"Sumida Bonin Island 2026" to be held - Enjoy island time 1,000km from central Tokyo, as if you were taking a stroll -

Sumida Aquarium (Location: Sumida-ku, Tokyo; General Manager: Rui Kawasumi) is pleased to announce that it will be holding the "Sumida Bonin Island 2026" event, where visitors can experience the charm of the Ogasawara(also known as Bonin Island), from Thursday, June 4th to Thursday, July 9th, 2026.

"Sumida Bonin Island 2026" is an event themed around "an experience of strolling around the island," where participants can experience the charm of the Ogasawara Islands (hereinafter referred to as Ogasawara) from various perspectives.

In a special space, panels will be displayed introducing the unique nature, culture, and way of life of the people of the Ogasawara , which have never been connected to the mainland. In addition, visitors will be able to experience animals by touring the aquarium while comparing the animals that inhabit the islands with animals that live at Sumida Aquarium. Furthermore, there will be a workshop called "Ogasawara animals Ray" where visitors can experience the culture and way of life of the islands introduced in the exhibit, as well as lectures by guests with ties to Ogasawara. In addition, the Penguin Café and Museum Shop will sell Ogasawara-themed menus and original goods.

Since its opening in 2012, Sumida Aquarium has been working to convey the charm of the World Natural Heritage site located in Tokyo to a wider audience, including exhibiting the " Ogasawara Sea Life ," which recreates the sea of ​​the Ogasawara , and engaging in "conservation activities for baby green sea turtles." Furthermore, since 2024, with the support of Ogasawara Village, the aquarium has been implementing "Sumida Bonin Island," a program where visitors can enjoy and learn about the rich nature and unique ecosystem, as well as working on ex-situ conservation and breeding of the Ogasawara endemic snail species.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Ogasawara' designation as a World Natural Heritage Site. While part of Tokyo, these islands boast a rich natural environment that the world can be proud of. Please come and experience it for yourself at Sumida Aquarium.

■ "Sumida Bonin Island 2026" Event Overview

With the support of Ogasawara Village, we will be holding an exhibition featuring panel displays introducing the nature, scenery, and lifestyle of the Ogasawara , as well as an exhibit where visitors can compare and observe animals that inhabit Ogasawara with animals that live at our museum as they tour the facility. In addition, there will be workshops, lectures, and cafe menus and goods inspired by Ogasawara.

[Event Period] June 4th (Thu) - July 9th (Thu), 2026

[Venue] Various locations within Sumida Aquarium

[Price] Free *Aquarium admission fee not included.

1. Highlights of the exhibition

(1) A three-dimensional exhibit introducing the Ogasawara, a place only accessible by boat, located approximately 1,000 km from central Tokyo.

Located about 24 hours by boat from Tokyo, the Ogasawara Islands, a collective name for over 30 islands, are a unique archipelago that has never been connected to the mainland. Composed of islands with names like "Father Island," "Mother Island," "Brother Island," and "Sister Island," each with a family-like character, they have cultivated their own unique natural environment and culture over many years. This exhibition introduces the daily life, scenery, and culture of the islands through photographs taken from the perspective of the people who live Ogasawara. It also features panels introducing the existence of rare animals that have evolved uniquely on the islands, and the connection between Sumida Aquarium and Ogasawara. This exhibition is sure to pique your interest in Ogasawara, an island that, despite being part of Tokyo, is difficult to visit.

[Exhibition Location] 6th Floor Special Space

(2) A stroll around Sumida Bonin Island

This exhibition focuses on the "sea," "sky," and "forest" of the Ogasawara , allowing visitors to explore the aquarium while comparing animals that inhabit the Ogasawara Islands with animals that live at Sumida Aquarium. Starting with the familiar animals of the aquarium, visitors can broaden their perspective to the nature of Ogasawara and learn about the environments in which each species lives. Take a stroll through the aquarium and experience the diversity of animals.

[Exhibition locations] 6 locations within the museum

2. Limited-time workshop: "Ogasawara animals Lei"

In the Ogasawara, there is a custom of giving leis to people leaving the island as a way of saying "have a safe trip," and those who receive the leis throw them into the sea from their departing ships. There is a legend that if the thrown lei washes ashore on the island again, it means "you will be able to return to Ogasawara." This workshop conveys this warm and gentle culture unique to Ogasawara through the animals.

[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.

3. Events and lectures featuring guests with ties to the Ogasawara.

We will hold events and lectures that convey the charm of Ogasawara from various perspectives, such as " animals ," "lifestyle," "tourism," and "education." Through the experiences and stories of people involved with Ogasawara, you will be able to feel closer to the island's nature and culture.

(1) Storytelling event to commemorate the release of "Ogasawara, Chichijima: The Island Where Green Sea Turtles Return"

Freelance announcer Mika Oyama will read aloud from the book "Ogasawara: Chichijima - The Island Where Green Sea Turtles Return (to be released June 1, 2026)," followed by a talk session with the author and photographer Toshio Minami and our museum director, Tomohiro Kakizaki. Through the book, you can learn about the ecology of green sea turtles in the Ogasawara.

[Date and Time] June 14th (Sun), 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

[Location] In front of the Ogasawara Sea Life on the 5th floor

[Participation Fee] Free *Aquarium admission fee not included.

[How to participate] Please gather in front of the Ogasawara Sea Life when the event starts.

(2) Sumida Bonin Island 2026 Green Sea Turtle Special Lecture

We are pleased to welcome Emi Inoguchi from Everlasting Nature, a certified NPO that conducts green sea turtle conservation activities in Ogasawara Village, as our guest speaker. She will give a lecture on natural environment conservation activities for living together with sea turtles. She will introduce the ecology of green sea turtles and the rules for humans and nature to coexist with a healthy distance.

[Date and Time] July 5th (Sun), 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

[Location] In front of the Ogasawara Sea Life on the 5th floor

[Participation Fee] Free *Aquarium admission fee not included.

[How to participate] Please gather in front of the Ogasawara Sea Life when the event starts.

(3) Two types of talk sessions to be held at night: "Yuyu Ogasawara ~The Current State of Cetaceans in the Ogasawara~" and "Yuyu Ogasawara ~What Kind of animals is the Sand Tiger Shark?~"

This program is designed for adults, offering a relaxing experience as if you were actually in the Ogasawara. In addition to a talk session, we will also introduce "How to spend summer in Ogasawara." Enjoy the Ogasawara atmosphere while sipping on a limited-time event drink.

・"Yuyu Ogasawara ~The Current State of Cetaceans in the Ogasawara~"

We will be hosting a talk session with Mr. Hiroki Tsujii, Chief Researcher at the Ogasawara Whale Watching Association, as our guest, and our aquarium director, Tomohiro Kakizaki.

[Date and Time] Friday, June 19th, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

[Venue] 5th floor Aqua Academy

[Participation Fee] 1,000 yen (tax included) *Aquarium admission fee not included.

[Capacity] 20 people

[How to participate] Please apply in advance using the application form ( https://mdh.fm/e?kA7033Bdo4 ).

[Application Period] June 2nd (Tue) - June 14th (Sun) until 11:59 PM

*If there are many applicants, a lottery will be held. Winners will be notified by email on Monday, June 15th (sending address: sumida-activity@orix-aqua.co.jp).

・"Yuyu Ogasawara ~What kind of animals is a sand tiger shark?~"

Tomoaki Fujiwara, a member of our museum's exhibit and animal care staff who is in charge of the Ogasawara and has also participated in research and studies there, will talk extensively about the sand tiger shark.

[Date and Time] Friday, July 3rd, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

[Venue] 5th floor Aqua Academy

[Participation Fee] 1,000 yen (tax included) *Aquarium admission fee not included.

[Capacity] 20 people

[How to participate] Please apply in advance using the application form ( https://mdh.fm/e?kA7033Bdo7 ).

[Application Period] June 2nd (Tue) - June 28th (Sun) until 11:59 PM

*If there are many applicants, a lottery will be held. Winners will be notified by email on Monday, June 29th (sending address: sumida-activity@orix-aqua.co.jp).

4. Limited-time cafe menu inspired by the Ogasawara

In collaboration with Nichirei Corporation, Sumida Aquarium's AQTION! partner*1, a limited-time cafe menu will be available. Using Nichirei products, you can enjoy the charm of Ogasawara even more through food and drinks that express the animals of Ogasawara and the island's appeal.

*1 These are partner companies that endorse the philosophy of "AQTION!", an initiative that aims to pass the baton to the future of the Earth together with children and local communities who will shape the future, and that collaborate to promote this initiative.

[Sales Period] June 4th (Thu) - July 9th (Thu)

[Sales location] Penguin Café, 5th floor

（1） Sea Turtle Pick's Fried Chicken Snacks powered by Nichirei

This snack menu features fried chicken served with an original green sea turtle-shaped pick, paired with edamame. The fried chicken, coated in a special sweet and sour sauce, has a refreshing and clean acidity, making it the perfect snack to enjoy while exploring the event.

[Price] 780 yen (tax included)

（2） Ogasawara Sunday powered by Nichirei

This dessert combines salt vanilla soft serve ice cream, featuring a pleasant salty flavor thanks to the use of salt from the Ogasawara Islands, with Harajuku Dog®, a waffle filled with cheese. Topped with acerola jelly and dragon fruit sauce, a popular fruit in the Ogasawara, it has a distinctly tropical taste.

[Price] 820 yen (tax included)

(3) Sunrise Mocktail powered by Nichirei (non-alcoholic) / Sunset Cocktail powered by Nichirei (alcoholic)

This drink is inspired by Asahi and Yuhi, two brothers of green sea turtles born in the Ogasawara. Based on Nichirei Acerola Drink, it incorporates dragon fruit sauce and summer orange sauce, both popular in Ogasawara, to evoke the island's mornings and evenings. The "Sunset Cocktail" includes rum for a more adult flavor.

Alcoholic beverages are only served to customers aged 20 and over. Customers who appear to be under 20 may be asked to present identification.

[Price] Sunrise Mocktail: 650 yen (tax included) / Sunset Cocktail: 780 yen (tax included)

5. New products inspired by the animals of the Ogasawara are now available.

Sumida Aquarium will be releasing new original merchandise featuring animals that inhabit the Ogasawara . In addition, during the event period, a special corner will be set up in the 5th-floor museum shop selling specialty products directly from Ogasawara.

[Sales start] June 4th (Thursday)

[Where to buy] 5th floor Museum Shop

(1) Soft and squishy white crocodile hugging pillow

This plush pillow, approximately 90cm long, is modeled after the popular sand tiger shark at Sumida Aquarium. With its soft, squishy texture and substantial size, it's a comforting item you can enjoy.

[Price] 6,600 yen (tax included)

 （2） Green sea turtle ball chain and green sea turtle plush toy

This product is inspired by the baby green sea turtles that we receive from the Ogasawara Ogasawara each year as part of our green sea turtle conservation efforts. The ball chain represents the size the turtle was when it arrived at Sumida Aquarium, while the plush toy represents the size it will be when it returns to the Ogasawara Sea about a year later.

[Price] Green sea turtle ball chain: 1,600 yen (tax included) / Green sea turtle plush toy: 3,100 yen (tax included)

(3) Wooden keychains from the Ogasawara Islands (Green sea turtle, Sand tiger shark, Giant land snail, Ogasawara black-clawed crab)

These original keychains are inspired by rare animals that inhabit the Ogasawara and are also exhibited at the Sumida Aquarium. The designs incorporate four animals that symbolize the Ogasawara Islands, including the green sea turtle and the sand tiger Ogasawara . Featuring a texture that evokes the warmth of nature, these keychains are an item that will bring the Ogasawara closer to you in your daily life.

[Price] 990 yen each (tax included)

（4） Ogasawara Glass / Ogasawara Masking Tape

These glasses and masking tape feature designs based on the pictograms painted on the ceiling of the "Ogasawara Base " exhibition area. You can enjoy the diverse animals that inhabit the Ogasawara in your everyday life.

[Price] Ogasawara Glass: 1,500 yen (tax included) / Ogasawara Masking Tape: 500 yen (tax included)