AQUARIUM×ART átoa in Chuo Ward, Kobe, will hold a one-day event on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, Garden Eel Day, to introduce the appeal of garden eels. Titled "透して見るAR海底" (Tōshite Miru AR Kaitei, "AR Seabed Seen Through"), the event is an industry-academia collaboration project in which students take on the planning, preparation, and operation.
On the same day, a public feeding will be held at the garden eel tank. No registration is required and participation is free, though átoa admission is separate. A special garden eel corner will also appear in the Museum Shop, making it possible to spend a whole day at átoa surrounded by garden eels.
About Garden Eel Day
Garden Eel Day falls on November 11, the date with the most 1s, chosen because garden eels poke their bodies out of the sand in a way that resembles the numeral "1" and also live in colonies.
Garden Eel AR Experience "透して見るAR海底"
On the 2nd floor in MARINE NOTE, visitors can collect garden eels while picking up garden eel trivia in an AR experience. Participation is easy: just scan a QR code with your own smartphone, with no app download needed. Each QR code scanned reveals one piece of garden eel trivia, including facts about their natural behavior, and earns 10 garden eels for the AR experience. After scanning 10 QR codes and collecting 100 garden eels in total, hold up your smartphone. Garden eels will appear on the screen, creating an AR experience in which you are surrounded by 100 of them.
The AR experience is run mainly by students in the four-year zoo, aquarium, and technology course at 大阪ECO動物海洋専門学校 (Osaka ECO) in Nishi Ward, Osaka. As part of an industry-academia collaboration project, the students proposed the idea to átoa, led the preparations, and are scheduled to take on the day's event operation as well.
- Venue: MARINE NOTE, 2nd floor
- Date and time: Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Fee: Free (separate admission required)
- Eligibility: Anyone with a smartphone can participate. Children in elementary school or younger must be accompanied by a guardian (junior high school age or older).
How it works
- Scan the main QR code set up at the venue with your smartphone (a web app will launch).
- Scan the trivia QR codes around the venue to collect trivia and garden eels for the AR experience.
- Hold up your smartphone and enjoy the AR experience of being surrounded by garden eels in 360 degrees.
Note: Using this content requires accessing a website from your own smartphone. Data charges for access are the responsibility of the visitor, so please be careful if you do not have a flat-rate data plan.
Live Garden Eel Exhibit
At the garden eel tank in MARINE NOTE on the 2nd floor, visitors can see the animals in person. Garden eels are wary and sometimes hide in the sand, but they often stick their heads well out of the sand when eating, so feeding time is the easiest moment to watch them sway. On Garden Eel Day, public feedings will take place twice, at 11:11 AM and 3:11 PM (15:11), times lined up with many 1s. Because the garden eels are easily startled, visitors are asked to observe quietly and take turns.
- Public feedings: Wednesday, November 11, 2026. First feeding at 11:11 AM, second feeding at 3:11 PM (15:11)
- Exhibit location: MARINE NOTE, 2nd floor
Garden Eel Goods Corner
The Museum Shop on the 1st floor will set up a special corner of garden eel goods, with a wide selection of items such as garden eel recorders and mascots.
The goods make fitting keepsakes of a visit or souvenirs.
- Sales location: Museum Shop, 1st floor (the Museum Shop can be used on its own)
"Hyokkori Churros" at átoa Cafe
From November 5, átoa Cafe offers "Hyokkori Churros" (ひょっこりチュロス). Spotted garden eels and splendid garden eels peek out of holes in these sweet cinnamon-scented churros.
- Price: ¥660 (tax included)
- Sales location: átoa Cafe, 4th floor
