A couple of months ago, I had the chance to visit the famous Kyoto Aquarium at Umekoji Park. Beyond being super interesting and a ton of fun, the staff held events where they introduced some of the fascinating creatures they housed. As someone who loves photography, I couldn’t resist capturing a few shots. I’d like to share these photos along with some interesting information I learned about the amazing underwater wildlife.

Here is a freshwater tank containing fish from the former Mizorogaike Pond and Oguraike Pond. The magic here is in the sheer number of fish. There were some mystical variants, fish so transparent you could see through them, as well as orange ones with piercing blue eyes. You can also note the rich color of the swaying condylactis anemone in the background. They are a tropical species of ball anemone typically found in shallow reefs. Here, their golden color is luscious.

Multiple times a day, the aquarium would hold special shows, where staff members perform tricks and feed the dolphins. I managed arrive during the dolphin feeding session, and in this photo you can see them jumping out of the water to catch some fish out of the air. The staff explained that they had a diet of mainly mackerel and herrings, and demonstrated by tossing the fish into the mouths of some very excited dolphins. Overall, it was a very educational experience.

Last, but most certainly not least, I managed to capture some pictures of my favorite part of the aquarium, a mega-sized water tank, which is part of an exhibit of around 5,000 jellyfish. This ethereal, translucent jellyfish is an Aurelia aurita or moon jellyfish. They are unique in that they don't breathe using gills, lungs, or trachea. In fact, they lack a respiratory system entirely, respirating through their membrane covering.

Most amazingly, in an article from the National Library of Medicine, scientists found that the Moon Jellyfish possesses a special trait similar to that of the Turritopsis dohrnii. If you haven't heard of this species of jellyfish, they are often called the "immortal jellyfish" and can reverse their own age. While Aurelia aurita doesn’t have full immortality, it mimics this process through cellular transdifferentiation - changing its cells from one type to another, especially under stressful conditions.

I hoped you learned as much as I have from this experience, and I would totally recommend you go if you ever visit Kyoto. Enjoy the pictures!