Frequently Asked Questions

Project Overview

Purpose of the Project

As more than 30 years have passed since Tokyo Sea Life Park made its debut, there has arisen a need for the park to respond to the aging of its facilities and equipment, as well as changes in social conditions at home and abroad.

To address these issues, we will develop a new aquarium on a site adjacent to the current aquarium.

The new aquarium will be reborn as a more attractive aquarium with renewed exhibits, spaces where visitors can experience the sea, thanks to the use of the latest technology, and devices designed to help visitors gain new learning and experiences.

Background to Date

From December 2017 to July 2018	Meetings to discuss what Tokyo Sea Life Park should be like (with a total of 5 meetings) were held. (Experts had discussions as to what roles the park should play and what it should be like.)
From November to December 2018	The basic concept (draft) for the renewal of Tokyo Sea Life Park was made public, soliciting public opinions.
In January 2019	The basic concept for the renewal of Tokyo Sea Life Park was made public.
From January 2019 to February 2020	The project plan (draft) for the renewal of Tokyo Sea Life Park was made, soliciting public opinions.
From December 2019 to January 2020	Meetings on the project plan of Tokyo Sea Life Park (with a total of 5 meetings) were held. (Discussion was made by experts as to such issues as the scale and method of implementing it).
In October 2020	The project plan for the renewal of Tokyo Sea Life Park was made public.
On August 25, 2022	A successful bidder was chosen.

As to the history of considerations to date, please also refer to the Fact Sheet（p.15,16）.

Project Method

The project will utilize the PFI（Private Finance Initiative） method*, which allows the use of ideas from the private sector as well as the latest technology, and is also expected to shorten the construction period and reduce costs.

*PFI（Private Finance Initiative）: One of the methods for implementing public works projects. It is a method of designing, constructing, maintaining, managing, and operating public facilities, etc., with the use of private-sector funds and know-how.

As to the project overview, please also refer to the Fact Sheet（p.16）

Selection of the Project Operator（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

Open bidding, based on comprehensive evaluation, was conducted, selecting INOCHI Group as the successful bidder. Later, the project contract was concluded with Tokyo Seatelier Co., a special purpose company （SPC）* established with the contribution of a company representing the group, together with seven constituent companies of INOCHI Group.

*SPC（Special Purpose Company）: A company that is established by a group of multiple firms as a business entity for implementing a PFI project.

History of Consideration to Date and Future Plans

On August 25, 2022	A successful bidder was chosen.
On December 15, 2022	The project contract was concluded.
From December 2022 to September 2027	The design and construction of the new aquarium are to be carried out.
・From December 2022 to November 2023 ・From December 2023 to September 2024 ・From December 2022 to December 2024 ・From December 2022 to June 2024	The basic design of the new aquarium was drawn up. The working design of the new aquarium is to be drawn up. Talks with the authorities concerned are to be held in accordance with relevant laws, including the Building Standards Law. Various surveys are to be carried out, including those on soil and trees.
From October 2027 to March 2028	The preparation for opening the new aquarium is to be made.
In March 2028	The new aquarium is to be put into operation.

As to the project overview, please also refer to the Fact Sheet（p.16）.

Role of TMG

Until the end of the project period, the TMG will monitor the status of the designing, construction, building management, and operation of the restaurant and cafe, etc. to ensure that the PFI operator, Tokyo Seatelier Co., provides adequate services.

Monitoring will be conducted with advice from experts in the fields of aquariums/museums, environmental education, architecture, facilities, public-private sector partnerships, and corporate management.

Role of the PFI Operator（Tokyo Seatelier Co.）

Tokyo Seatelier will be responsible for the design, construction, and building management of the new aquarium, as well as the operation of the restaurant and cafe.

In order to ensure both the efficient management and high-quality operation of the facility, the TMG will select an organization with high expertise as the designated manager, separately from the PFI operator, for tasks such as the breeding of living creatures, as part of the maintenance, management, and operation of the aquarium.

A conceptual image of the huge, open-sea tank upon completion as proposed by the project operator

As to the roles of the TMG and the project operator, please also refer to the Fact Sheet（p.17）.

Frequently Asked Questions -- Development Project

1）Why have you decided to renew Tokyo Sea Life Park?

More than 30 years have passed since the present aquarium opened in FY1989, and its facilities and equipment have dilapidated: the acrylic panels of the exhibition tanks have deteriorated, while the filtration tank and piping have aged. In addition, there is a need to equip the aquarium with barrier-free access and free rest areas, to expand the restaurant and the like, and to the presently cramped spaces for breeding marine life and for placing equipment and machinery.
For these reasons, it was decided to construct a new building separate from the present aquarium.

As to the reasons for a new aquarium to be built, please also refer to the Fact Sheet（p.10）.

2）Please tell us about the work schedule for the project?（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

We plan to design and construct the new aquarium from December 2022 through September 2027.

Preparations will then begin in October 2027, with the aquarium scheduled to open in March 2028.

In the future, as appropriate, we will also make the status of the project’s progress public.

From December 2022 to September 2027	The design and construction of the new aquarium are to be carried out.
・From December 2022 to November 2023 ・From December 2023 to September 2024 ・From December 2022 to December 2024 ・From December 2022 to June 2024	The basic design of the new aquarium was drawn up. The working design of the new aquarium is to be drawn up. Talks with the authorities concerned are to be held in accordance with relevant laws, including the Building Standards Law. Various surveys are to be carried out, including those on soil and trees.
From October 2027 to March 2028	The preparation for opening the new aquarium is to be made.
In March 2028	The new aquarium is to be put into operation.

 

Frequently Asked Questions -- About the Project Operator

3）Please tell us about the PFI operator that is carrying out this development project.（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

The PFI operator is Tokyo Seatelier Co.
Open bidding, based on comprehensive evaluation, was conducted in August 2022, selecting INOCHI Group as the successful bidder. Later, the project contract was concluded with Tokyo Seatelier Co., a special purpose company （SPC） established with the contribution of a firm representing the group, together with seven constituent companies of INOCHI Group.

The summary of the process, after the successful bidder was selected and the future plans for the project, is as follows.

On August 25, 2022	A successful bidder was chosen.
On December 15, 2022	The project contract was concluded.

As to the roles of the PFI operator, please also refer to the Fact Sheet（p.17）.

Frequently Asked Questions -- About the Selection of Project Operator

4）Please tell us about how the PFI project operator was chosen.（Added on June 13, 2023）

For this project, the project operator was selected through a "general competitive bidding process based on comprehensive evaluation.”

The technical examination committee, consisting of academic experts etc., examined the proponents’ proposals （with a maximum of 700 marks） and evaluated them comprehensively by summing up the total marks obtained from the bidding prices (the maximum of 300 marks).

Proposals were reviewed from broad perspectives, including evaluation of the project implementation structure and earnings/expenditure plan, as well as the layout, landscape/appearance, exhibition, and reduction of environmental impact.

As to the criteria for determining the successful bidder, please also see the criteria for determining the successful bidder （made public in January 2022）.

5）Please tell us about the screening results for selecting the PFI project operator.（Added on June 13, 2023）

In the general competitive bidding based on comprehensive evaluation to choose the successful project operator, two groups --INOCHI Group and Tokyo Aqua-Life Group – took part.

As a result, INOCHI Group was selected as the successful bidder for its attractive exhibits, flow lines with a high degree of freedom, and the updatability of facilities were also highly evaluated.
（Reference） Main comments from the technical examination committee

INOCHI Group

• The plan was highly evaluated for forming expansive green space, including the outdoor plaza.
• The plan was highly rated for its specific proposals for advanced energy conservation through the building's high thermal insulation, natural ventilation, and lighting, as well as for reducing the amount of natural seawater used.
• The flow line plan that encourages free viewing of exhibits through the creation of a hub space was rated highly.
• Its well-balanced display of exhibits that would induce visitors into giving thought to the natural environment was highly evaluated.
• The plan under which the filtration facilities for large aquariums are to be housed in a separate building from the main facility for ease of renewal was appreciated.

TOKYO Aqua-Life Group

• The specific proposals for energy conservation and reduction of natural seawater use were highly evaluated.
• The open rooftop plaza, which will enhance ease of movement to and from its surrounding facilities, was rated.
• The specific proposals for advanced energy conservation and reduction of natural seawater use were rated.
• The flow line plan that connects each exhibition space three-dimensionally was highly evaluated.
• The exhibition plan that is easy to use for school education was rated highly.
• Energy and space saving through the adoption of a high-efficiency biological filtration system was highly appreciated.

The results of the examination in detail are as shown in the table below.

For details of the reviewing comments, please also refer to the progress of project operator selection and review comments （made public in September 2022）.

Frequently Asked Questions -- About the New Aquarium

6）What is the difference between the new aquarium and the present one?

Concept

Up to now, Tokyo Sea Life Park has exhibited creatures collected from all over the world to show visitors the richness and diversity of life in the sea. It has also served as a research and study institution, preserving endangered species and propagating wildlife.

Under the new concept of operating a space “that creates opportunities for people to engage with, and deepen their understanding of the ocean by connecting with it,” the new aquarium will be reborn as a completely new facility, in both intangible and physical aspects, to fulfill its new roles for the future. This includes the renewal of its exhibits and spatial presentation to help visitors deepen their understanding of the sea and its contribution to environmental conservation.

Exhibits

In the new aquarium, the exhibits and spatial presentation will be drastically renewed to create a more ‘hands-on’ experience where people can not only “watch” marine life, but also feel bodily sensations of them, including through a large tank reproducing a wide expanse of waters with schools of bluefin tuna.

In addition, the new aquarium will present exhibits which would address environmental problems such as global warming and convey a sustainable relationship between people and the ocean.

Please also refer to the Fact Sheet (P. 12-13) for details on the features of the new aquarium.

Buildings（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

The new aquarium will be built in an area to the north of the present one. Between the two facilities, the “Kyosei-no-Mori,” an open wooded plaza that can be used by anyone, will be developed to meet the diverse needs of people, and to serve as a healing space abundant in a variety of flora and fauna, enabling visitors to stroll amid the rich greenery of Kasai Rinkai Park.

For the new aquarium, a high level of barrier-free measures and universal design will be incorporated so that everyone, regardless of their age, gender, nationality, or whether they are disabled, can use the facility with ease.

The facilities and equipment at the present aquarium have become dilapidated, with the acrylic glass in the exhibition tanks deteriorating, and the filtration tanks and piping systems are not replaceable without pulling down the building. But for the new one, sufficient space will be secured in the backyard, and energy-related facilities will be built separately from the main building. The layout of equipment will be arranged in a way that makes it easy to replace them, such as by having large filtration tanks installed outdoors, thereby making a facility that can be in service for a long period.

Furthermore, we will thoroughly work to reduce environmental impact by introducing highly efficient energy-saving equipment and adopting renewable energy.

Thus, we will aim to create a facility that is easy to use for every visitor, and exists in harmony with the surrounding environment, including Kasai Rinkai Park.

7）Where will the new aquarium be built?（Added on Feb. 8, 2024）

Even after the new aquarium opens, the building of the present one will be preserved, with the new aquarium to be built in the area to the north of the present one rather than in place of the present one.

The portion outlined by the blue border on the right graphic is the planned site, with the new aquarium to be built as outlined by the red border.

 

8）What are the characteristics of the layout of the new aquarium?（Added on Feb. 8, 2024）

The main gate of the new aquarium will be located closer to JR Kasai Rinkai Park Station and the park’s parking lot. For example, the distance from the station to the entrance of the aquarium will be halved from the current distance of approximately 600 meters to 350 meters, making the new aquarium more accessible and easier to use for all visitors, including those in wheelchairs or with strollers.

The main building of the new aquarium will be located in the center, and the energy center building and large filtration tanks for the aquarium will be located on the east side.
In the present building, equipment such as water tanks, filtration tanks, and piping systems are located in close proximity while some machine rooms are surrounded by viewing areas for visitors, making it impossible to replace equipment without closing off the area.

In the new aquarium, the major equipment will be installed in the main building and in a separate building. By securing a sufficient work yard, a high degree of maintainability and renewability will be ensured, thus enabling the life of the building to be extended.

As to the challenges the present aquarium faces, please also refer to the Fact Sheet（p.7）.

9）Wouldn’t developing the aquarium in the center of the lawn plaza mitigate the impact on trees?（Added on Feb. 8, 2024）

By locating the new aquarium to the north in the planned site, an open space will be created between the present aquarium and the new one, improving the mobility of people around the aquarium and the park as a whole.

Between the new and present aquariums, the “Kyosei-no-Mori” will be developed, a plaza space with trees where visitors can freely stroll around without entering the aquarium. This space will serve as a starting point for access between the old and new facilities, and will also create a new east-west axis leading to the birds’ garden, as well as to the park’s observation plaza and the water zone.

This will contribute to the revitalization of Kasai Rinkai Park as a whole, as the liveliness of the aquarium will spread to the entire park, and the liveliness of the park will also be brought into the aquarium.

Furthermore, by maintaining an appropriate sense of distance between the old and new aquariums, the present landscape formed by the beautiful glass dome blending into the blue sea will be preserved, while a new landscape of the new aquarium in harmony with the greenery of the “Kyosei-no-Mori” will be created, allowing visitors to enjoy two different scenes of the landscape.

For a conceptual image of the exterior of the new facility, including the “Kyosei-no-Morii,” please also see the Fact Sheet（p.18）

10）What will become of the exhibition of freshwater organisms?（Added on June 13, 2023）

Exhibits of freshwater life are an important element in learning about Tokyo’s waterscape and the organisms that inhabit it, and in thinking about environmental issues such as invasive alien species. For this reason, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has publicly solicited proposals for a new aquarium to enhance its functions so that more visitors would come, enjoy learning, and deeply feel the connection between the creatures at the waterside and people.

The proposal made by the bidder chosen by the TMG calls for a reproduction of Tokyo’s rivers from their sources to their estuaries, as well as exhibits on the waterside environment of Satoyama – a preserved natural woodland near a populated area -- including ponds and rice paddies, to provide a place for hands-on learning and thinking about the environment.

In the current aquarium, freshwater organisms are exhibited in a separate building （Freshwater Life Pavilion） from the main building, but in the new aquarium freshwater organisms will be exhibited as part of the exhibits of organisms living in various environments such as the open sea, polar regions, and deep sea in the main building. This will enable many visitors to gain a deeper realization of the diversity of living things.

11）What will happen to the existing ‘Stream,’ an outdoor facility?（Added on June 13, 2023）

The present “Stream” has represented the waterside environment as an outdoor facility attached to the Freshwater Life exhibit.

In the new aquarium, the main building will feature fascinating exhibits that will enable visitors to feel the connection between freshwater creatures and people more deeply.

Specifically, in addition to systematically displaying scenes from the source of Tokyo’s rivers to their mouths, the new aquarium will also exhibit the waterside environment of Satoyama, including ponds and rice paddies, providing a place to learn and think about the environment through hands-on experience.
The new aquarium will exhibit both the riparian environment of Tokyo’s rivers and freshwater organisms in the main building, allowing visitors to view the freshwater ecosystem in an integrated manner.

12）Please tell us, in detail, about the new exhibit.（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

Bluefin tuna

Bluefin tuna are currently exhibited in the “Voyagers of the Sea: Tuna” tank, the centerpiece exhibit at the present Tokyo Sea Life Park. Schools of bluefin tuna will be exhibited at the new aquarium, too.

Giant 3,000-ton water tank

The current water tank holds 2,200 tons of water. At the new aquarium, the tank will be upgraded to a 3,000-ton giant tank, enabling visitors to view the bluefin tuna dynamically swimming in groups.

A space where visitors feel immersed in the ocean

By integrating cutting-edge technology into a large aquarium, a new exhibition space will be created, where visitors can experience the majestic ocean from the very moment they step into the exhibit space. Visitors can enjoy viewing a school of bluefin tuna swimming in the water, as if they themselves were divers with their whole body surrounded by water.

A multifaceted exhibit that encourages discovery

The configuration of the aquarium will be designed so that visitors can view the bluefin tuna swimming in groups, not only from the front but from various angles.

Polar and deep-sea regions（Added on Feb. 8, 2024）

Exhibitions of the deep-sea life are popular at many aquariums. At Tokyo Sea Life Park, we have long nurtured and exhibited rare creatures living in the Arctic and Antarctic oceans, as well as life in the deep sea, far from human exploration. In the new aquarium, the ecology of creatures living in the deep sea and polar regions and the world in which they live will be shown in an upgraded exhibition space.

Exhibition space for visitors to experience the extreme world

In addition to the exhibit of living creatures, the new aquarium will create a space where visitors can experience the environment these creatures live in with their bodies, through a simulated recreation, including light and temperature.
Visitors are invited to experience the deep-sea world of darkness and the icy worlds of the Antarctic and Arctic regions and observe the idiosyncratic evolution and mysterious ecology of organisms living in these extreme environments.

Penguins（Added on Feb. 8, 2024）

Presently at Tokyo Sea Life Park, four species of penguins – king penguin, southern rockhopper penguin, Humboldt penguin, and fairly penguin – are being bred. The outdoor exhibit, with its roomy rocky areas and a pool where the many penguins live in a lively atmosphere, is one of the popular exhibits, along with that of bluefin tuna. The new aquarium will continue to display these species of penguins that are being bred now.

Recreating penguins’ natural habitat

Of the four species of penguins kept at Tokyo Sea Life Park, king penguins and southern rockhopper penguins live in the subantarctic zone, while Humboldt penguins and fairy penguins live in the temperate zone. At the new aquarium, the different natural environments in which these different kinds of penguins live will be recreated in their exhibit, creating an environment in which they can live comfortably, and enabling visitors to learn what sort of natural environment they live in.

Various mechanisms to find the unique abilities of penguins

The exhibition space will be arranged to bring out penguins’ natural behavior, such as flat terrains from which they dive into the water, simulated rock terrains where they can wander around freely, as well as a large pool for them to swim leisurely. We also plan to design the exhibit in such a way that will enable visitors to see the penguins up close.

We will continue to release details of the new aquarium as they become available.

13-1）How will you create the new aquarium, together with Tokyo citizens?（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

To prepare for the opening of the new aquarium in four years, we will launch three new projects. To make the new aquarium a wonderful place, we will think about it together with Tokyo citizens, children in particular, and create an aquarium that everyone can enjoy and get excited about even before it opens.

13-2）tell us about the Coral Project.（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

The new aquarium will have a large tank that recreates coral and the ecosystem that surrounds it. Corals absorb carbon dioxide in the seawater during photosynthesis, provide shelter for small fish, and are deemed indispensable in protecting the global environment.
We will carry out a project of growing coral through which children will enjoy learning about coral and its environment; we will be able to display the coral when the new aquarium opens in March 2028.
By holding programs and observation events to learn about coral ecology and habitat, we will provide information so visitors can learn about the natural environment, its connectedness with living things, and their preciousness.

13-3）tell us about the Little Fishies Project（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

At Tokyo Sea Life Park, more than 900 species of living creatures are currently being bred and displayed. We are making such preparations so that visitors will be able to see many diverse living creatures at the new aquarium, too.
In this project, in response to questions raised by children such as “What kind of places do the fish that will be exhibited live?” and “How can you bring them over here?” we will listen to the voices of children and what fish they want to see, and decide on, together with them, at least some of the fish we will display at the new aquarium.

In addition, we also plan to hold a program to introduce the technologies and know-how utilized for the aquarium, including the latest technology used in the display tanks and breeding facilities.

In addition, we will deploy fun programs for children to deepen their understanding of the aquarium and of fish, such as an event in which we will make explanatory panels for the exhibits, together with its participants.

13-4）tell us about the “Accessibility” Project for everyone to contemplate.（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

We are moving ahead with the development of the new aquarium under the principle of creating facilities that are accessible to everyone, and child and disability friendly.

In addition to adopting the latest barrier-free standards and universal design, we will vigorously listen to the voices of those who typically go unheard, such as children and youth who will hold the key to the future of the environment, people with disabilities, and families raising children, to make the new aquarium a facility where everyone can enjoy and learn.

We will aim to create the most accessible aquarium in Japan, together with Tokyo citizens, while giving form to their dreams and hopes.

We will continue to release details of the new aquarium as they become available.

14）Will there be restaurants and cafes?（Added on June 13, 2023）

The new aquarium will have restaurants and cafes.
In the current aquarium, the use of restaurants is limited to visitors only, but the new aquarium will have restaurants and cafes integrated with the outdoor greenery, which will be open to everyone, including those who do not enter the aquarium.

15）Is there a store where we can buy souvenirs?（Added on June 13, 2023）

We plan to set up a store where visitors can purchase a variety of souvenirs, including original goods of the aquarium.

We will continue to release details of the new aquarium as they become available.

Frequently Asked Questions -- What to Do with the Existing Trees

16）Is it true that 1,400 trees will be cut down to construct the new aquarium?（Updated on June 13, 2023）

When the TMG publicly solicited applicants for undertaking the project, it requested that they pay heed to minimizing the impact on the trees within the park. Even after the successful bidder was chosen, the project is being advanced based on this policy.

Misinformation, such as claims as that 1,400 trees will be cut down, has been circulated on social media. But it is not true.
Even if the design turns out to have part of the new building being covered by trees, we will transplant them to alternative sites within the premises as much as possible after diagnosis.

The transplanted trees will be utilized for the development of a new plaza called the “Kyosei-no-Mori” between the new and old aquariums. Therefore, they will continue to be used as greenery to add color to Kasai Rinkai Park.

As to what to do with trees, we explain in detail in following pages.

17）What is your basic policy on what to do with trees in metropolitan parks?（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

Metropolitan parks are places of recreation and relaxation where citizens of Tokyo can spend their time comfortably, joyfully, and with peace of mind. They also play diverse roles, such as cooling the urban environment by mitigating the heat island effect, creating a beautiful, pleasant, and elegant landscape, providing a habitat for a variety of living creatures, and protecting lives as evacuation and relief centers in times of natural disasters.

For parks to effectively fulfill these diverse roles, trees and other plants in urban parks are planted and nurtured, by taking into account the character of the park and the functions required of each area within the park.

For example, trees provide shade in the plaza, allowing people to relax while avoiding the sunlight, and create beautiful scenery with fresh greenery, autumn leaves, and flowers in each season along with park facilities. They also create a walkable place where people can casually come into contact with plants and nature, prevent the spread of fire, and enhance the safety of evacuation sites, and so forth. Planting has such diverse purposes and functions.

When planting trees, due consideration is given to needs such as ensuring visibility for children to play with a sense of reassurance; facilitating smooth movement for people with disabilities, the elderly, and those with strollers; and maintaining the view from viewpoints both inside and outside the park, as well as the desired landscape image, while preserving and utilizing existing vegetation in synch with the purpose of planting.

By the same token, the types, size, number, and density of trees will be determined based on the assumed growth of trees, with the planting of the trees to be carried out in a carefully planned manner, while considering the overall balance of greenery in the park.

Furthermore, to ensure the safety and sense of reassurance with the use of parks well into the future, as well as to maintain the original shape of the trees as much as possible, we will systematically maintain and manage the planted trees by cutting, pruning, trimming, and preventing them from being damaged by insect pests or diseases. By doing so, the planted trees grow healthy, with the purposes and functions of the plantings being fulfilled as described above.

18）What will you do with the trees vis-à-vis with the aquarium’s construction?（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

There are approximately 1,700 trees planted on the site where the new aquarium is planned to be built.

We will move ahead with the project based on the idea of the continued use of the trees; those that will be affected by the construction work are to be transplanted following tree diagnosis.

In the tree diagnosis, an arborist conducted a survey of the trees, excluding exotic species that may threaten the ecosystem and shrub species that have grown larger than expected, to check their health, the presence or absence of decay, and damage wrought by insect pests and mushrooms.

As a result of this survey, approximately 400 trees were found to be in danger of falling or branch breakage or to have a high possibility of decaying even if transplanted because of their poor health or growth conditions.
Excluding these trees that may bring danger or likely to decay, and exotic species -- approximately 200 trees in all -- approximately 1,100 trees were chosen for possible preservation and transplantation.

In addition to the trees that are to be preserved or transplanted, trees will be planted anew in the Kyosei-no-Mori, creating an environment abounding with rich green in the park. In addition, we will consider the use of shrub species and seedling trees that have not been planted in a planned manner in the process of drawing the working design in the future to see if they can be planted in the park.

19）What kinds of trees cannot be transplanted?（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

Dangerous trees

As a result of tree diagnosis, some trees were found to be unsuitable for transplanting due to internal decay. We proceeded with further examination based on the policy of transplanting as many trees as possible, but we concluded that the following trees could not be transplanted.

Trees difficult to be transplanted（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

20）You have concluded exotic species are to be removed and shrub species may be used. Why?（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

Exotic species are those creatures that were not originally in the area but have been introduced from other areas due to human activities, such as snapping turtle, for example. Among exotic species, those that have a huge impact on the natural environment of the area and may even threaten the biodiversity are called “invasive alien species.” At Tokyo Sea Life Park, glossy privet and a Chinese tallow tree are classified as such and are to be removed in conjunction with the construction of the new aquarium.

Shrub species are trees, such as azaleas and winter daphnes, for instance, which should not have been left untrimmed but have grown larger than expected. We will consider, in the process of designing in the days ahead, the use of those low trees which can be made use of as plantings in clusters within the “Kyosei-no-Mori” that are to be developed anew or elsewhere on the premises.

Seedlings are trees that have grown naturally and in an orderly manner as they have grown from seeds contained in the feces of a bird or a small animal or from seeds of planted trees, rather than trees that have been planted in a planned manner. Many of these seedlings are not suitable for park planting due to their poor health and shape and with little prospect of sound growth. However, we will consider utilizing those that can be used for planting in the newly developed Kyoseii-no-Mori or elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions -- About the Installation of Solar Panels

21）Will a large number of trees be cut down to make way for the installation of solar panels?

Solar panels are to be set up by making effective use of space on the rooftop of the new aquarium, and will not be installed on the ground. Therefore, the trees will not be cut down for the sake of installing the solar panels.

 

22）Why is it necessary to install solar panels in the aquarium?

The new aquarium will make thorough efforts to reduce its environmental impact and convey the message of pursuing coexistence with nature. By the same token, we will procure part of the energy needed to operate the facility through solar panels installed on the rooftop of the building.
In addition to solar panels, various other measures will be taken to reduce environmental impact, including the use of natural ventilation and daylight, the use of highly insulated exterior walls, and the introduction of optimal lighting and air conditioning control systems.

Through these efforts, the new aquarium aims to become the first aquarium in Japan to obtain ZEB Ready* certification.

*ZEB Ready: ZEB （net zero energy building） means a building that aims to achieve annual net zero emissions, with considerable energy savings, by reducing the energy load through advanced architectural design and the use of natural energy, as well as enhancing energy self-sufficiency through the adoption of renewable energy. ZEB Ready building means a building that has achieved energy saving with a 50％ reduction in primary energy consumption according to energy use standards set by the state.

Frequently Asked Questions -- About the Existing Aquarium

23）What will happen to the existing aquarium?（Updated on Feb. 8, 2024）

As to the main building of the current Tokyo Sea Life Park, the “Basic Concept for the Utilization of Existing Facilities” was made public in September 2021. The current aquarium is known to Tokyo citizens as a landmark of Tokyo for its beautiful spatial composition that harmonizes the building with the surrounding landscape, and the sea.

The building is characterized by a 20-meter-high glass dome, designed by internationally famed architect Taniguchi Yoshio.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will preserve this building, which can be considered an asset shared by the citizens of Tokyo, even after the new aquarium opens.

After the new aquarium is completed and the fish and other marine organisms are moved into it, we will conduct a fact-finding survey to determine the degree of deterioration etc. of the existing facility.

However, from the perspective of improving the attractiveness of the surrounding area as a whole, by taking advantage of the fact that it is located in Kasai Rinkai Park and is also adjacent to Kasai Marine Park, we will continue to examine, discuss and exchange opinions on how to preserve and use the building in the future with architects and other experts.

The progress of the exchange of opinions will be made public when called for, and we will continue to study how to preserve the beautiful Glass Dome and the whole landscape for the future and find new value for it while gaining the sympathy of the citizens of Tokyo.

We will also hold events to honor the Glass Dome.
We will move forward with this series of initiatives under the “Glass Dome Project.”

24）How long will the present aquarium be open?

The construction of the new aquarium is scheduled to be completed in September 2027, with the new aquarium slated to open in March 2028.
The marine creatures in the existing aquarium will be moved to the new aquarium. In line with the transfer of the animals, the present aquarium will be closed. We will post an announcement on our website and the life when details are worked out.

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Fact Sheet on the Renewal of Tokyo Sea Life Park（Kasai Rinkai Suizokuen）