Chitose Salmon Aquarium: fees, hours and the autumn salmon run

Journal | 2026.09.16

This guide covers the Chitose Salmon Aquarium in Chitose, Hokkaido: its admission fees, opening hours, the autumn salmon run and the Indian water wheel on the river.

It holds the largest freshwater tank of any aquarium in Hokkaido, and its underwater observation zone lets you look straight into the Chitose River. Because it is indoors, it works well on a rainy day.

The aquarium is about 50 minutes by car from Mori no Auberge Mitsu, so you can stop by before or after check-in. Read the fees and the highlights here, then plan your trip around them.

An underwater window into the Chitose River

The Chitose Salmon Aquarium has the largest freshwater tank of any aquarium in Hokkaido. It is known as one of the largest freshwater aquariums in Hokkaido.

Its main draw is the underwater observation zone, where you look straight into the Chitose River. It was the first place in Japan where you could see right into a river like this.

The aquarium does not depend on the weather, so it is a good choice on a rainy or windy day. It is open all year, whatever the season. You can find other nearby stops on the Around page.

Admission is 800 yen, open from 9:00

Admission is 800 yen for adults, 500 yen for high school students and 300 yen for elementary and junior high school students, and preschool children go free. For groups of ten or more paying visitors the rates are 600, 400 and 200 yen.

The aquarium is open from 9:00 to 17:00 between 1 March and 30 November 2026. In the shortened winter period it is open from 10:00 to 16:00.

It closes for the New Year period from 29 December to 1 January, and for maintenance from 12 to 31 January.

Salmon climb the river to spawn in autumn

In autumn, schools of salmon climb the river to spawn, and you can watch them from the underwater observation zone. The window brings them close, right in front of you.

According to the official site of the Chitose Tourism Federation, the underwater zone shows salmon fry in spring and Japanese dace and cherry salmon in summer. From autumn into winter, the spawning salmon join them.

The timing of the run shifts a little from year to year. It is worth checking when the fish are running before you fix the dates of your trip.

The Indian water wheel, free and seasonal

For the autumn run, the Indian water wheel is placed in the river. It is there to catch adult salmon for their eggs, and it costs nothing to watch.

According to the same tourism site, the wheel stands in the river from mid-July to mid-December, with the dates varying year to year. The aquarium itself says the catching of adult fish for their eggs begins around 20 August and ends in early December.

Driven by the current, the wheel turns four or five times a minute. It takes about 200,000 salmon in a year. It stands in Hanazono 2-chome, Chitose.

About 50 minutes from Mitsu, good in any weather

The aquarium is about 50 minutes by car from Auberge Mitsu. That is close enough to stop by before or after you check in.

Auberge Mitsu is about 30 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, and about 15 minutes from the Atsuma interchange on the Hidaka Expressway. On the day you land or the day you fly out, you can build the aquarium into the drive; see 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport.

Auberge Mitsu takes three groups a night, in three rooms named Ki, Mi and Tsuki. Dinner is an omakase kaiseki course that follows the Hokkaido season, and breakfast is served too, except on room-only plans. The guide price is from about 28,000 yen per person with dinner and breakfast, based on two people sharing a room. Rates are subject to change; please check the booking site before you travel.

There is no television in the rooms, but Wi-Fi is available in every one. You can see more about the evening on the Stay page.

Frequently asked questions

Related: Around / Access / 30 minutes from New Chitose Airport / Stay | Back to the journal