Enoshima Aquarium Penguin Guide: Humboldt and African Penguins by the Sea

When an aquarium has a good location, the whole rhythm of the visit changes. Enoshima Aquarium is exactly that kind of place. After getting off at Katase-Enoshima Station and walking about three minutes, the sea air has not yet faded before you are already at the entrance. This is not a penguin-themed aquarium, but the penguin area is thoughtfully planned, placing Humboldt penguins and African penguins in the same field of view so you can directly compare two different temperaments.

Humboldt penguins come from the South American coast and are used to the rhythm of cold currents. Their movements are clean, and they do not seem especially concerned about the people watching nearby. African penguins are also called jackass penguins, and their calls really do sound like donkeys. The black markings on their bellies differ from bird to bird, which makes them a good chance to practice individual recognition. When the two species stand in the same space, their body size is similar, but their eyes and posture reveal completely different tempers.

This area is worth more time than many people expect. The penguin area has large windows and plenty of light, and when the light is good, the feather colors are clear. It is easy to photograph too. The overall route through the aquarium is smooth, and after the penguins you can continue naturally to other marine life without feeling as if every path ends in a dead end. Adult admission is 2,500 yen, a reasonable aquarium price around Kanagawa. Opening hours are usually 09:00 to 17:00, but they change by season, so checking before you go is safer.

It is convenient from Tokyo: take the train to Fujisawa, transfer to the Enoden, and the whole trip is about an hour. It works well as a half-day outing, with time to walk around Enoshima too.

If you want to compare aquariums around the Tokyo metropolitan area, Enoshima Aquarium belongs on the same list as Sumida Aquarium and Sunshine Aquarium.

When I Went

The day I went to Enoshima Aquarium, the weather was very good and the sea wind drifted in from the front entrance. When I entered the penguin area, the first thing I noticed was the light. The windows were large, sunlight came straight in, and the whole space was brighter than I expected.

The Humboldt penguins stood on the rocks with calm eyes, as if they were thinking about something and also as if they were thinking about nothing at all. A few African penguins moved around nearby, their steps a little hurried, and the contrast was interesting.

The underwater part surprised me most. The moment a Humboldt penguin entered the water, the movement switched cleanly: from the heaviness of land to the sharpness of water. The difference was obvious. I stood at the glass for a while, watching them swim toward me and turn away, and the longer I watched, the more I wanted to stay.

Penchan Says

Location is Enoshima Aquarium’s biggest strength: seaside, Enoden, penguins. You can gather all three into one day. If you are near Kanagawa, it is hard to call this a bad route.