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The popular fur seals event is back after a year! "Sumida fur seals Fan Appreciation Festival" to be held ~Exhibits and cafe menus that will make you love fur seals even more will be available for a limited time~
Sumida Aquarium will be holding the "Sumida fur seals Lion Fan Appreciation Festival" from Friday, March 27th to Monday, May 18th, 2026, as an event to express our gratitude to all fur seals lion fans.
Last year, our aquarium held an event called "No, It's a Fur fur seals Exhibition*" with the hope that more people would learn about and appreciate the charm of fur seals , which are often mistaken for sea lions or seals. As a result of the event, sales of fur seals seal merchandise at our museum shop increased by more than 200% compared to the previous year, and many visitors became aware of the charm of fur seals. After the event, the number of "fur seals fans" who continue to come and see the fur seals has increased. About a year has passed since the event, and this time, the exhibition and breeding team and the staff in charge of fur seals have planned this event to express our gratitude to all of you who have become fur seals fans.
This event will feature display panels expressing our gratitude to all fur seals fans, as well as an exhibit corner showcasing the fascinating charms of fur seals that will make you love them even more. We will also be holding a free workshop called "Flapping fur seals Masks" where fur seals can make sea lion masks, and a paid workshop for elementary school students. The Penguin Café will be selling four limited-time menu items, including "Let's Eat Together! Saury Dog," inspired by Anna, a fur seals who eats saury head and all.
This spring, be sure to enjoy admiring the fur seals at Sumida Aquarium.
■ "Sumida fur seals Fan Appreciation Festival" Event Overview
Approximately one year has passed since the "No, It's a fur seals Exhibition," an event showcasing the charm of fur seals , which are often mistaken for sea lions or seals. Since the event, the number of people coming to our aquarium to see fur seals has increased. In this event, we will express our gratitude to all the fur seals fans through exhibition panels and other materials, and we will also set up an exhibition corner that will introduce the charms of fur seals in more depth, so that you can fall in love with them even more. This event can be enjoyed not only by fur seals fans, but also by everyone who is not yet a fan.
Event period: March 27th (Fri) - May 18th (Mon), 2026
Exhibition locations: Various locations within the museum
Some photo spots are located outside the building.
Price: Free
Aquarium admission fee separate.
Special website: https://sumida-aquarium.com/lp/kansyasai/
1. Highlights of the "Sumida fur seals Lion Fan Appreciation Festival"
① A panel expressing gratitude to all the fans of fur seals.
We will be using panels to showcase and express our gratitude to everyone who remembered the fact that "the animals living at Sumida Aquarium are not sea lions or seals, but fur seals " from last year's event, "No, that's a fur seals exhibition," and who further spread the charm of fur seals through their social media posts.
Exhibition location: Special space on the 6th floor
② Announcement of the results of the latest "fur seals Awareness Survey"
We conducted the same survey on attitudes towards fur seals that we did last March. As with last year, we conducted a questionnaire survey targeting 1,000 men and women aged 20 to 60, as well as street interviews in front of Oshiage Station. Last year's results were disappointing for our aquarium, with only 22.0% of people correctly understanding fur seals and 40.4% choosing "I don't know" as the number one appealing aspect of fur seals. Please take a look at this year's results.
Exhibition location: 6th floor special space
③ Introducing the characteristics of mealtime with a panel! The fur seals of Sumida
This panel displays information about the feeding times of five sea lions living at fur seals Aquarium, along with their personalities. Please enjoy watching the fur seals lions eat!
The feeding times for the fur seals lions can be found on the Sumida Aquarium official website."Events and Experiences" pageYou can check it there.
Exhibition location: In front of the fur seals pool on the 5th floor
④ Challenge to identify all of them!! Part 2
The hugely popular game that was played approximately 22,000 times at last year's event is back and even better! Tap the START button on the monitor and you'll be presented with a random quiz about five fur seals lions that live at Sumida Aquarium. Answer all 15 questions correctly and you'll be awarded the title of "fur seals Champion." Be sure to try and get all the answers right!
Exhibition location: Next to the fur seals pool on the 5th floor
⑤ Collection of Sumida fur seals breeding goods and records
The exhibit will showcase a collection of items gathered by the animal care staff , including toys and other goods used in the care of the fur seals , as well as shed whiskers. One item will be displayed at a time from a total of 12 items. The exhibit will be changed every Monday and Thursday, so fans are encouraged to come and see all the items.
Exhibition location: Special space behind the information desk on the 5th floor
2. Learn more about fur seals! Two types of workshops will be held.
① Daily free workshop: "Flapping fur seals Mask"
Carefully observe the face of a fur seals and glue on ears and eyes like in a traditional Japanese game called "Fukuwarai" to create a mask. The finished mask can be played with by flapping its front legs. Please wear your finished mask and enjoy the space filled with fur seals. This is a workshop where you can feel closer to fur seals.
Venue: 5th Floor Aqua Academy
Opening hours: Weekdays/11:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Last entry: 3:30 PM), Weekends and holidays/10:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Last entry: 4:30 PM)
How to participate: Register at the Aqua Academy on the 5th floor on the day of the event.
Participation fee: Free
Aquarium admission fee separate.
② Paid workshop: "Why not dive into the world of fur seals? ~Learn all sorts of things through quizzes~"
This workshop is for children who have learned that the animals living at Sumida Aquarium are not sea lions or seals, but fur seals. Through special worksheets and quizzes, the animal care staff will share more detailed information. At the end of the workshop, you can watch the fur seals fur seals close in a special area. You can learn more about the ecology of fur seals and the fur seals that live at fur seals Aquarium while having fun.
Dates: April 12th (Sun), May 2nd (Sat), May 3rd (Sun), May 10th (Sun), 2026
Each day from 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM
Venue: 5th Floor Aqua Academy
Target audience: Each session is limited to 6 groups (12 people total ), with a maximum of 2 people per group.
Recommended age: Elementary school grades 1-4
Participation fee: 1,000 yen per group
How to participate: We will announce how to participate on the Sumida Aquarium official website and official social media (X and Instagram) during March.
3. Penguin Café will be selling fur seals-themed menu items for a limited time during the event.
① Floating fur seals Sakura Latte
This iced cafe latte, infused with cherry blossom syrup, is topped with whipped cream, fur seals marshmallows, and cherry blossom-shaped chocolates. It's a vibrant drink that evokes the feeling of spring, both in appearance and taste.
Selling price: 880 yen (tax included)
This product is available for purchase from Wednesday, March 11th.
② Let's eat together! pacific saury Hot Dog
This hot dog features a whole saury fish cake. It's served in a container themed after "Ana," the only sea lion at Sumida fur seals who can eat saury head and all. Enjoy eating it with Ana!
Selling price: 900 yen (tax included)
③ Sumida Mini fur seals Yaki
These are mini fur seals shaped pastries filled with cheese cream. There are 5 pastries in the package, the same number as the fur seals that live at Sumida Aquarium.
Selling price: 700 yen (tax included)
④ Drink with a fur seals cup sleeve
We're giving away the fur seals cup sleeves again this year, which were a huge hit at last year's event. When you purchase eligible products, you'll receive an original cup sleeve (5 designs in total) featuring five fur seals lions that live at Sumida Aquarium. Enjoy the event with your drink featuring an adorable fur seals lion holding the cup.
Target products:
Floating fur seals Cocoa
• Floating fur seals Sakura Latte
• A drink the color of a fur seals(brown)
(Iced coffee / Iced cafe latte / Iced cocoa / Iced tea / Cola / Sokenbicha tea)
Distribution location: Penguin Café on the 5th floor
It will be given to you along with the product. You cannot choose the design.
The cup sleeves are available in limited quantities and will be distributed until supplies run out.
Annual pass discounts do not apply.
4. Launch of a new product featuring a fur seals motif: "Colorful fur seals Lion Kombu Tea"
This kelp tea looks like a seal swimming around in the cup when you pour fur seals over it. It's a recommended product that will help you relax during a break in your hectic new life.
Price: 470 yen (tax included)
Release date: Friday, March 27, 2026
Sales location: 5th floor Museum Shop
