A New Art Experience on Kobe’s Waterfront
The moment I saw the photo of the spherical aquarium, I thought, “I have to go.”
átoa, an urban aquarium nestled on Kobe’s Shinko-cho waterfront. From August 29 to November 3, 2025, it hosts “Mika Ninagawa with EiM: Resonant Aquarium.” Honestly, what drew me was this limited-time collaboration—átoa’s signature spherical aquarium, Japan’s largest, enhanced with Mika Ninagawa’s luminous direction.
But when I actually visited—the entire átoa space offered an experience far beyond my expectations.
A Fantastical Journey Beginning in a Cave
After passing through átoa’s entrance, you’re first greeted by 2F’s “CAVE (The Beginning Cave).”
A cave-like space where multifaceted mirrors create infinite reflections. Schools of fish shimmer in dramatic lighting that flows brilliantly through the space. It feels like stepping through a portal into another world.
átoa bills itself as a “theatrical aquarium,” and it lives up to that promise. This isn’t just about viewing tanks. It’s an “experience” where stage design, living creatures, and light merge into one.
Immersive Worlds That Transform Floor by Floor
átoa consists of four floors. Each has a distinct theme, unfolding like walking through scenes in a film.
2F - Exploring the Underwater World
- MARINE NOTE (Fluctuation of Life): The illusion of wandering into an underwater realm. Graceful marine creatures swaying with the waves
- ELEMENTS (Forest of Spirits): A forest shrouded in mist. Freshwater fish and amphibians meet you amid sunlight filtering through the canopy
3F - Where Japanese Tradition Meets the Cosmos
- FOYER (Room of Exploration): An overhead tank where capybaras swim. Soft, calming light
- MIYABI (Space of Harmony and Light): A scenic Japanese world. Light direction changes with time, expressing Japan’s four seasons
- PLANETS (Miraculous Planet): This is the destination—the stage of Mika Ninagawa with EiM
- GALLERY (Corridor of Exploration): Artistic frames that stimulate all five senses
4F - Reaching the Sky
- SKYSHORE (Garden by the Sky): An open outdoor space. Kobe’s sea breeze and soothing creatures
What makes this composition brilliant is how immersion naturally deepens by the time you reach 3F’s “PLANETS.” By the time you pass through cave, forest, and Japanese spaces to arrive at the cosmic “PLANETS,” everyday consciousness has faded away.
3F “PLANETS” — The Resonating Space Created by Mika Ninagawa with EiM
And finally, 3F’s “PLANETS.”
Rising from darkness, the spherical aquarium “AQUA TERRA,” Japan’s largest. Surrounding it, light, mist, and lasers created by Mika Ninagawa with EiM envelop everything.
“Life floating in water, memories swaying in light, beings resonating with each other”
True to the concept, this space never stands still. Light shifts, water ripples, and the life within seems to move in response to the viewer’s presence.
Immersion Like an Osaka Expo Pavilion
The moment I stepped into this space, “Osaka Expo pavilion” came to mind.
The immersive spaces at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, where technology and art merge, sparked conversation. That same sensation is available here at átoa in Kobe.
Light and mist envelop 360 degrees, and the life in the spherical aquarium resonates with your own presence. This sensation isn’t mere “viewing.” It’s a “co-being” experience where you become part of the artwork itself.
In fact, Hiroaki Miyata is the theme producer for the Osaka-Kansai Expo. The “Better Co-Being” vision of the future presented at the Expo becomes a physical sensation in this space.
The Chemical Reaction of Mika Ninagawa × EiM
Mika Ninagawa is known for vivid colors and overwhelming vitality. But in this “Resonant Aquarium,” you glimpse what lies “beyond” that beauty.
The Creative Team EiM
- Mika Ninagawa: Photographer and film director. Over 120 photobooks, over 150 solo exhibitions
- Hiroaki Miyata: Data scientist, Professor at Keio University School of Medicine. Theme Producer for Osaka-Kansai Expo
- Isao Kuwana: Creative Director
- Kishiro Ueno: Lighting Director
Specialists from various fields unite, and diverse light passes through and reflects off countless crystals and the spherical aquarium. The entire space fills with “the breath of life.”
The “Mika Ninagawa Exhibition with EiM: Light of the Other Shore, Shadow of This Shore” held at Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art from January to March 2025 drew 250,000 visitors. That passion now takes new form by Kobe’s waterfront.
Actual Response
- Exhibition period: August 29 (Fri) - November 3 (Mon, Holiday), 2025
- Visitors: Surpassed 100,000 (as of October 24, 2025)
- 50,000 visitors: Just one month after opening (September 26)
- Hiroaki Miyata also visited (September 28)
Honestly, I Enjoyed More Than Just the Spherical Aquarium
Initially, I came to átoa “for the spherical aquarium.” But after touring the facility, I enjoyed it far more than expected.
Photo Spots Everywhere
átoa transcends “Instagram-worthy”—it’s a treasure trove of genuine photo opportunities.
- CAVE (The Beginning Cave): Infinite expanses created by mirror reflections
- MIYABI (Space of Harmony and Light): Seasonal light direction with Japanese creatures
- PLANETS (Miraculous Planet): Spherical aquarium and veils of light. Picture-perfect from any angle
- GALLERY (Corridor of Exploration): Artistic frame installations that add depth to photos
- SKYSHORE (Garden by the Sky): Open space with Kobe’s sky and sea as backdrop
Especially in “MIYABI’s” Japanese space, the light direction changes with time, making you want to photograph the same spot repeatedly.
Rich Encounters with Living Creatures
While átoa is “theatrical,” it thoroughly maintains diversity of living creatures.
- FOYER: Capybaras swimming gracefully in a unique overhead tank
- MARINE NOTE: Distinctive fish of the underwater world
- ELEMENTS: New encounters with freshwater fish and amphibians
- SKYSHORE: Healing creatures welcoming you in the celestial world
The composition lets you encounter different ecosystems on each floor, not just the spherical aquarium, keeping things engaging.
átoa Cafe & Shop Worth Checking Out
Take a Break at 4F “átoa cafe”
The átoa cafe on the fourth floor is a space where you can relax while viewing Kobe’s scenery. After touring the facility, it’s nice to linger here with a drink, savoring the afterglow.
Essential Information Before Visiting átoa
Tickets & Admission
Special Rates During ‘Resonant Aquarium’ Exhibition (8/29/2025～11/3)
| Category | General | With Disability Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (19+) | 2,800 yen | 1,560 yen |
| Junior/Senior High (13-18) | 2,400 yen | 1,560 yen |
| Children (Elementary) | 1,600 yen | 900 yen |
| Toddlers (3+) | 1 free per adult Additional: 600 yen | 300 yen |
| Infants (under 3) | Free | Free |
※ Admission to “Mika Ninagawa with EiM: Resonant Aquarium” is included in the entrance fee
Regular Rates (Reference)
| Category | General | With Disability Certificate |
|---|---|---|
| Adults (Junior high+) | 2,600 yen | 1,560 yen |
| Children (Elementary) | 1,500 yen | 900 yen |
| Toddlers (3+) | 1 free per adult Additional: 500 yen | 300 yen |
| Infants (under 3) | Free | Free |
🎨 Combo Tickets Are a Great Deal for Kobe Art Immersion
I actually used the Rokko Meets Art 2025 beyond × átoa Combo Ticket on Asoview!
If You Buy Both at Full Day-of Price
- Rokko Meets Art day-of ticket: 4,000 yen
- átoa admission: 2,800 yen
- Total: 6,800 yen
Day & Night Pass + átoa Combo
- 6,100 yen (700 yen savings!)
| Combo Contents | Price (Adult) | Savings |
|---|---|---|
| Rokko Meets Art 2025 Day Pass + átoa | 5,100 yen | 700 yen off |
| Rokko Meets Art 2025 Night Pass + átoa | 4,200 yen | 400 yen off |
| Rokko Meets Art 2025 Day & Night Pass + átoa | 6,100 yen | 700 yen off |
※ Normally Rokko Meets Art day-of ticket 4,000 yen + átoa 2,800 yen = 6,800 yen, but the Day & Night Pass combo lets you enjoy both for 6,100 yen
Hours
Basic Hours: 10:00～19:00 (Last entry 18:30)
※ Hours may vary by season, so check the official website
Access
Location: 7-2 Shinko-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City
By Train
- Kobe Municipal Subway “Sannomiya-Hanadokei-mae Station” approx. 10 min walk
- JR “Sannomiya Station” approx. 15 min walk
- Port Liner “Trade Center Station” approx. 6 min walk
By Car
- Hanshin Expressway Route 3 “Kyobashi IC” approx. 5 min
- No dedicated parking (use nearby coin parking)
Suggested Time Allowance
- Full átoa tour: Approx. 1.5-2 hours
- ‘Resonant Aquarium’ area: 20-30 min for leisurely viewing
- Including cafe & shop: 2.5-3 hours
I recommend visiting with time to spare. Especially “PLANETS”—it’s a space you’ll want to linger in, waiting for the light direction to change.
Photography
You are free to take photos inside the facility. However, please enjoy within reason so as not to disturb other guests (e.g., do not occupy space with large equipment). Flash photography is prohibited in designated areas for the protection of living creatures. Please also refrain from live streaming. For commercial use and commercial photography, please contact us.
From official Q&A
Facing Yourself in the Light
What I felt visiting átoa was the shift from “viewing” to “experiencing.”
Especially 3F’s “PLANETS” by Mika Ninagawa with EiM—“Resonant Aquarium”—was an experience where viewers become part of the artwork.
The fish in the tank shimmer as they swim, bathed in light. That light was designed by Mika Ninagawa and placed in space by EiM. But simultaneously, that light passes through my eyes and takes on new meaning within me.
When viewers change, the artwork changes.
It’s not a physical change, but an invisible change called “resonance.” Even when the person next to you sees the same light, what they receive differs. Yet those differences enrich the “resonance” of the entire space.
Hiroaki Miyata speaks of a “resonating society”—one where each person has a different tone, yet those differences create beautiful harmony. Before the spherical aquarium, I felt I glimpsed that future, if only for a moment.
Until November 3rd. Experience Resonance by Kobe’s Waterfront
“Mika Ninagawa with EiM: Resonant Aquarium” runs until November 3 (Mon, Holiday), 2025.
Honestly, I came to átoa for the spherical aquarium. But by the time I left, I’d become a fan of átoa as a whole.
Starting in a cave, then underwater world, forest, Japanese space, cosmos, and finally sky—the journey through four floors is an immersive experience detached from everyday life. Photo spots abound, making you want to stop and snap pictures repeatedly.
On Kobe’s waterfront, when autumn light is beautiful, why not visit this “resonating space”?
I recommend taking your time touring átoa’s other areas too. At the place where three “seas” intersect—Kobe’s sea, the sea inside the aquarium, and the sea of light created by Mika Ninagawa—experience becoming a “resonator” yourself.
Essential Information Summary
Mika Ninagawa with EiM: Resonant Aquarium
- Venue: átoa 3F PLANETS
- Period: August 29 (Fri) - November 3 (Mon, Holiday), 2025
- Admission: Included in átoa entrance fee
átoa
- Address: 〒650-0041 7-2 Shinko-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City
- Hours: 10:00～19:00 (Last entry 18:30)
- Admission (Special Rate): Adults 2,800 yen / Elementary 1,600 yen / Toddlers 600 yen
- Access: Kobe Municipal Subway “Sannomiya-Hanadokei-mae Station” 10 min walk
- Official Site: átoa
- Time Required: 1.5-2 hours (2.5-3 hours with cafe & shop)
