The Kesennuma Umi-no-Ichi Shark Museum is Japan’s only museum dedicated entirely to sharks. Located on the second floor of the Kesennuma Umi-no-Ichi tourism and shopping complex in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, the museum introduces the biology and history of sharks as well as their close connection with Kesennuma’s fishing industry.
Kesennuma is a port city known for its shark landings. One of its most famous local specialties is shark fin, or fukahire, which has long been an important part of the city’s seafood culture. At the Shark Museum, visitors can use this connection between Kesennuma and sharks as an introduction to the fascinating world of these marine animals.
One of the first themes introduced at the museum is the relationship between Kesennuma and sharks. Exhibits explain the history of shark fishing in the region and the ways sharks have been used by the local community.
This makes the museum more than simply a place to learn about marine animals. It also provides insight into Kesennuma’s fishing industry, food culture, and relationship with the sea. By learning how sharks have been utilized over generations, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of the importance of the ocean to life in Kesennuma.
The Shark Museum was renovated in March 2024 and reopened with its grand opening in April. The renewed museum focuses entirely on sharks, creating an engaging environment where visitors can learn about their bodies, behavior, habitats, and unique characteristics.
The exhibits were developed with the cooperation of shark researchers, including Dr. Kazuhiro Nakaya, a leading authority on shark research, as well as researchers from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. The displays combine scientific information with models, videos, and other interactive elements so that both children and adults can enjoy learning about sharks.
The museum features models, videos, information panels, and other exhibits introducing sharks from around the world. Life-size models allow visitors to appreciate the impressive size and appearance of these animals at close range.
Seeing a shark represented at its actual scale can be especially striking for visitors who have only encountered sharks through photographs or television. The displays make it easier to imagine how these powerful creatures move and live in the ocean.
The Shark Theater presents approximately 15-minute videos about shark biology and behavior, including valuable footage held by Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
Watching sharks move through the water provides a different perspective from reading information panels alone. Visitors can observe their movements and behavior while learning about their characteristics, making the theater an enjoyable introduction even for those who know little about sharks.
The theater also provides a convenient place to sit and take a break while continuing to discover the world of sharks.
The Shark Trivia section answers questions about sharks in an easy-to-understand Q&A format. It explores the kinds of “Why?” and “What?” questions that naturally arise when learning about these fascinating animals.
Whether you are already interested in sharks or know very little about them, the exhibits offer plenty of surprising facts and new discoveries.
One of the most eye-catching exhibits is an over 8-meter-long basking shark model. Created through cooperation with Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, the enormous model gives visitors an immediate sense of the scale that some sharks can reach.
Standing beneath the giant basking shark and looking up at its enormous body offers a memorable way to imagine the size of such an animal in the open ocean.
The “Shark Doctor’s Study Room” introduces shark anatomy and behavior through a spectacular model of a great white shark, along with displays featuring real sharks in tanks and other educational materials.
The reconstructed great white shark model measures approximately 5 meters in length, allowing visitors to appreciate its impressive size at close range.
Videos and information panels explain different shark species, their lifestyles, and the structure and functions of their bodies. Exploring these exhibits can make visitors feel almost like a “shark expert” as they gradually build their knowledge.
Rather than relying solely on technical explanations, the museum combines models, videos, and easy-to-understand information. This makes the exhibits accessible to children as well as adults.
Families can explore the museum together, choose a shark that catches their attention, and learn more about it as they move through the exhibits.
A major feature of the museum’s 2024 renewal is its collaboration with Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium. Research and knowledge accumulated through shark studies in Okinawa have been incorporated into the exhibits, allowing visitors to explore sharks from a more scientific perspective.
The “Churaumi Shark Doctor’s Room: Kesennuma Branch” introduces research conducted by shark specialists at Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium through videos, information panels, and other materials.
The exhibits offer visitors a glimpse into the world of scientific research that is normally difficult to see. They are particularly interesting for anyone fascinated by sharks, marine biology, or natural science.
The collaboration also highlights an interesting connection between two very different parts of Japan—Kesennuma in the Tohoku region and Okinawa—brought together through their shared interest in the ocean and sharks.
The Shark Museum also provides an opportunity to learn about the Great East Japan Earthquake and Kesennuma’s recovery. The museum’s “Reconstruction Theater” presents an approximately 15-minute film showing the disaster and the subsequent recovery from the perspective of local residents, as well as the community’s continuing journey toward the future.
Following the earthquake, the museum also featured a “Kizuna Zone”, or “Connections Zone,” where messages of encouragement sent to Kesennuma from around Japan and around the world were displayed. These messages conveyed the memories of the disaster and the strong connections created through international and domestic support.
Although the 2024 renovation shifted the museum’s primary focus toward sharks, the memory of the earthquake and the story of Kesennuma’s recovery remain an important part of the community’s history.
The Shark Museum is located inside Kesennuma Umi-no-Ichi, a tourism and shopping complex next to the Kesennuma City Fish Market. The complex suffered extensive damage during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, but reconstruction progressed and the facility reopened after renovation in April 2014.
Today, Kesennuma Umi-no-Ichi serves as an important tourism hub where visitors can enjoy local seafood, purchase regional specialties, and gather information for exploring the city.
The first floor features shops selling fresh seafood landed at Kesennuma Port, processed seafood products, and other local goods, as well as restaurants serving regional cuisine.
Its location next to the fish market makes it possible to experience the seasonal bounty of the Sanriku coast while shopping or enjoying a meal. Restaurants also offer dishes featuring local specialties such as shark fin, skipjack tuna, and Pacific saury.
After learning about sharks at the museum, visitors can continue their experience by discovering how the seafood of Kesennuma is enjoyed as part of the city’s food culture.
Kesennuma Umi-no-Ichi is also home to the Ice Aquarium, another distinctive attraction. Maintained at approximately −20°C, it uses Kesennuma’s ice-making technology to create a frozen world where fish are displayed inside transparent blocks of ice.
Visiting the Shark Museum and Ice Aquarium together offers a fascinating introduction to Kesennuma’s sea, marine life, fishing industry, and food culture from two completely different perspectives.
The second floor of Kesennuma Umi-no-Ichi also houses a Tourism Service Center. Visitors can obtain information about sightseeing spots throughout the city, restaurants, food experiences, and accommodation.
After visiting the Shark Museum, it is worth checking the latest local information and exploring the waterfront and fish market area on foot.
The Kesennuma Umi-no-Ichi Shark Museum offers a unique way to discover both sharks and the culture of a Japanese fishing port. Through spectacular large-scale models, the enormous basking shark display, videos, trivia, and educational exhibits, visitors can learn about sharks while having fun.
The museum’s collaboration with Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium also provides an opportunity to discover current shark research and explore these marine animals from a more scientific perspective. The museum is suitable not only for shark enthusiasts, but also for families, students, and anyone interested in marine life and Kesennuma’s relationship with the sea.
When visiting Kesennuma, consider combining the Shark Museum with a meal featuring seafood from the Sanriku coast, a visit to the Ice Aquarium, and a walk around the fish market. Together, these experiences reveal the many ways in which the sea has shaped the history, industry, food, and culture of Kesennuma.
Sea Market
October-April 8:00-17:00
May-September 8:00-17:30
Restaurants
Depends on each store
Shark Museum
Oct-Apr 10:00-17:00 (last admission at 16:30)
May-Sep 10:00-17:30 (last admission 17:00)
Ice Aquarium
Oct-Apr 10:00-17:00 (last admission 16:40)
May-September 10:00-17:30 (last admission 17:10)
Unscheduled holidays
Shark Museum
Adults 500 yen
Children 200 yen
Ice Aquarium
Adult 600 yen
Child 400 yen
Preschool children (4 years and older) 100 yen
10 minutes by cab from JR Kesennuma Station
Direct Kesennuma buses are also available from Sendai Station and Ichinoseki Station.