going up.
If you get confused, ask a staff member near the gate separating the free and paid areas.
*In the future, it is planned that visitors will be able to exit from the free area, but at present you cannot leave from there.
For more about Aqua Live’s highlights, the intentions behind the exhibits, and what Kobe Suma Sea World is taking on in aquatic-animal care, see the following article.
Video: Full Tour of Aqua Live — Filming the Entire Facility
Blue Ocean Buffet Restaurant — Orca Stadium
Orcas swim beyond a huge 21-meter-wide acrylic tank wall.
The restaurant actually faces the underwater section of Orca Stadium.
While you sit at your table and eat, the circling orcas occasionally seem to make eye contact with you.
Being able to take a commemorative photo with an orca at such close range is an amazing experience.
You can even play with perspective and make it look as though an orca is sitting in the palm of your hand.
There was an orca-shaped rice ball on the kids’ menu, so I tried taking a photo that made it look as though it was swimming together with a real orca.
It was surprisingly difficult because the camera would focus on either the real orca or the rice-ball orca, but not both.
My Impressions of the Buffet
Above all, the food is delicious.
It already looked stylish and appetizing, but the taste exceeded my expectations.
The roast beef made with Hyogo Prefecture beef and served from the live kitchen was extremely tender, with an upscale flavor.
This dish alone was satisfying enough.
There were fish-shaped pickles and penguin rice balls too, which would probably delight young children.
There were also menu items cute enough to make adults excited.
There are plenty of other delicious dishes and desserts as well.
Soft drinks and coffee are unlimited.
Drinking coffee while watching the orcas was wonderfully relaxing.
At a press event on another day, I watched the orca show from the restaurant.
The huge orcas would occasionally leap high into the air and then come back down.
For a detailed introduction to the menu, see the following article.
Seasonal food also looks promising, with limited-time items appearing during periods such as Halloween.
My Impressions of Watching the Orca Show from the Restaurant
The orcas swim right up close to the acrylic glass.
Being able to clearly see them race around the large pool at high speed is a view unique to being underwater.
You cannot hear the show’s music in the restaurant; you only hear the sound when an orca lands in the water.
That powerful “BOOM” is incredible.
A huge orca rockets from deep underwater straight up into the air.
A few seconds later, it drops back down and lands in the water.
The sight of enormous clouds of bubbles spreading through the tank was unlike anything I had seen before.
When the orcas hold themselves upright in the water, they come right up to the acrylic glass, and when they swim from the back toward the front, you can clearly see their cute faces.
Being able to watch this show while eating feels truly luxurious.
Kobe Suma Sea World Hotel — Impressions of the Official Hotel
This hotel stands right next to Kobe Suma Sea World.
Because the hotel and Sea World are operated together, you can have dolphin experiences at the hotel, and there are premium rooms with large aquarium tanks inside.
The excitement of Sea World continues even after you return to the hotel.
The lobby has columns inspired by the Naruto whirlpools, while videos of waves play across the ceiling.
Every guest room has a view of Osaka Bay (Suma Beach).
From the balcony deck you can see Awaji Island and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, making it a relaxing place to enjoy the sea view.
Looking down, you can also see a dolphin pool, so dolphins are visible at any time.
The hotel has plenty of stylish design touches that feel fitting for a new property, and simply touring the rooms was very enjoyable.
Hotel Restaurant: Setouchi Harbor Restaurant
This restaurant serves delicious specialties from western Japan, including Hyogo Prefecture foods, Seto Inland Sea cuisine, and Naruto wakame seaweed.
Breakfast and dinner are available only to hotel guests, but lunch is open to non-guests as well, so it could be worth coming to Suma just to enjoy a meal.
For a detailed hotel report, see the following article.
How to Buy Admission Tickets and Prices
Like theme parks such as Universal Studios Japan and Disneyland, Kobe Suma Sea World uses variable pricing, with admission prices changing depending on the date of your visit.
One-Day Ticket Prices
| Obon Period | Summer Vacation Period | Regular Period | December–March | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (High School Age and Older) | ¥3,700 | ¥3,300 | ¥3,100 | ¥2,900 |
| Child (Elementary and Junior High School) | ¥1,800 | ¥1,800 | ¥1,800 | ¥1,700 |
| Young Child (Ages 4–6) | ¥1,800 | ¥1,800 | ¥1,800 | ¥1,700 |
| Senior (Age 65 and Older) | ¥3,100 | ¥2,700 | ¥2,500 | ¥2,300 |
The summer vacation period refers to busy Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, excluding the Obon period (planned).
Prices from December through March apply outside the winter and spring vacation periods (planned).
For details, check theofficial Kobe Suma Sea World website.
Types of Admission Tickets
In addition to one-day tickets, the following admission options are sold:
Two-Day Ticket
Annual Passport
Tickets for visitors with disability certificates
KOBE Children’s Discount Coupon
Group Tickets
Free tickets exclusively for guests staying at Kobe Suma Sea World Hotel
For details and ways to reduce admission costs, see the following article.
*Please wait a little longer for the article to be published.
Same-Day Ticket Sales
On busy days, same-day tickets are not sold until after 2:00 p.m.; even on uncrowded weekdays, they are not sold early in the morning.
We recommend purchasing in advance.
As of October 2024, tickets often remained available when purchased 10 days in advance.
How to Get to Kobe Suma Sea World
Kobe Suma Sea World is in Suma Ward, Kobe City.
From central Kobe—Sannomiya, Motomachi, and Kobe—it is to the west, in the direction of Akashi and Himeji.
Getting There by Train
The nearest station is Suma-Kaihinkoen Station on the JR Kobe Line.
It is about a 5- to 8-minute walk from the station.
*On the map above, the top is south (toward the sea) and the bottom is north (toward the mountains). It shows the route after exiting the station on the seaside.
After leaving the station, walk straight ahead. Kobe Suma Sea World becomes visible across a wide road, so there is virtually no chance of getting lost.
The sidewalk beneath your feet is decorated with illustrations of dolphins and fish, making the walk enjoyable.
However, only local trains stop at this station.
If you are taking a rapid train, JR Suma Station may get you there sooner in some cases.
Suma Station is about a 20-minute walk away.
The sandy beach of Suma Coast stretches between Suma Station and Kobe Suma Sea World, so after enjoying the park, it can also be fun to stroll along the beach on the way back to Suma Station.
*On Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and during summer vacation, you can also ride an electric train called the “Beach Train” from the beach near JR Suma Station to Kobe Suma Sea World. It travels only about as fast as a brisk walk, so it takes time, but you can enjoy views of Suma Beach along the way.
Tsukimiyama Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway is a 10- to 15-minute walk away, but unless you are using the Hanshin or Hankyu lines, JR is faster and the route is easier to understand, so JR is recommended.
Getting There by Car
Be careful if your car navigation system tells you to exit the Hanshin Expressway at Wakamiya IC.
You will not be able to enter the parking lot from there. You would have to make a long detour, which takes considerable time.
From the Osaka Direction
If you are coming from Kyoto, Osaka, Ashiya, Kobe Airport, or Universal Studios Japan, exit at Minatogawa IC on the Hanshin Expressway Route 3 Kobe Line.
Google Maps may direct you to exit at Wakamiya IC.
Wakamiya IC is the closest interchange by distance, but it merges onto National Route 2 after you have already passed Kobe Suma Sea World. If you exit there, you cannot enter the parking lot and must make a large detour to reach it.
Please be careful.
Searching for the former Suma Aqualife Park in a car navigation system may also direct you to Wakamiya IC.
In the past, the parking lot was west of Suma Aqualife Park, but Kobe Suma Sea World now occupies that site, and the parking lot is no longer there.
In the photo above, the far-left lane leads to the entrance of Kobe Kaihin Park Parking Lot.
The downhill elevated road visible farther ahead is the exit road from Hanshin Expressway Wakamiya IC.
By the time you are descending that road, you have already passed the parking lot.
From the Himeji and Awaji Island Direction
If you are coming from Akashi, Awaji Island, Himeji, Tokushima, or Okayama, exit at Suma IC on the Daini-Shinmei Road.
(If you head toward Kobe City via the Sanyo Expressway or Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway, you will join the Daini-Shinmei Road along the way.
Incidentally, Suma IC is the endpoint of the Daini-Shinmei Road; beyond it, the road becomes the Hanshin Expressway.)
Google Maps may direct you to exit at Hanshin Expressway Wakamiya IC, but for the reason explained above, that route will not take you into Kobe Suma Sea World’s parking area.
Parking Fees
Suma Kaihin Park No. 1 Parking Lot has no maximum daily fee on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, or during the summer vacation season. If you park from morning until evening or night, the total may reach around ¥3,000–¥4,000, so be aware.
The upper level of the parking structure is connected by a ramp to the front of the Kobe Suma Sea World Hotel lobby.
From there, you walk to Kobe Suma Sea World. It takes roughly 4–8 minutes from the parking lot to the entrance.
| Fee | Additional Fee | Maximum Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday–Friday (excluding holidays and July/August) | First hour: ¥400 | ¥200 / 60 min. | ¥700 |
| Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and weekdays in July/August | First hour: ¥500 | ¥500 / 60 min. | None |
Where to Buy Merchandise
There are two shops at Kobe Suma Sea World where you can buy merchandise.
Blue Flag — Orca Stadium
Orca merchandise, original goods, sweets, and more
*Located on the first floor of the Orca Show building
Wharf — Dolphin Stadium
This shop sells merchandise mainly featuring dolphins and other marine life.
*Located on the first floor of the Dolphin Show building
What I Felt at the Kobe Suma Sea World and Hotel Preview
• The dolphins and orcas are simply adorable.
• There is so much to see that you can enjoy anywhere from half a day to a full day.
• The restaurants use local and regional specialty ingredients, and the food is refined and very delicious.
• The new facility also shows respect for its predecessor, Suma Aqualife Park.
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