South Yokohama · Kanazawa WardNo.859★★Open in map →

Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

— Aquarium and amusement island in Yokohama Bay

entertainmentOff the trail — and worth it

A man-made island at the southern end of Yokohama Bay given over to the sea: four themed aquariums, a coaster that runs out over the water, and shops and piers around them. A driverless train drops you at the bridge.

FromShin-Sugita Station
~10 minSeaside Line, every ~10 min
Get off atHakkeijima Station (Kanazawa Seaside Line)
On foot
Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise

Directions ↗

The sweet spot

This is a well-known family destination, not a hidden one. It is quiet only by timing: weekday mornings and the off-season leave the walkways open, while school holidays fill them.

Where it is

43 more notes in Kanagawa · open the map →

What to look for

Surf Coaster LeviathanSgt. John L. Carkeet IV, U.S. Army Japan / CC BY 2.0

Aqua Museumthe largest of the four aquariums, with a shoal of sardines and animal performances
Dolphin Fantasya water-filled passage with dolphins swimming overhead
Fureai Lagoonthe waterside zone of the four, built around close contact with marine animals
Umi Farmthe fourth themed aquarium, set out on open water at the island's edge
Surf Coaster Leviathana coaster whose track leaves the island and runs out over the sea

How to actually get there

Yokohama Station → Shin-Sugita Station (JR Negishi Line).
Shin-Sugita Station → Hakkeijima Station (Kanazawa Seaside Line, about 10 minutes, departures roughly every 10 minutes).
Hakkeijima Station → cross the bridge onto the island and enter the park.
Work through the aquariums along the waterfront, then finish at the Bay Market shops.

JR Negishi Line to Shin-Sugita, then the Seaside Line: From Yokohama Station take the JR Negishi Line south to Shin-Sugita, then change to the Kanazawa Seaside Line for Hakkeijima Station. The Seaside Line leg takes about 10 minutes, with departures roughly every 10 minutes through the day, so no timetable planning is needed.
Return from Hakkeijima Station: Ride the Seaside Line back to Shin-Sugita for the JR Negishi Line, or take it the other way to Kanazawa-Hakkei and change to the Keikyu line toward central Tokyo. Services thin out late in the evening, so check the last departure on the platform if you stay until closing.

Directions from my location (Google Maps) ↗

About the place

Hakkeijima sits at the southern end of Yokohama Bay, off Kanazawa Ward. The island is reclaimed land, raised from the shallows as part of the city's port plan, and it carries green space, piers and a marina alongside the leisure park. Sea Paradise occupies the seaward part of it. The four aquariums are laid out under different themes instead of being gathered into one building, so moving between them is itself a walk along the water. Fairground rides are threaded through the same ground, including a coaster whose track runs partly out over the sea.

How to enjoy it

The four aquariums stand apart from one another, so plan the visit as a walk between them rather than one building to work through. On a weekday the same route reads as a quiet waterfront stroll. Check the operating hours before you set out, since they shift with the season and by facility.

Background & history

The island's name comes from Kanazawa Hakkei, the eight scenic views for which this stretch of the Yokohama coast was known. The land itself is far newer. The island was raised from the sea by port reclamation and is held under the city's port plan rather than as private ground, which is why the piers, the green space and the leisure park all share one address. The driverless Seaside Line that reaches it runs along the same reclaimed waterfront.

Before you go

Cash: The Seaside Line is a paid ride, and the park charges admission that varies with which facilities you enter. Fares and ticket combinations are posted at the gate. Carry cash as well as an IC card.
Good to know: Much of the route between the aquariums is outdoors and open to the wind off the bay. Opening hours change with the season and differ by facility, and some rides stop in bad weather.
Another way: From central Tokyo, take the Keikyu line to Kanazawa-Hakkei and change there to the Kanazawa Seaside Line for Hakkeijima Station.
After you get off: From Hakkeijima Station, go down to the bridge and cross onto the island. The park entrance is a few minutes on foot from the platform.