Imagine a zoo where the lemur sprints by your legs or a toucan casually perches on your shoulder! To live this imagination, head to NIFREL Osaka because this whisk of a museum, zoo and aquarium is an animal lover's paradise! Here, you can witness animals in their element, exhibiting their unique characteristics and you can interact with them, which is not possible even in the best of zoos. Visit NIFREL Osaka for an once-in-a-lifetime experience that will help you appreciate nature better. NIFREL is located with the ExpoCity Osaka, an expansive retail and entertainment hub where you can spend the entire day!
Before heading to NIFREL, here's all you need to know - opening hours, directions, the best exhibits and a few insider hacks to help you plan your visit better.
What is NIFREL Osaka - In A Nutshell
The NIFREL Osaka is a venture by Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan - one of the world’s largest aquariums. The concept of NIFREL came about through the Japanese word ‘KANSEI NIFREL’ which means ‘appealing to your inspiration’.
NIFREL aims to bring people closer to nature and animal biodiversity, and showcase their extraordinary features. It aims to inspire people to recognise nature around them, even in its most subtle forms - like the setting sun or a flower rising out of the footpath. This combination of museum, aquarium and zoo is created in an artistic manner to appeal to all senses of visitors.
NIFREL Osaka Tickets
While you can grab tickets to NIFREL Osaka on-site, get upto 10% cashback on your NIFREL tickets by grabbing them from Headout.
NIFREL Interactive Aquazoo E-Ticket in Osaka
The NIFREL Interactive Aquazoo promises a unique experience that is sure to invert the stereotypical idea of a zoo. Indulge in this attraction that focuses on elevating the visitor’s sensorial experience by bringing together the best of a zoo, aquarium, and museum into a single facility.
- Enter the exhilarating environment of the NIFREL interactive aquazoo that is the perfect blend of zoo, aquarium, and museum under one roof.
- Embark upon this extraordinary sensory experience that will help you interact with various species and change your outlook about their lives.
- Wander through the seven zones at this attraction based on individual themes, namely “Colors”, “Abilities”, “Shapes”, “Behavior”, “Waterside”, “Biodiversity”, and “Wonder Moments”.
Plan Your Visit at NIFREL Osaka
NIFREL Osaka is spread across two floors and has eight themed zones. Each of the zones has different animals and will offer unique experiences. The aquazoo is best explored at a leisurely pace; while finding out everything about each animal, and it should take you less than four hours to view all the zones. Here is what you can expect at NIFREL Osaka –
Colors
The thirteen aquaria display various fish and aquatic animals that exhibit vivid colors. You will find blood red fire shrimp, yellow Okinawa goby, and sapphire devil among the colorful fish.
Abilities
Be amazed at the distinctive abilities of these animals as they can spout water, bury in the sand or camouflage in the environment. Spot horseshoe crab and Peacock mantis shrimp in these exhibits!
Shape
A surreal exhibit space, it is a dark enclosure lit up by strings of light and aquaria which highlight the weird and wonderful shapes of animals. Admire the Red lionfish, blue jellyfish and long spined porcupinefish here.
Wonder Moments
Enter a dreamlike world in a room where this round light art installation, by Takahiro Matsuo, will help you view the Earth and planets from space, and be mesmerised by its natural beauty.
Mimic
Keep a lookout for these amazing creatures that mimic the environment around them and become invisible to protect from predators and to catch prey. Mossy frog, stonefish and Bearded leatherjacket find a space here.
Waterside
Learn about the animals that survive by the water in this vast and bright space. You will find a white tiger, saltwater crocodile and a pygmy hippopotamus in this exhibit.
Behavior
One of the most popular spaces in NIFREL Osaka, this exhibit allows the animals to roam freely. You can interact with Ring-tailed lemur, Asian otter, Capybara, Toco toucan and African Penguin at the exhibit.
Biodiversity
The closest to a museum exhibit, this space has a huge screen where you can watch the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. There are three aspects to the presentation – ‘Being the same’, ‘Being different’, and ‘Being interactive between them’.
NIFREL Osaka Opening Hours
NIFREL Osaka is open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily. Last entry is at 7:00 PM
Directions to NIFREL Osaka
NIFREL Osaka is situated at the EXPOCITY complex.
Address: 2-1 Senri bampaku koen, Suita-shi, Osaka
Via Monorail
The nearest station on the Osaka Monorail is Bampakukinenkoen Station. NIFREL Osaka is about 5 mins or 400m away from the station.
Via Bus
The nearest bus stop is Banpakukinen Koen Eki (Expo City Bus Stop) from where NIFREL Osaka is about 3 mins or 280m away from the bus stop.
You can take the buses on these lines - ExpoCity Line 100, Suita City Line 21, ExpoCity Line 50128
Via Car
The Expocity Parking is at the following address - 1 Senribanpakukoen, Suita, Osaka 565-0826, Japan. You have to walk for 5 mins or 400m to reach NIFREL Osaka.
Insider Tips for Exploring NIFREL Osaka
- Make sure you stop at the cafe EAT EAT EAT where you can find an innovative edible called ‘Eating Water’. You can hold water right in your hands without any utensil!
- The best time to visit NIFREL Osaka is on weekday mornings and late in the evenings, as the aquazoo is open till 8:00 PM.
- Stop at the museum shop, it is a great place to pick up souvenirs from your trip. You can find educational material and interesting products related to the animals in the aquazoo.
- The Behavior section allows the animals to roam freely and they may move closely around you. However, make sure that you do not touch the animals as it is a safety risk for both you and the animal.
- NIFREL Osaka has locker rooms where you can store your luggage and it costs upwards of 200 Yen. Do not bring bulky items as only small and medium luggage is allowed.
- You are free to record and photograph your experience at NIFREL Osaka but make sure that you do not use flash (it irritates the animals) and do not use selfie sticks (it irritates fellow travelers!).
NIFREL Interactive Aquazoo E-Ticket in Osaka
The NIFREL Interactive Aquazoo promises a unique experience that is sure to invert the stereotypical idea of a zoo. Indulge in this attraction that focuses on elevating the visitor’s sensorial experience by bringing together the best of a zoo, aquarium, and museum into a single facility.
- Enter the exhilarating environment of the NIFREL interactive aquazoo that is the perfect blend of zoo, aquarium, and museum under one roof.
- Embark upon this extraordinary sensory experience that will help you interact with various species and change your outlook about their lives.
- Wander through the seven zones at this attraction based on individual themes, namely “Colors”, “Abilities”, “Shapes”, “Behavior”, “Waterside”, “Biodiversity”, and “Wonder Moments”.
NIFREL Osaka Reviews
My kids loved it. Not much foreign tourist and mostly locals. Exhibits were really nice and interactive from the aquarium to the penguin area. Its not too crowded and you can take your time. It is also right beside expo city sp after the tour you can either eat or go shopping. From central Osaka the commute is a bit far with several train changes but the commute is worth it.
181raffym, Tripadvisor 2019
The walk from the train station to Nifrel was very nice, with the Tower of the Sun in clear view. Nifrel was not just functional but it was designed to wow the senses. Although small, it was a very good experience with nice friendly staff. Mostly locals and hardly any tourists. After visiting Nifrel, we made our way to the big mall for some shopping at Adidas and Loft, and lunch at the conveyor belt sushi restaurant. Overall very nice. To be honest, the crisp cool weather played a major part too!
WendyL3563, Tripadvisor 2019
Read what past visitors have to say about NIFREL Aquarium.
