The Art Aquarium Museum Ginza is a unique and mesmerizing entertainment facility in Tokyo that elevates goldfish appreciation to a high art form. Conceived by artist Hidetomo Kimura, this institution is a fusion of a living art gallery and an aquarium, where thousands of goldfish are the primary subjects. The museum creates a fantastical, immersive world through a dynamic combination of light, sound, fragrance, and intricately designed aquariums that are themselves works of art. It draws inspiration from the historical Japanese culture of cherishing goldfish, which began in the Edo period, and reinterprets it in a stunningly modern and theatrical way.

Name and Address

• Name: Art Aquarium Museum GINZA (アートアクアリウム美術館 GINZA).
• Address: Ginza Mitsukoshi New Building, 8th Floor (Entrance on the 9th Floor), 4-6-16 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

How to Get There

Located within a major department store in one of Tokyo’s most famous districts, the museum is extremely easy to access.

• By Metro: This is the most convenient method. The museum is directly connected to Ginza Station (served by the Tokyo Metro Ginza, Marunouchi, and Hibiya Lines).
• Visitor Tip: Tickets have timed entry and can be purchased online in advance to secure a spot, often at a slight discount. While same-day tickets can be bought on the 9th floor, booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends. The experience follows a one-way path, and you should plan for at least an hour to see everything comfortably.

Landscape and Architecture

The museum’s “landscape” is a dark, dreamlike interior world where traditional Japanese motifs are reimagined through modern design and technology.

• Interior Design: The museum is a labyrinth of dimly lit corridors and rooms, designed to focus the visitor’s attention entirely on the brilliantly illuminated exhibits. The atmosphere is multisensory, with ethereal music, subtle scents, and the gentle sound of water creating a serene and otherworldly environment.
• Artistic Aquariums: The “architecture” consists of the exhibition tanks themselves. These are not standard rectangular aquariums; they are custom-designed sculptural pieces inspired by Japanese culture. You will find aquariums shaped like massive Japanese lanterns (Lanternium), intricate handballs (Temaririum), and folding screens (Byoburium), all crafted to showcase the goldfish in the most artistic way possible.
• Seasonal Themes: The entire museum’s decor, lighting, and even the background music change with the seasons. In spring, the space is filled with cherry blossoms; in summer, fresh greenery; and in autumn, the colors of fall foliage, making each visit a different experience.

What Makes It Famous

The Art Aquarium Museum is famous for its unique concept of treating “living art” and for creating a highly photogenic, immersive experience.

• Goldfish as Living Art: The museum’s core philosophy is to present goldfish—many of which are rare and prized varieties—not as mere creatures, but as living, swimming works of art. The elaborate settings are designed to accentuate their beauty and grace.
• A Photogenic Wonderland: With its dramatic lighting, vibrant colors, and stunning designs, the museum is an extremely popular destination for photography and social media. Every exhibit is crafted for maximum visual impact.
• Fusion of Tradition and Modernity: It masterfully blends traditional Japanese aesthetics (like temple corridors, lanterns, and ikebana flower arrangements) with cutting-edge technology, including projection mapping and complex lighting systems.
• Iconic Exhibits: Several installations have become famous in their own right:
  • Goldfish Corridor: A path lined with illuminated vertical columns filled with swimming goldfish, creating the illusion of walking through a mystical temple.
  • Forest of Goldfish (Kingyo no Mori): A collection of towering, water-filled pillars of varying sizes that resemble a shimmering, aquatic forest.
  • A Show of Kingyo: An area with low, wide tanks that allows visitors to appreciate the goldfish from above, in the traditional Edo-period style.

Differences from Other Wonders

The Art Aquarium Museum stands in a category of its own, distinct from both traditional aquariums and conventional art museums.

• Artistic Focus vs. Scientific Purpose: Unlike a traditional aquarium (like the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan), which focuses on marine biology, scientific education, and recreating natural habitats, the Art Aquarium’s purpose is purely aesthetic. The emphasis is on art and design, not on zoology.
• Living, Moving Art vs. Static Art: Compared to a traditional art gallery like the Shiseido Gallery, where the artworks are static (paintings, sculptures), the primary medium here is alive and constantly in motion. The beauty is ephemeral and ever-changing.
• Immersive Experience vs. Observation: The museum is designed as a complete sensory immersion. It’s not just about looking at exhibits but about being enveloped in a carefully constructed atmosphere of light, sound, and scent. This is a more theatrical and entertainment-focused approach than a typical museum visit.
• Single Species Celebration: The museum’s exclusive focus on one type of animal—the goldfish—is unique. It delves deep into the cultural significance and aesthetic variety of goldfish in a way no other institution does, making it a highly specialized experience.