Taiji Whale Museum
Taiji Whale Museum, Taiji-cho: Hours, Address, Taiji Whale Museum Reviews: 4/5
Taiji Whale Museum
Taiji Whale Museum
4
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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43 within 6 miles
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Daimonzaka
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Points of Interest & Landmarks
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644
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
149 reviews
Excellent
65
Very good
56
Average
18
Poor
5
Terrible
5
Ana L
1 contribution
Friends
Please do not patronize this cruel and inhuman “museum” the beautiful albino dolphin named Angel swims in circles in a filthy small tank. Horrible.
Written November 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ShirlTurner6024
Sherborne, UK317 contributions
The place has no soul and the dolphins look really depresssed in their surroundings. Not a place I'd visit again in a hurry.
Written October 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Shlomi T
Nagano, Japan1,327 contributions
Wish there was more English there. Interesting museum with show of dolphins and whales. I do not like shows of animals, so I did not stay for that.
Written May 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
HAPPY NEWFIE
1 contribution
very friendly staff. my kids cant wait to go back... we got to eat whale meat just like my great grand father the sea captian from Newfoundland the whaler and sealer. people need to look at this place as an educational experience and take of their western blinders... highly recomeneded.
Written October 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SleeFam
Halls Creek, Australia14 contributions
Family
The aquariums appeared small and often dirty and the animals look bored. So much rather see and swim with these beautiful creatures in the wild and in their natural habitat. I was unhappy with my visit and would not return again.
Written January 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Brisbane41
Newcastle, Australia2,099 contributions
Solo
I visited Taiji mainly for the Kumano Shrines and Nachi Falls. I visited this museum on the last day of my visit.
It is very clear that the staff here genuinely love the whales and dolphins and other marine mammals they keep. They appear to be on a strict diet and the shows are done in a way that educate and entertain. The main language here is Japanese with very little English available. If you speak Japanese then you will not have a problem.
Having walked all around the exhibits and seen the shows I think that the museum is mainly aimed at educating about marine life.
The whales are kept in seawater where the inlet has been dammed closed allowing them to be in a somewhat natural environment albeit on the small size. The aquarium and dolphin pools although small could really do with some regular cleaning in my opinion.
Although the enclosures may be considered small, one must remember that this is Japan and its population are used to extreme dense living. The housing for Japanese people and work places are often on the small side also. If activists and people want to see improvement then it is best to make constructive suggestions. I think with a bit of money and investment and regular cleaning then this place can improve.
It is very clear that the staff here genuinely love the whales and dolphins and other marine mammals they keep. They appear to be on a strict diet and the shows are done in a way that educate and entertain. The main language here is Japanese with very little English available. If you speak Japanese then you will not have a problem.
Having walked all around the exhibits and seen the shows I think that the museum is mainly aimed at educating about marine life.
The whales are kept in seawater where the inlet has been dammed closed allowing them to be in a somewhat natural environment albeit on the small size. The aquarium and dolphin pools although small could really do with some regular cleaning in my opinion.
Although the enclosures may be considered small, one must remember that this is Japan and its population are used to extreme dense living. The housing for Japanese people and work places are often on the small side also. If activists and people want to see improvement then it is best to make constructive suggestions. I think with a bit of money and investment and regular cleaning then this place can improve.
Written November 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helen C
1157053641 contributions
Couples
This museum is more for young kids. The highlight is the 15 minutes whale and dolphin show. There is 45 minutes in between 2 shows where you can visit the museum. The museum has English panels which very well explain the rise and fall of whale hunting. Since there is not much to do in Taiji, the visit is almost a must.
Written October 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TimFP
Singapore878 contributions
Solo
Visited here in November 2015 as part of the Matsushima-island cruise (from Nachi-Katsuura). I think this is by far the easier way to see the museum by public transport whilst you are visiting the Kumano shrines and countryside. The cruise itself costs 1350 yen and the running commentary on the cruise boat is only in Japanese.
A visit to the museum and park is a nice experience, not least because some parts of the marine park is set within a scenic bay area - this is where the whale show and some of the optional activities are conducted . The entrance fee is very affordable (about 1300 yen?) compared to the big marine parks in Australia or the US for example. The museum itself is very old school and some of the highlights are the models and drawings of the traditional colorful whaling ships, the preserved organs and other body parts of the whales and the description of traditional whaling practice in Japan.
There are also whale and dolphin shows (2 separate shows) scheduled regularly throughout the day and these are fun to watch. You also have the opportunity to take part in any of the following activities for an additional fee, for example go kayaking with false killer whales or swim with the dolphins within an enclosed area for a 15 minute duration. These sessions are guided/supervised so the fee is very reasonable and the photo opportunities are great!
Don’t miss the aquarium right at the end of the bay with its dolphin lagoon housing an albino dolphin.
A visit to the museum and park is a nice experience, not least because some parts of the marine park is set within a scenic bay area - this is where the whale show and some of the optional activities are conducted . The entrance fee is very affordable (about 1300 yen?) compared to the big marine parks in Australia or the US for example. The museum itself is very old school and some of the highlights are the models and drawings of the traditional colorful whaling ships, the preserved organs and other body parts of the whales and the description of traditional whaling practice in Japan.
There are also whale and dolphin shows (2 separate shows) scheduled regularly throughout the day and these are fun to watch. You also have the opportunity to take part in any of the following activities for an additional fee, for example go kayaking with false killer whales or swim with the dolphins within an enclosed area for a 15 minute duration. These sessions are guided/supervised so the fee is very reasonable and the photo opportunities are great!
Don’t miss the aquarium right at the end of the bay with its dolphin lagoon housing an albino dolphin.
Written January 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
h0me_l0ver
Brisbane, Australia21 contributions
Friends
Taiji is the village notorious for whale/dolphin hunting.
There is the museum for whaling in this small village. I was wondering to pay 1,300 yen or so to enter since I'm not interested in whaling. However, I really enjoyed this museum so much that I want to come again with my kids in the future.
You can feed dolphins and play with them in the lagoon! The dolphins are so cute!
The exhibition is kind of old style, but informative. There seems to be a long history of whaling and you can see whaling from their perspective.
Anyhow, you can enjoy half a day here.
There is the museum for whaling in this small village. I was wondering to pay 1,300 yen or so to enter since I'm not interested in whaling. However, I really enjoyed this museum so much that I want to come again with my kids in the future.
You can feed dolphins and play with them in the lagoon! The dolphins are so cute!
The exhibition is kind of old style, but informative. There seems to be a long history of whaling and you can see whaling from their perspective.
Anyhow, you can enjoy half a day here.
Written September 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Oswens
Hong Kong, China482 contributions
Couples
If you have JR West Pass and stay near Shirohama, you can go Taiji whale museum. Though some rumors about not welcoming Westerners to visit the museum, I haven't seen any notice or warnings about that. The one-day ticket was 1300 yen (including re-entry) and there are a 3 layers of museum. Once you entered the museum, you can see a few real-sized whale skeletons at the center of the museum hall. The second floor showed lots of displays about the life of whales and dolphins, including different parts of internal organs (eg hearts, genital organs). The third floors showed the history of whaling in Japan and other countries.
The most exciting experience is that you can feed the dolphins in the lagoon, just only 200 yen every time, no time limitation. In the aquarium, you can see the only captured albino dolphin inside. Though I do object the whaling and eating whale meat in Japan, you can have a broader view and knowledge about the close relationship between whaling and Japanese here.
The most exciting experience is that you can feed the dolphins in the lagoon, just only 200 yen every time, no time limitation. In the aquarium, you can see the only captured albino dolphin inside. Though I do object the whaling and eating whale meat in Japan, you can have a broader view and knowledge about the close relationship between whaling and Japanese here.
Written August 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
The Invisible Man.
United Kingdom1 contribution
Considering more & more people are against all animals in captivity & the whale museum say they love their dolphins/whales why have they never considered grouping all of their dolphins/whales into species groups and build them a natural sea sanctuary? They have the space ...
Why does people go to this disgusting place when they surely know what they are involved in,the killings and selling of dolphins helping capture and sell for vast profits,watch a drive hunt in the cove Taiji via Ric o Barrys site and tell me you okay with that
Why does this museum continue to support the capture and slaughter of dolphins and whales? Watch The Cove for the back story of the dolphins and whales in captivity.
Trip advisor has agreed to end its links with captivity so presume this business will soon be taken down from this site? As the world is waking up to this barbaric and unethical practice.
Adventurer169345
Broadford, UK2 contributions
Taiji: 6 Risso’s dolphins that were part of a larger pod could not escape the dolphin hunters of Taiji today. After several hours, escaping many times the dolphin hunters finally netted them in the killing cove. Trainers from the Taiji Whale Museum came to inspect them but ultimately decided none of the Risso’s were of the right age, gender or looked pretty enough for captivity. All 6 have have been slaughtered.
Shauna S
High River, Canada51 contributions
I would like people to know that they are keeping the dolphin hunting going every year by visiting these dophinariums like the Taiji Whale museum. Take a short trip down to the cove in Taiji where the water turns red with the blood of the slaughtered dolphins instead of going and playing and feeding captive dolphins. SAY NO TO THE SHOW, DON'T BUY A TICKET. And shame on Tripadvisor for letting people promote captive dolphin and whale shows. Get a clue people. Shut it down.
Visit dolphinprojectcom and watch the The Cove before deciding to buy a ticket.
Frequently Asked Questions about Taiji Whale Museum
- Taiji Whale Museum is open:
- Sun - Sat 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Taiji Whale Museum:
- (0.06 mi) Hana Irodori No Yado Kayuu
- (0.31 mi) Hakugei
- (0.42 mi) Minshuku Oiso
- (1.36 mi) Kumano Bettei Nakanoshima
- (1.61 mi) Hotel Urashima
- Restaurants near Taiji Whale Museum:
- (0.05 mi) Boulangerie Le Bois
- (0.07 mi) Taketombo
- (0.32 mi) Isana No Yado Hakugei
- (0.42 mi) Kujiraya
- (0.53 mi) Shippo
- Attractions near Taiji Whale Museum:
- (0.12 mi) Taiji Kujirahama Park
- (0.18 mi) Kujirahama Beach
- (0.18 mi) Ota Town Ishigaki Memorial Hall
- (0.57 mi) Dolphin Base
- (0.57 mi) Dolphin Resort