Hamanako Aquatic Experience Center Wotto, Public aquarium in Hamamatsu, Japan
Hamanako Aquatic Experience Center Wotto is a public aquarium in Maisaka-cho, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu, focused on the aquatic life of Lake Hamana, the Miyakoda River, and the Sea of Enshūnada. The building has three floors and includes a large theater, touch pools, an outdoor pond, and a rooftop viewing area.
The center opened in August 2000, after a local research group moved to a new location and the site was developed for public use. The name Wotto was chosen by a local elementary school student, combining the Japanese word for fish with the English word for water.
Local families and school groups visit regularly to learn about the animals living in Lake Hamana. On Sundays and holidays, visitors can watch divers feed fish in the main tank and ask them questions directly.
The center is open daily during summer and holidays, but closes on most Mondays and around the New Year period. Visiting on a weekday outside school holidays gives you more space to move around and a better view of the tanks.
Lake Hamana is a lagoon where fresh and salt water naturally mix, which means the center houses species that would not normally live side by side. The outdoor pond lets visitors touch and feed fish without any prior booking.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
