Echizen Matsushima Aquarium

Name

Echizen Matsushima Aquarium

Legal name

三国観光産業株式会社

Website

https://echizen-aquarium.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Aquarium and Marine Attraction

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Aquaculture (11251), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Zoo & Aquarium Parks (Ticketed Wildlife Attractions) (THAJAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH), Ornamental & Aquarium Fish Farming (AFAEAAAJ)

Keywords

• Public aquarium attractions
• Marine education programs
• Marine wildlife conservation
• Interactive animal experiences
• Family tourism destination

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukui

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission fees and tickets: Revenue from individual admission tickets, group tickets, annual passports, electronic tickets, and convenience store tickets. Core revenue stream for the aquarium.
2. Experiential programs: Revenue from special experience programs including dolphin encounters, sea turtle feeding, penguin walks, behind-the-scenes tours, overnight aquarium stays, candle art experiences, pearl extraction workshops, and BBQ by the sea.
3. On-site retail and dining: Revenue from the gift shop (おみやげショップ), the展望レストラン (ocean-view restaurant), coast shop, and coastal BBQ area.
4. Online merchandise sales: Revenue from the official online shop selling limited original goods.
5. Annual passports and multi-visit tickets: Annual passport holders (5,500 yen adults, 3,000 yen children) generate recurring visit incentive with direct revenue. Premium Octopus passport at 30,000 yen with 2-person daily admission. Pre-sell 12-ticket booklets for 22,000 yen (adult).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Echizen Matsushima Aquarium operates a public aquarium facility in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, offering general admission, annual passports, dolphin and penguin shows, a 3D theater, and more than 20 marine exhibits. It supplements the visit with hands-on feeding experiences, behind-the-scenes guided tours, overnight stays, pearl extraction workshops, and seasonal night operations. The facility combines consumer entertainment with marine conservation programming, including a long-running sea turtle rescue, rehabilitation, and release program.

Product overview

Echizen Matsushima Aquarium is an experience-based aquarium located in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, facing the Echizen Coast quasi-national park. The facility offers a unified portfolio of core products centered on aquarium admission and marine life exhibits, supplemented by multiple special experience programs and premium membership options. The main product line includes general admission tickets and annual passports providing year-round access. Signature attractions feature dolphin shows (including evening shows), a 3D stereoscopic theater with original productions, and penguin walking experiences. The aquarium's experience programs include hands-on feeding sessions with sea turtles, sharks, and fish; behind-the-scenes guided tours; overnight stays; pearl extraction; and candle art workshops. Premium offerings include limited-edition annual passports and combined tickets with the nearby Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum. The facility also operates a restaurant, gift shop, and coastal barbecue area as ancillary services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission Ticket (一般入館券) Standard admission tickets to Echizen Matsushima Aquarium providing access to all exhibits and shows, with tiered pricing by age (adult, high school/university, elementary/middle school, preschool free). For individual visitors, families, and tourists.
• Annual Passport (年間パスポート) One-year unlimited admission pass for the passport holder, with discounts for accompanying guests and on shop purchases, plus premium-design variants and original pass cases. For local repeat visitors and families.
• Premium Annual Passport Octopus (プレミアム年間パスポート オクトパス) Premium 30,000 yen annual passport allowing up to 2 guests per day to enter with the passport holder, with no name recorded and a 3,000 yen replacement fee for lost cards. For high-frequency visitors and gift purchases.
• Combined Ticket with Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum (福井県立恐竜博物館 共通券) Combined admission ticket valid at both Echizen Matsushima Aquarium and Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, sold at convenience stores (Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop) with discounted bundled pricing versus separate admission. For regional and domestic tourists.
• E-Ticket Experience Packages (電子チケット) Pre-purchasable electronic ticket bundles combining admission with animal feeding experiences, behind-the-scenes guide tours, or coastal BBQ, distributed through major Japanese online travel and experience platforms. For tourists and advance planners.
• 12-Ticket Booklet (12回入館券) Pre-sold ticket booklet of 12 admissions sold at a discount versus individual tickets, transferable between users and valid for one year from purchase (cannot be used on the day of purchase). For frequent visitors and gift purchases.
• Dolphin Show (イルカショー) Live dolphin performance shows, including a special night dolphin show with illumination during GW, summer, and Silver Week night operations. For all general visitors.
• Penguin Walk (ペンギンのおさんぽタイム) Scheduled penguin walking experience where visitors can watch penguins walk around the aquarium grounds. For all general visitors, especially families.
• 3D Stereoscopic Theater (3D立体シアター) Original 3D film screenings including 'Giant Sea Creatures: World of Whales + Dinosaur World from Ancient Earth', shown 3-4 times daily at 300 yen per person. For general visitors seeking additional immersive content.
• Animal Feeding Experiences (各種エサやり体験) Hands-on feeding experiences for sea turtles, tortoises, and various fish at 100 yen per person per session, available throughout operating hours. For families and general visitors.
• Dolphin Encounter Experience (イルカふれあい体験) Up-close dolphin interaction at 1,000 yen per person per session with a 2-person capacity, minimum age 4th grade and above. For visitors seeking premium animal encounters.
• Behind-the-Scenes Guide Tour (裏側探検ガイドツアー) Keeper-led guided tour of backstage areas including research tanks and reserve fish areas, approximately 30 minutes, available on weekends and holidays. For visitors seeking behind-the-scenes content.
• Overnight Aquarium Experience (オールナイト水族館) Special overnight stay program at the aquarium. For families and groups seeking an immersive multi-day experience.
• Pearl Extraction Experience (真珠取り出し体験) Workshop where visitors extract pearls from akoya oysters, with donations supporting sea turtle protection activities. For families and tourists.
• Candle Art Experience (キャンドルアート体験) Candle making and snow dome crafting workshop at Marine House, completable in 15-20 minutes. For families and children.
• Night Operations (ナイター営業) Extended evening operations during GW, summer, and Silver Week with 20% off admission after 5 PM, Emperor penguin feather gift promotions, and illuminated night dolphin shows. For off-peak and evening visitors.
• Night Rental Plan (夜間貸切プラン) Private evening rental plan for groups, corporate events, and team-building. For organizations hosting private events at the aquarium.
• Group Admission (団体入館) Discounted group admission for school groups, travel groups, and corporate outings. For schools, educational institutions, and corporate group organizers.
• On-site Dining (展望レストラン・海岸売店) On-site ocean-view restaurant, coast shop, and coastal BBQ area offering meals and refreshments. For visiting tourists and families.
• Gift Shop (おみやげショップ) On-site gift shop selling aquarium-themed souvenirs and merchandise, with a 5% discount for annual passport holders. For visitors seeking souvenirs.
• Official Online Shop (公式ONLINE SHOP) Official online merchandise shop (echizenaqua.official.ec) selling limited original goods. For visitors and gift purchasers.

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Oga Aquarium / 男鹿水族館 (Oga Suizokukan)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 November 2025Oga Aquarium in Akita Prefecture donated 6 Kita demoiselle penguins (キタイワトビペンギン) to the aquarium. The penguins were transferred on November 12, 2025 and put on public display in the Penguin Pavilion from November 13, 2025. This represents inter-aquarium animal exchange for breeding and conservation programs.
• Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum (福井県立恐竜博物館)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 July 2023A joint ticket (共通券) is sold for combined admission to both the aquarium and the dinosaur museum, two of Fukui Prefecture's major tourist attractions in the Mikuni area. The joint ticket is sold at convenience stores (Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop) and offers discounted combined pricing compared to separate admission. Sales period: July 7, 2023 to March 31, 2027, with continuation planned beyond that date. The dinosaur museum is one of Japan's most renowned dinosaur attractions and serves as a major complementary partner for regional tourism.
• じゃらん (Jalan) / 楽天トラベル (Rakuten Travel) / Asoview / いこーよ (Iko-yo) / JTBcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThird-party online travel and experience platforms that distribute bundled e-tickets for the aquarium. Jalan is noted as the #1 net booking service in Japan by plan count, facility count, and usage rate. These platforms enable tourists to pre-purchase admission combined with special experiences (animal feeding, guided tours, BBQ) before arriving.
• Convenience store chains (Seven-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPhysical retail distribution partners for the combined aquarium and dinosaur museum ticket (product number 0263068). Tickets available at major convenience store chains throughout Japan, enabling domestic tourists to purchase tickets before or during their trip.
• Regional fishing industry and fishermenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFukui Prefecture fishermen regularly report stranded and entangled sea turtles to the aquarium for rescue and rehabilitation. The aquarium has a long-standing relationship with the local fishing community for marine animal protection, including rescued sea turtles being released back into the Sea of Japan.
• Kasima Rinkai Suizokukan /葛西臨海水族園 (Kasima Rinkai Aquarium)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKasima Rinkai Aquarium (Tokyo) donated an Emperor penguin male named 'Lex' (レクス) to the aquarium. This represents inter-aquarium animal exchange for breeding and conservation programs.
• Japan System Innovation Co., Ltd. (株式会社ジャパンシステムイノベーション)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerThis company hosts a pearl extraction experience workshop (真珠取り出し体験ワークショップ) on the 2nd floor of the aquarium's Ocean Hall. They donate collected funds to the aquarium's sea turtle protection activities. Acoaya pearl shells are given as gifts to participants who donate. The partnership supports marine conservation while providing a unique visitor experience.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Kasima Rinkai Aquarium: Kasima Rinkai Aquarium in Tokyo donated the Emperor penguin 'Lex' to Echizen Matsushima, demonstrating active inter-aquarium collaboration. Smaller in scale but operates a similar exhibit-and-experience model relevant for partnership benchmarking.
• Oga Aquarium GAO: Akita Prefecture aquarium that transferred six Kita demoiselle penguins to Echizen Matsushima in November 2025. Comparable small regional Japanese aquarium with similar exhibit scope and inter-facility conservation partnerships.

Direct peers

• Marine World Umino-Nakamichi: Fukuoka-based public aquarium with dolphin/shark exhibits, family programs, and regional tourism focus. Comparable mid-sized regional aquarium model with similar admissions-plus-experience revenue mix.
• Aqua World Oarai: Public aquarium in Ibaraki Prefecture operating a similar portfolio of marine exhibits, dolphin shows, and experiential feeding/touch programs targeting families and school groups. Closely aligned business model and visitor segmentation.
• Kamogawa Sea World: Chiba-based aquarium with marine mammal shows, interactive feeding experiences, and family-oriented ticketing. Comparable in combining general admission with paid encounters (sea lion, dolphin, sea otter) and conservation messaging.
• Shima Marineland: Mie Prefecture aquarium known for sea turtle exhibits, dolphin shows, and regional tourism positioning. Highly comparable animal-collection focus and visitor demographic to Echizen Matsushima's sea turtle conservation-driven brand.
• Notojima Aquarium: Regional Japanese aquarium on the Sea of Japan coast in Ishikawa Prefecture. Most directly comparable to Echizen Matsushima: similar scale, hands-on feeding programs, marine exhibits focused on regional Sea of Japan biodiversity, and a strong reliance on domestic family tourism.
• Toba Aquarium: Mid-sized Japanese public aquarium in Mie Prefecture with broad marine exhibits, dolphin shows, and hands-on interaction programs. Comparable in product mix (general admission + animal experiences + feeding) and GTM (direct-to-consumer regional tourism), though larger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: One of Japan's largest public aquariums. Operates in the same industry category but at materially larger scale, broader brand reach, and higher visitor volumes. Sets the competitive ceiling on experiential marine attractions in Japan.

Others

• Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum: Strategic tourism partner in the joint combined-ticket offering (sales through March 2027). Not a direct competitor but a tightly coupled co-marketing destination that materially shapes Echizen Matsushima's visitor flow and average spend.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/echiaqua
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@echizenmatsushimaquarium
• Instagraminstagram.com/echiaqua

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Echizen Matsushima Aquarium