oSAKA AQUARIUM

One of the world's largest aquariums it's constructed around the theme "Ring of Fire," which refers to the volcanic perimeter encircling the Pacific Ocean. Tours begin with a video of erupting volcanoes followed by an escalator ride to the eighth floor; from there, you'll pass through 14 different habitats ranging from arctic to tropical as you follow a spiraling corridor back to the ground floor, starting with the daylight world above the ocean's surface and proceeding past Antarctica, Monterey Bay, the Great Barrier Reef, and other ecosystems as you travel to the depths of the ocean floor. The walls of the aquarium tank are constructed of huge acrylic glass sheets, making you feel like you're immersed in the ocean. You'll see 35,000 specimens representing 380 species; stars of the show include whale sharks (the largest fish in captivity), Antarctic penguins, the odd-looking ocean sunfish (which has the circumference of a truck tire but is as flat as a pancake), and the Japan giant spider crab with its incredible 3m (9.8-ft.) span. Allow about 1 1/2 hours to tour the aquarium, avoiding weekends.