Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium, Public aquarium in Muroto, Japan.
The Muroto Schoolhouse Aquarium uses a converted elementary school building to display marine life in several indoor tanks and an outdoor pool. The structure brings together classroom spaces with aquarium areas, letting visitors experience both the school past and its current marine focus.
The building began as Shiina Elementary School, serving the local community as a learning space for generations. In 2018 it was transformed into a marine education center, shifting its purpose to teach people about Pacific coastal ecosystems.
The facility preserves original classroom furniture such as desks and chairs throughout its spaces, creating an unusual blend with the marine displays. Visitors move through rooms that feel like a school reimagined as an aquarium, where education and sea life coexist naturally.
The facility is accessible during daylight hours and visitors should wear comfortable shoes since you walk through school hallways and aquarium areas. Visiting in morning or early afternoon hours tends to be less crowded and more pleasant.
The main tank is a former school swimming pool measuring 25 meters long, now home to sea turtles and local fish species. Visitors can watch these animals swim in the same water where schoolchildren once had classes.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
