Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa, located inside Shinagawa Prince Hotel in Takanawa, Minato, Tokyo, will hold a special "Keeper's Day Week" from Monday, April 6 through Sunday, April 19, 2026. Timed to coincide with "Keeper's Day" (April 19) — a designated day aimed at raising awareness of the care that goes into looking after animals at aquariums and zoos — the 14-day program invites guests to discover what happens behind the scenes.
Throughout the event period, visitors can explore topics such as daily health monitoring, food preparation, feeding routines, and habitat maintenance through live commentary events and special programs. The lineup runs alongside the aquarium's ongoing spring event, "SAKURA AQUARIUM by NAKED," which transforms the space with cherry blossom-themed projections and installations.
Special Ecology Talks for Keeper's Day Week
Nanyou Manta Health Management
The aquarium's Nanyou Manta (reef manta ray) has been in the facility's care for 19 years and is the only manta ray on display in eastern Japan. This special talk covers the manta's natural habitat among coral reefs and its distinctive swimming behavior, as well as the aquarium's approach to health management — including how staff estimate the manta's weight using eye-span measurements to determine appropriate feeding amounts and medication dosages. On weekends and public holidays, divers will enter the tank to perform measurements, which guests can watch live.
Time: 2:45 PM (approximately 10 minutes)
Dolphin Keeper's Work
This talk shines a spotlight on the everyday work of the dolphin keepers. Centered around the three core tasks of keeper work — food preparation, cleaning, and feeding — the program also touches on how staff protect the health and environment of the dolphins, and the philosophy that guides their interactions with the animals. Guests can deepen their understanding of the work behind aquarium performances through a quiz-format presentation using large LED screens.
Time: 12:40 PM / 3:40 PM (approximately 10 minutes each)
Wild Live Viewing: Penguins & Seals
The "Wild Live Viewing" program delivers live footage and commentary from the keeper's perspective on animal behavior and ecology. During Keeper's Day Week, both the penguin and seal programs will run in special editions. The penguin session will focus on feeding management tailored to individual birds, weight monitoring, and techniques for getting the penguins to step onto scales. The seal session will cover health training activities such as urine sampling, temperature checks, and ultrasound examinations. The specific topic for each session is revealed on the day, adding an element of surprise.
Time: Penguins at 10:30 AM / Seals at 3:30 PM (approximately 10 minutes each)
Friendly Time Education ver.
Beyond the Keeper's Day Week special events, Aqua Park Shinagawa also offers educational programs that give visitors an even deeper look at its animals. In the renovated "Friendly Square" area, the penguin "Friendly Time Education ver." lets guests observe penguin behavior through the eyes of a keeper, with commentary on daily observation points, penguin ecology, and the aquarium's quality-of-life improvement efforts for the animals. The sea lion program focuses on the five senses of sea lions, with easy-to-follow explanations from the keeper staff.
Time: Penguins at 11:00 AM / Sea Lions at 2:00 PM (approximately 15 minutes each)
Event Information
Event Period: Monday, April 6 – Sunday, April 19, 2026
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (last entry at 7:00 PM)
Location: Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa, inside Shinagawa Prince Hotel
4-10-30 Takanawa, Minato, Tokyo
Admission: Separate admission fees apply. A high school student discount is available (¥1,800). Attraction rides (2 types) are priced separately at ¥500 per ride.
