The past when there was no kingfisher even though it was a kingfisher aquarium

Inawashiro Kingfisher Aquarium is located in Midori-no-Mura (Green Village), a nature park in Inawashiro Town, Fukushima Prefecture. The aquarium exhibits freshwater fish and aquatic insects that live in Fukushima Prefecture, as well as kingfishers, brown dippers, and river otters, and other water creatures that are rarely seen, reproducing their habitats.

Origin of the name of the Kingfisher Aquarium

In 1989, the Kingfisher Aquarium opened together with the “Midori no Mura (Green Village)” as the “Inawashiro Freshwater Fish Museum”. Since 2015, we have entrusted the operation to the Fukushima Marine Science Museum, which has operated Aquamarine Fukushima, and changed the name to Aquamarine Inawashiro Kingfisher Aquarium.

There is an interesting story about the name of the Kingfisher Aquarium. When the Kingfisher Aquarium reopened after renovations, many people came to see the kingfisher, attracted by the name of the aquarium. However, there was no Kingfisher exhibit. They also advertised with the self-deprecating catchphrase, “There are no kingfishers, but there are otters!” However, the aquarium received many harsh comments, so in 2018 it began to exhibit wild birds such as kingfishers, brown dippers, and yellow wagtails captured in the rivers around Inawashiro.

Kingfishers can actually be seen in the Midori no Mura (Green Village), where the aquarium is located. The origin of the name of the Kingfisher Aquarium was named after the “Green” of the Green Village. (Therefore, the kingfisher was not exhibited at first.)
By the way, Green is also likened to the color of Jade, but Kingfisher is written as “翡翠” in Kanji, Chinese character, the male kingfisher is written as “blue” and the female kingfisher is written as “green.” Therefore, the female and male are combined and written as jade. The jade gemstone is named after the color of the kingfisher’s wings. That is, the name of the bird comes first.
In addition, it became a kingfisher because it means “a Semi that lives in the river”, the old Japanese name for the kingfisher was called “Soni (鴗)”. Soni changed and became “Semi”. Kingfisher is pronounced ”Kawasemi” in Japanese, and it is sometimes written as “River Cicada (川蝉)” in Chinese characters, the kanji character “Kawasemi (川蝉)” is a phonetic character. It seems that there is also a theory that it is a bird with a beautiful back that lives in the river. This is also written as “Kawasemi (川背美, river back beauty)” in phonograms.

Kawauso–no–fuchi, an exhibit of Eurasian otters

In 2012, the Japanese Rriver Otter became extinct. Japanese River Otters lived in Lake Inawashiro until the 1950s. The Kingfisher Aquarium breeds and exhibits Eurasian Otters, which are genetically very similar to Japanese otters, based on the concepts of “thinking about the future of people and the earth through Fukushima’s lakes” and “creating an ecosystem model for Lake Inawashiro.” You can observe feeding demonstrations at 10:00 and 15:00, while keepers explain the ecology of the otters. You can see the cute expressions of otters eating food up close. This is the most popular event in the aquarium.

OMOSHIRO Aqua-box, World of Biodiversity

At the Kingfisher Aquarium, rare freshwater fish that are in danger of extinction are displayed in aquariums that recreate their habitats. There are about 90 small aquariums, and many aquatic insects such as giant water bugs and diving beetles, as well as amphibians such as frogs and salamanders are on display.

fishing experience where you can get fish’s life

The Kingfisher Aquarium has a fishing pond for rainbow trout, and you can eat the rainbow trout you catch fried on the spot. You can watch the cooking process through the window, so you can learn about the importance of taking the life of living things while watching the live rainbow trout being cooked. The pamphlet of the aquarium is published as “fishing experience corner where you can get fish’s life”.

Access to Inawashiro Kingfisher Aquarium

Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by Shinkansen from JR Tokyo Station to JR Koriyama Station. Approximately 40 minutes from JR Koriyama Station to JR Inawashiro Station. Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from JR Inawashiro Station.