Tokyo Sea Life Park has various departments, including animal care and exhibition staff, and education and outreach staff.

As part of 　the commemorative projects for our 35th anniversary this year, we will be publishing a series of articles titled "The Dreams of Aquarium Leaders," in which leaders from each department will discuss themes such as "the ideal exhibit/aquarium" and "what they want to do and their dreams for their future work."

The 11th installment: "What we want to convey from shops and restaurants!! The charm and importance of living creatures"

What kind of place is Tokyo Sea Life Park to you?

I believe this will be a place where you can be amazed, excited, and healed by seeing the exhibits of living creatures. In this special place, I want to convey the charm and importance of living creatures not only through the exhibits but also through the shop and restaurant.

My reasoning stems from my childhood experiences. At that time, Tokyo Sea Life Park did not yet exist, but I frequently visited Ueno Zoo, which had an aquarium that would later become the Kasai Rinkai Aquarium.

The gift shop at that time offered a wide variety of goods, including realistic stuffed animals, stationery with animal motifs, mascots, towels, cards and guidebooks featuring photos of the exhibited animals. For me, it was not just a place to buy souvenirs, but a place filled with the unique charm of a zoo shop.


A panda plush toy and name tag I received as a child. A turtle plush toy I bought myself after joining the company.

"Aquarium cards" were sold when the aquarium first opened. The first "animal cards" I ever bought with my allowance.
Currently, shops at Tokyo Metropolitan Zoos and Aquariums offer a wide variety of products, including original plush toys supervised by animal keeper. On "anniversaries related to animals," restaurants offer products and special menus featuring those animals. Both shops and restaurants are also actively engaged in environmentally conscious initiatives.

In particular, the restaurant at Tokyo Sea Life Park uses "sustainable seafood" in some of its ingredients. The gift shop carries products made with environmentally friendly materials and introduces rare creatures that are featured on the exhibits through the merchandise. Through these efforts, we aim to create a shop that will encourage visitors to take a greater interest in the products, the creatures, and the environment.

Use "sustainable seafood" in your ingredients. The "MSC Tuna Bowl" that was introduced.	Original goods made with environmentally friendly materials

Through these initiatives, we hope to convey the charm and importance of living creatures to even more people. Our shops and restaurants will continue to evolve every day, and we hope to offer everyone new discoveries and inspiring experiences.

[Tokyo Sea Life Park]

◎Related articles
・ We offer MSC/ASC certified "Sustainable Seafood" menu items. (September 21, 2022)

・Series: 35th Anniversary Project "The Dreams of Aquarium Leaders"
　[1] Thoughts on the exhibits at the aquarium
　[2] The path that aquariums aim for - We want them to always be close to you
　[3] Would you like to get involved in the maintenance and management of the facilities that support the aquarium from behind the scenes?
　[4] Aquariums where you can learn while having fun
　[5] I want to create the ocean
　[6] Aqua Positive
　[7] Aiming for an inclusive aquarium
　[8] The Dreaming Old Man
　[9] The job of a "boatman" at an aquarium - Let's continue the dream together!
　[10] Value hospitality
　[11] What we want to convey from shops and restaurants!! The charm and importance of living things
　[12 (Final Episode)] Thoughts and daily life of the Business Division staff

(March 8, 2025)