A Dreamy Aquarium on Tokyo Skytree – Mesmerizing Jellyfish Light Show

Text & Photos /Excerpted from "100 Ways to Tokyo" by Chen_Xin, published by Kate Culture

The Atmosphere of Sumida Aquarium

Whether you're an aquarium enthusiast or not, the Sumida Aquarium is definitely worth a visit. It’s not about rare fish species or flashy gimmicks like the world’s largest viewing window. It’s just a small aquarium featuring native Tokyo fish species. The jellyfish collection might be worth mentioning for its relatively wide variety, but that’s about it.

Yet it creates an incredibly wonderful space.

Having visited many aquariums over the past year for various reasons—Singapore, Sydney, Okinawa, Osaka, Montreal, Kyoto—I’ve gained a certain understanding of the final forms these aquariums take. Whether simple or grand in scale, rich in species or particularly suitable for young children, each has its own logic and structure, with a generally similar atmosphere and tone within the same spectrum. So when I walked into Sumida Aquarium, the thought “So this is what an aquarium can be like” naturally popped into my head.

First, Sumida uses projection equipment. During regular hours, the projection theme is jellyfish, enlarging and enhancing their forms in various colors on the long, narrow white walls. For a period, they collaborated with Mika Ninagawa to project vibrant flowers onto the jellyfish tanks, creating a strong psychedelic effect that turned into a delightful piece of art. Sumida also dedicates a section to ornamental goldfish, featuring low-angle aquarium views or transparent cylinders placed indoors, and even a large round pool filled with numerous small red goldfish. If you can’t resist putting your finger in the water to let the little goldfish nibble on it, that’s not particularly discouraged. They’ve even decorated it to resemble a summer festival, evoking the nostalgic joy of scooping goldfish at a festival night market.

But my favorite is still the tank with the most native Tokyo fish species. Though the fish themselves may not be particularly beautiful, the display tanks replicate a miniature version of their near-natural habitat, filled with delicate aquatic plants that float in vibrant green. The lighting uses unflattering fluorescent lamps, which I normally don’t like, but the plants, bathed in bright white light and set against the dim interior and leisurely small fish, end up looking refreshingly vivid.

Many tanks are just large rectangles, lined up against the wall or placed centrally in rather rigid rows. But paired with the simple decor, they look exceptionally clean and carry a Zen-like feel. It’s this particular section that establishes Sumida’s pure “Japanese character,” visually distinguishing it from other aquariums and making it a truly unique experience.

If you visit Tokyo multiple times a year, it’s best to get an annual pass; if you’re visiting Tokyo with kids on a gloomy day, an annual pass is also a great idea. It’s a quiet, less crowded place with beautiful scenery and a lovely atmosphere—the more you come, the better you’ll feel. I really love Sumida, no exaggeration.

Sumida Aquarium is located on the fifth floor of Solamachi, Tokyo Skytree, 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo.