After you pass through a diorama of the Gate of the Moss Canyon, one of the distinctive sights of Lake Shikotsu, your eyes will be drawn to the large Lake Shikotsu tank with its impressive blue hue. This tank, 7.2 meters in diameter, recreates the beautiful underwater landscape of Lake Shikotsu, which for nine straight years has boasted the best water quality in all of Japan. In particular, scenes actually filmed underwater at the lake are projected in the background of the tank so as to reproduce as realistically as possible the lake’s deep shade of azure, known as “Lake Shikotsu blue.”
In the tank, a school of kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka nerka), as well as fish such as white-spotted charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis, a species that is native to Lake Shikotsu), Numa-chichibu (Tridentiger brevispinis, belonging to the goby family), and Gin-buna (Carassius gibelio langsdorfi , which have been at the aquarium ever since its opening more than 20 years ago), swim gracefully around the clusters of aquatic plants in the water. Also, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (1:00 p.m. from March through May), you can watch as divers carry out the “C’mon, salmon, chow’s on” feeding session underwater.

After you pass through a diorama of the Gate of the Moss Canyon, one of the distinctive sights of Lake Shikotsu, your eyes will be drawn to the large Lake Shikotsu tank with its impressive blue hue. This tank, 7.2 meters in diameter, recreates the beautiful underwater landscape of Lake Shikotsu, which for nine straight years has boasted the best water quality in all of Japan. In particular, scenes actually filmed underwater at the lake are projected in the background of the tank so as to reproduce as realistically as possible the lake’s deep shade of azure, known as “Lake Shikotsu blue.”
In the tank, a school of kokanee (Oncorhynchus nerka nerka), as well as fish such as white-spotted charr (Salvelinus leucomaenis, a species that is native to Lake Shikotsu), Numa-chichibu (Tridentiger brevispinis, belonging to the goby family), and Gin-buna (Carassius gibelio langsdorfi , which have been at the aquarium ever since its opening more than 20 years ago), swim gracefully around the clusters of aquatic plants in the water. Also, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (1:00 p.m. from March through May), you can watch as divers carry out the “C’mon, salmon, chow’s on” feeding session underwater.

Main on display

Gin-buna

Scientific name	Carassius gibelio langsdorfi

The two specimens of Gin-buna that are in this tank were caught in Lake Shikotsu. They have been at this aquarium continuously since 1994, making them the oldest residents of Chitose Aquarium.

Ezo-ugui

Scientific name	Tribolodon ezoe

This fish is distinctive for its spatula-shaped snout. In spawning season, red stripes appear on its cheeks, and the base of its fin also turns red.

Numa-chichibu

Scientific name	Tridentiger brevispinis

A member of the goby family, this fish is found in a variety of waters, such as midstream and downstream areas of rivers, as well as brackish waters, ponds, and marshes. The Numa-chichibu is a strong-willed fish, and fights a great deal.

Kokanee salmon

Scientific name	Oncorhynchus nerka nerka

The kokanee, a landlocked variety of the sockeye salmon, was transplanted to Lake Shikotsu. Immature kokanee in the lake are silver-colored, but in spawning season they turn slightly reddish, and the nose of the males becomes curved.

White-spotted charr

Scientific name	Salvelinus leucomaenis

This species is native to Lake Shikotsu, and occasionally can grow to be up to 60 centimeters long. During spawning season, the lower jaw of the male curves upward.

Movies