Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama — home to Japan's only collection of 10 penguin species, 470 birds in total — is opening a new Polar Expedition Tour (Penguin Nice to Meet Yotour) for a limited run from Saturday, August 1 to Sunday, August 23, 2026. The tour brings guests into the same space as the park's King and Gentoo penguins, offering a chance to take in their charm and behavior with all five senses. The name blends the greeting "nice to meet you" with "tour," reflecting a hope that guests enjoy a first meeting with penguins living their everyday lives.
Guests become members of an expedition team, stepping into a secret area normally off-limits to the public. Beyond the door lies another world, wrapped in cool air and the distinct scent of the polar region. Guided by an animal edutainer, visitors get an up-close, larger-than-life adventure — watching the penguins move and breathe just steps away, and taking in their unguarded, endearing behavior.
Adventure World has run its Penguin Project, studying penguin husbandry and breeding, since 1990. In 2026 the park also launched the 38°C MIRACLE Project, an initiative to raise awareness of the environment penguins face and the effects of climate change. The excitement of this close encounter is meant to connect naturally to the future these penguins will live in — a special summer memory guests won't forget.
About the Polar Expedition Tour (Penguin Nice to Meet Yotour)
- Dates: Saturday, August 1 to Sunday, August 23, 2026
- Location: 1st floor of the Marine Mammal Hall, Circular Exhibit Area
- Times: Six sessions a day, about 20 minutes each — 11:15 AM, 11:35 AM, 11:55 AM, 4:30 PM, 4:50 PM, 5:10 PM
- Capacity: 10 guests per session
- Price: ¥6,000 per person (charged for ages 4 and up); park admission and parking fees are separate
- Recommended for: Elementary school age and up (guests from infancy through preschool age must be accompanied by a guardian)
- Tickets: Sold through Terravie until 10:45 AM on the day of the tour; remaining spots can also be purchased in the park on the day
- Ticket sales begin: Thursday, July 30, 2026, 5:00 PM
Tour Highlights
1. Into the Polar World: A Secret Route Starts the Expedition
An animal edutainer serves as navigator, guiding guests on a journey into the unknown. Beyond an opened secret door lies a secret area normally off-limits to guests. After receiving an explorer's briefing for landing on the polar island, the polar world awaits just ahead.
2. Landing on Penguin Island: An Up-Close World of Life
Step through the door and you're in the penguins' world. Guests take in the cool air and distinctive scent of the penguins' habitat while getting close to the birds themselves. Watching their endearing walk and lively breathing up close, and sharing moments of surprise and discovery with the navigator, guests find themselves captivated by the penguins' curious charm before they know it.
3. Proof of the Expedition: Photo Time With the Penguins
The high point of the polar expedition is photo time with the penguins. Guests can freely take a special photo with the penguins living right in front of them, taking home a memento of the expedition.
Don't forget your best explorer pose!
Penguins Featured on This Tour
This tour's featured species are the King Penguin, known for its elegant appearance, and the Gentoo Penguin, popular for its endearing mannerisms. Enjoy observing the individual personality and behavior of each.
King Penguin
The world's second-largest penguin, known for the vivid orange coloring on its chest and neck. Its elegant, beautiful appearance has earned it a reputation as "the world's most beautiful penguin."
- Scientific name: Aptenodytes patagonicus
- English name: King Penguin
- Habitat: Sub-Antarctic regions including the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island
Gentoo Penguin
Boasts one of the fastest swimming speeds among penguins. It also has an endearing side, greeting fellow penguins with a bow-like gesture.
- Scientific name: Pygoscelis papua
- English name: Gentoo Penguin
- Habitat: Sub-Antarctic regions including the Falkland Islands and South Georgia Island
In April 2026, the Emperor Penguin was designated an endangered species. Adventure World, which holds the top breeding record for the species in Japan, has launched the 38°C MIRACLE Project to consider the future of the planet through the lives of these penguins. As the project's first step, from Monday, June 1 to Friday, July 31, 2026, the park invited guests to submit names for all 19 emperor penguins living there. Through the many guests who took part, the "ID numbers" that staff have used to track each bird's individuality are now joined by the names guests contributed — and a new story is beginning for each of the 19 penguins. The latest updates on this project, including the naming event, are being shared on the special site.
