As is known among most foreign tourists in Japan, Kyoto, located in the middle of Japan, is one of the most popular tourist destinatios.

The city has a very long history, along with a large number of historic sites, many temples and shrines, tangible and intangible cultural assets, and breath-taking landscapes.

While I recognize the city’s importance of tourism, there is a kind of tip about Kyoto Aquarium.

An aquarium in such an inland city?

During my stay in Kyoto, I once visited Kyoto Aquarium with some curiosity.

I thought this way then, “Why is there an aquarium in Kyoto? The city is located deeply inland. Shouldn’t aquariums and other sea-related facilities be placed near the sea rather than here?”

Everyone should have the same thought as I, right?
Below is the location of Kyoto Aquarium.

However, this is a wrong idea.
That is because the word Kyoto, which many tourists mention, means Kyoto city alone.
Kyoto city is only the prefectural capital of Kyoto Prefecture or Kyotofu(京都府), and the prefecture has its seashore on Japan Sea(日本海).

I think the seashore line the prefecture has is not so long and it gives those who are absorbed in Kyoto city only tinny impression.

Also, you can see in Kyoto city Kamogawa(鴨川), Katsuragawa(桂川), and other rivers running through.
So it’s not unnatural the city has an aquarium.

The No.1 attraction is not fish, animals, or birds.

This aquarium, by the way, has a very, very unique item, which is the No.1 attraction in the aquarium too.

What’s that?
Is it a fish, an animal, or a bird?
Absolutely no!

It’s a giant salamander(オオサンショウウオ), amphibian.

And it’s designated as a Special National Treasure(特別天然記念物), very precious creature.
Of course, there are also many other water-related creatures like fish, other amphibians, jellyfishes and so on in the aquarium.

But from the point of my view, most animals in this aquarium are from the neighborhood and here Kyoto prefecture.
For its typical example, giant salamanders are sometimes seen in some rural or suburban areas of Kyoto prefecture.

In fact, in rainy seasons in Japan, from end of May through early July, some irrigation channels, streams, and rice paddles in this area can flood on a small scale, and it’s said these giant salamanders sometimes come up to people’s residences along with running water.

So, if you’re lucky enough to stay in such an area of Kyoto in a rainy season, you may encounter a giant salamander crawling slowly on a path or even on a paved road.

Surprise? Staffed toys of giant salamander are enjoying great popularity!

There are other unique points in Kyoto Aquarium.
One of them is its interior: by using water-related creatures for its decoration, this aquarium is successful in creating attractive scenes.

But isn’t everyone surprised to hear the most popular animals here are giant salamanders?

As the proof of that, you can find there are many scales of its staffed toys occupying large spaces of the aquarium’s shopping area: you’ll be surprised twice to find its extra-large staffed toys, over 150cm!

Many of you may be scared of reptiles, amphibians, because most of them have weird appearance.
However, most visitors to this aquarium seem to feel giant salamanders are very cute: they move very slowly, and aren’t aggressive at all. They are calm. They don’t have any poison: in fact, they were thought of as food before registered as a Special National Treasure(once any living thing is registered as such, we are strictly prohibited from catching, killing, or eating it.).

The shop sells other giant salamander-related goods, of course, along with other items.
And as far as I remember, the price of the extra-large staffed toy is well over ￥25,000.

However, the item seems to have still kept great popularity.
If you get the cool, amazing item there, you may have a good sleep at night with this in your bed.