The aquarium sits on the harbour next to the Sakurajima ferry pier. Its centrepiece is the seven-metre Kuroshio Tank, home to two whale sharks named Yuyu — a relay of fish, since the giants outgrow the tank and are released to the wild every few years. Smaller tanks cover the marine life of the warm Kuroshio Current that washes Kyushu's southern coast: dolphins, rays, jellyfish, and the freshwater life of the Amami archipelago.
The dolphin pool outdoors uses sea water pumped directly from the bay; performances run several times a day. It is the obvious place to go with children if the volcano weather turns; the building also gives you the best dry view of Sakurajima in the city.