[Joetsu Aquarium Umigatari] Special Exhibition 'You are a Penguin Staff Member from Today' [Saturday, May 16, 2026 - Sunday, June 14, 2026]
Joetsu Aquarium 'Umigatari' will hold a special exhibition 'You are a Penguin Staff Member from Today' from May 16 to June 14, 2026, where visitors can experience the work of a penguin keeper.
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Joetsu Aquarium 'Umigatari' will hold a special exhibition titled 'You are a Penguin Staff Member from Today' from Saturday, May 16, 2026, to Sunday, June 14, 2026.
Visitors can feel like 'new penguin staff' and learn how to keep and manage many penguins. It is designed to bring the lives of penguins and the work of breeding staff closer to visitors, allowing them to make new discoveries while having fun.
Get to know the job feeling like a new breeding staff member!
Special Exhibition 'You are a Penguin Staff Member from Today'
From Saturday, May 16, 2026, to Sunday, June 14, 2026, we will hold the special exhibition 'You are a Penguin Staff Member from Today'.
Magellanic penguins are representative creatures of 'Umigatari', boasting a breeding number of over 100, which is the highest in Japan. Many chicks are born every year during the breeding season, and you can see them being raised in various places in the exhibition area, a sight unique to 'Umigatari' with its large number of penguins.
In this special exhibition, we make extensive use of various photos taken from the perspective of the breeding staff and introduce breeding and management methods through hands-on experiences. Visitors can feel like 'new penguin staff', learn how to manage many penguins, feel closer to Magellanic penguins, and deepen their understanding.
[Panel exhibition image]
Exhibition contents
1. Feeding
We introduce the types of penguin food, the amount given per day, and differences in how individual penguins eat.
There is also a corner where you can experience the weight of a bucket containing horse mackerel used for feeding.
*Image
2. Breeding and Parenting
We introduce the behavior of penguins during the breeding season, such as pairing, egg-laying, incubation, hatching, and chick growth. During the breeding season, the breeding staff take on a supporting role in penguin parenting. We introduce the role of the breeding staff behind the scenes to ensure parent and child penguins are comfortable.
3. Health Management
We introduce tests to check the health status of penguins, such as blood tests and endoscopies.
There is also a corner where you can experience blood collection using a Magellanic penguin panel.
4. Penguin Growth
We introduce the growth stages of penguins, such as chicks, sub-adults, and adults.
5. Photo Spot
You can pretend to be a breeding staff member and enjoy taking pictures with a penguin panel.
You can wear a raincoat and gear to feel like a penguin staff member.
Location: 1st floor, Event Hall
Magellanic Penguin Nest Camera
A camera is installed in the penguin nest, allowing you to see the real-time situation through a monitor. You can see the usual pairs snuggling up or parent penguins warming their eggs under their bellies.
Period: Saturday, May 16, 2026 - Until chicks leave the nest
Location: 2nd floor, Magellanic Penguin Museum
Renewal of Magellanic Penguin Museum Displays
We are renewing the popular display decorated on the wall of the Magellanic Penguin Museum on the 2nd floor, which is studded with many images of Magellanic penguins.
Period: Saturday, May 16, 2026 - Sub-adult series born last year
Monday, June 15 - Four seasons felt at the Magellanic Penguin Museum
Location: 2nd floor, Magellanic Penguin Museum
Opening hours
Fees
* Those who have a physical disability certificate, a rehabilitation certificate, or a mental disability health and welfare certificate (all grades) will receive a 50% discount on the individual rate.
(Up to one caregiver per eligible person will receive a 50% discount on the individual rate.)
The disability certificate app 'Mirairo ID' can also be used.
* When creating an annual passport, we will take a photo of the face of the person who will own the passport, so please be sure that the owner comes in person.
* Identification documents are not required when purchasing an annual passport.
* In addition, documents to verify age are not particularly required when purchasing an admission ticket.
Access
Visitors can feel like 'new penguin staff' and learn how to keep and manage many penguins. It is designed to bring the lives of penguins and the work of breeding staff closer to visitors, allowing them to make new discoveries while having fun.
Get to know the job feeling like a new breeding staff member!
Special Exhibition 'You are a Penguin Staff Member from Today'
From Saturday, May 16, 2026, to Sunday, June 14, 2026, we will hold the special exhibition 'You are a Penguin Staff Member from Today'.
Magellanic penguins are representative creatures of 'Umigatari', boasting a breeding number of over 100, which is the highest in Japan. Many chicks are born every year during the breeding season, and you can see them being raised in various places in the exhibition area, a sight unique to 'Umigatari' with its large number of penguins.
In this special exhibition, we make extensive use of various photos taken from the perspective of the breeding staff and introduce breeding and management methods through hands-on experiences. Visitors can feel like 'new penguin staff', learn how to manage many penguins, feel closer to Magellanic penguins, and deepen their understanding.
[Panel exhibition image]
Exhibition contents
1. Feeding
We introduce the types of penguin food, the amount given per day, and differences in how individual penguins eat.
There is also a corner where you can experience the weight of a bucket containing horse mackerel used for feeding.
*Image
2. Breeding and Parenting
We introduce the behavior of penguins during the breeding season, such as pairing, egg-laying, incubation, hatching, and chick growth. During the breeding season, the breeding staff take on a supporting role in penguin parenting. We introduce the role of the breeding staff behind the scenes to ensure parent and child penguins are comfortable.
3. Health Management
We introduce tests to check the health status of penguins, such as blood tests and endoscopies.
There is also a corner where you can experience blood collection using a Magellanic penguin panel.
4. Penguin Growth
We introduce the growth stages of penguins, such as chicks, sub-adults, and adults.
5. Photo Spot
You can pretend to be a breeding staff member and enjoy taking pictures with a penguin panel.
You can wear a raincoat and gear to feel like a penguin staff member.
Location: 1st floor, Event Hall
Magellanic Penguin Nest Camera
A camera is installed in the penguin nest, allowing you to see the real-time situation through a monitor. You can see the usual pairs snuggling up or parent penguins warming their eggs under their bellies.
Period: Saturday, May 16, 2026 - Until chicks leave the nest
Location: 2nd floor, Magellanic Penguin Museum
Renewal of Magellanic Penguin Museum Displays
We are renewing the popular display decorated on the wall of the Magellanic Penguin Museum on the 2nd floor, which is studded with many images of Magellanic penguins.
Period: Saturday, May 16, 2026 - Sub-adult series born last year
Monday, June 15 - Four seasons felt at the Magellanic Penguin Museum
Location: 2nd floor, Magellanic Penguin Museum
Opening hours
Fees
* Those who have a physical disability certificate, a rehabilitation certificate, or a mental disability health and welfare certificate (all grades) will receive a 50% discount on the individual rate.
(Up to one caregiver per eligible person will receive a 50% discount on the individual rate.)
The disability certificate app 'Mirairo ID' can also be used.
* When creating an annual passport, we will take a photo of the face of the person who will own the passport, so please be sure that the owner comes in person.
* Identification documents are not required when purchasing an annual passport.
* In addition, documents to verify age are not particularly required when purchasing an admission ticket.
Access