Fun for both adults and children! Sapporo’s urban aquarium “AOAO SAPPORO”
Hello! UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO’s curator staff will introduce you to recommended local spots. The curator of LIVELY HOTELS is a position whose strength is in providing local information, which is a bit different from that of a concierge. We are here to help make your trip more fulfilling.
At UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO, we will propose a trip that suits your style, from standard tourist spots to local Sapporo restaurants.This time we will introduce “AOAO SAPPORO”.
An urban aquarium located on the 4th to 6th floors of moyuk SAPPORO, a commercial complex in Tanukikoji.
The theme is “Wonder of life: The invisible becomes visible”
You can feel the wonders of nature and the creatures living near the water.
▲The entrance on the 4th floor is modern and has a very different atmosphere from the traditional aquarium you might imagine. There is a shop and bookstore called “WONDER BOOKS” where you can view the book without purchasing a ticket.
The first thing that appeared in the exhibition area were two large tanks.
There are also bags piled up with the word “salt” written in large letters, and many pipes extending to the ceiling. I was surprised to see this for the first time at an aquarium!
This is called the “Water Circulation Lab,” and you can actually learn how the water in the aquarium is managed and circulated. Artificial seawater is actually produced and sent to aquariums on all floors of the facility.
Further inside is the “Water and Biology Laboratory”.
There are aquariums filled with small creatures. There is a preliminary aquarium for managing the health of the creatures and a room for preparing food for the creatures, and you can actually see the staff at work.
On this day too, many staff members were working in the back of the aquarium!
The area on the 4th floor is where you can feel the relationship between people, water, and living things.
At AOAO SAPPORO, you can get up close and personal with the breeding process and the staff’s work, which you can’t usually see. What makes it so appealing is that you can not only enjoy watching it, but also enjoy observing and learning about it!
The theme of the 5th floor is “SCOPE”
At LIBRARY AQUARIUM, aquariums of various sizes are lined up, allowing you to observe living things from any 360-degree angle. As the name LIBRARY suggests, it focuses on the characteristics and ecology of living things and exhibits living things and books, much like a library.
“Nyoro”, “Pettanko”, and “Mosamosa” The characteristics of living things are expressed in onomatopoeia and will guide you. There are books next to the aquarium that are associated with living things, and at first glance you might think, “Where is the connection?” However, there always seems to be a connection somewhere, and you can see the connection between books and living things. One way to enjoy it might be to think of it like a word association game!
▲ Lined up next to the aquarium are books selected by book director Yuumi Urakami.
This is an area where you can freely enjoy observing living things, reading books, and more.
Another area on the same floor NATURE AQUARIUM
AOAO SAPPORO is said to be the third permanent exhibition venue following Portugal and Tokyo.
The fish live by breathing with the oxygen produced by aquatic plants, without artificially introducing oxygen. At the Nature Aquarium, you can experience nature as it is, as if a scene from nature has been captured and confined in an aquarium.
▲Aquatic plants sway gently in a space with a mysterious atmosphere. I lose track of time and just stare at it. Aqua Design Amano, known as a global aquarium brand, is involved in AOAO SAPPORO’s Nature Aquarium.
And on the 6th floor there is everyone’s favorite penguin!
AOAO SAPPORO has Northern Watobi Penguins and Fairy Penguins.
The Northern Watobi Penguin is an energetic penguin that jumps up and down the rocks, and can only be seen here in Hokkaido!
Fairy penguins are the smallest penguins in the world. Her physical condition is 30 to 40 cm, which is a very adorable size.
▲ Northern Watobi Penguin. You can observe up close their energetic appearance as they jump and move around. The way they swim around energetically is so dynamic that I never get tired of watching them.
I set up my camera to take a photo, but it was so energetic that it was difficult to get a good photo opportunity! A curious penguin swims right in front of you.
On the 6th floor, in addition to penguins, there is an exhibition area called “GREEN ROOM” where lush plants native to the tropics flourish, “BLUE ROOM” where a fantastic ocean is expressed with digital art, and “PLANKTON ROOM” where jellyfish float around. ” and there are many things to see!
In the BLUE ROOM, a life-sized whale dynamically swims once an hour, projected not only on the walls but also on the floor. Ripples appear as people move. On this day too, many children were having fun making waves!
At “Polar Bear Bakery &” located within the hotel, you can enjoy croissants, cocktails, beer, etc. made with Hokkaido wheat.
▲(Left) [Limited] Chocolate mint croissant (Right) AOAO cafe au lait and AOAO soda
In addition, there is a croissant menu that is perfect for eating while walking around the facility, from desserts to meals. There is also a bar menu such as sausages and beer.
You can eat and drink on all floors of the facility, and the great thing about it is that you can relax in front of the aquarium while eating.
There is no regular route inside the museum, so you are free to stop in front of your favorite aquarium or go back to the one you just saw. We also recommend sitting on a bench in front of your favorite aquarium with a croissant or beer in hand and relaxing.
Also, the atmosphere changes considerably between day and night.
During the day, you can observe active activity, and at night, the lighting is toned down, creating a magical atmosphere.
Why not visit AOAO SAPPORO, where the way you enjoy it changes depending on the time of day?
《AOAO SAPPORO》
Location: 20, Minami 2-jo Nishi 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
Business hours 10:00~22:00
Enjoy the extraordinary feeling of a lodge and the comfort of home at a hotel. UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO is a sophisticated lifestyle hotel with a rustic and chic atmosphere.
<Facility overview>
Facility name: UNWIND HOTEL & BAR SAPPORO
Location: 289-111 Minami 8jyo 5-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo-shi, Hokkaido
Access: 4 minutes walk from Nakajima Koen Station on the Namboku Line