You can reach NIFREL in Expo City Osaka after about a 2-minute walk from the Osaka Monorail Banpaku-Kinen-Koen Station. Alternatively, it is very close to the Chugoku Suita IC on the Chugoku Expressway and the Suita IC on the Meishin Expressway and Kinki Expressway.

The concept of this facility is "touching sensitivity." The facility name NIFREL is also associated with this concept. It comes from the Japanese expression ni fureru, which means "to touch something."

"A living museum" that's a fusion of aquarium, zoo, and art museum, has become a catchphrase for this Osaka point of interest. To get a better insight into NIFREL, we sought the advice of its public relations officer regarding seven stunning attractions before visiting them!

Aquariums usually have separate exhibition rooms depending on the type of animals and the areas in which they live, but NIFREL is different. The exhibition spaces are divided into eight themes:
・Iro ni Fureru [Colors]
・Waza ni Fureru [Abilities]
・Sugata ni Fureru [Swim]
・Wonder Moments [Wonder Moments]
・Kakureru ni Fureru [Mimic]
・Mizube ni Fureru [Waterside]
・Ugoki ni Fureru [Behavior], and
・Tsunagari ni Fureru [Biodiversity].

Presenting the exhibitions in this way is perhaps the most distinctive feature of NIFREL.

Let’s first look at the exhibition space on the beautiful first floor of the museum.

In the Colors zone, colorful fish and shrimp swim in cylindrical tanks. Soothing music is played in the background and the color of the room gradually changes to seven different shades

In the Abilities zone, you can see some of the unique skills of these fish, such as the archerfish that shoots down prey with a squirt of water and the jawfish that buries itself in the seafloor with only its head peeking out. The rectangular tanks are arranged as though they were in a laboratory.

In the Swim zone, you can see fish with strange forms such as the splendid garden eel and razorfish. One's attention is drawn to the beautiful forms of these creatures bathed in the pale light.

Wonder Moments in the open ceiling space is wildly popular with children. This is a world of digital art with the theme of nature by interactive artist Takahiro Matsuo. Light dances in the colossal sphere floating in the air and on the floor! Seventeen different scenes are projected, each one lasting about 10 minutes.

Continuing to the Mimic zone on the second floor, your eyes are drawn to the conspicuous design of the overall space that extends from the floor, up the walls, and to the ceiling. This zone, which just recently opened on March 1, 2019, displays 13 unique creatures that have developed the skill to "hide" to survive in nature.

For example, this orchid mantis mimics orchid flowers, sometimes hiding among flowers and sometimes standing alone, as though a flower, in order to attract and capture prey.

This is the Waterside zone. Here you can see the white tiger, one of the most popular animals in NIFREL. You can see the white tiger up close like this!

White tigers are extremely rare, with there being only about 250 left in the world. They live in wetlands and in grassy fields near rivers. Most animals in the cat family dislike the water, but white tigers are fine with it. On a hot day, they will submerge themselves in the water to cool off! So that is why this is called the Waterside zone.

Walking around inside the building, I noticed something. None of the tanks are embedded in the walls like in most aquariums.

In other words, the tanks stand alone, and you can walk around them, looking at the fish inside from any angle.

Another difference is that none of the tanks have lids. Aside from poisonous animals, you can view the fish inside from above (please do not put your hands in the tanks).

There is also a name plate in front of each tank explaining the characteristics of the fish. All of them are written in the 5-7-5-syllable haiku style! Itsuki Natsui, a popular haiku critic noted for her sharp and cutting comments and who often appears on TV, supervised their creation.

Located in the Waterside zone, this is a good place to take a break during your visit. In fact, it is in the same area as where the white tiger, saltwater crocodile, and pygmy hippopotamus are located.

You can watch the animals while having a sandwich or hamburger at the cafe.

I especially recommend trying the “water you can eat”. This is a NIFREL original product that was developed after trial and error to find an interesting way to experience "liquid you can touch". It is sold in a sales cart near the Picnic Cafe EAT EAT EAT, so give it a try.

Next, proceed to the Behavior zone that is popular among NIFREL repeat visitors. In this zone the birds, capybaras and ring-tailed lemurs are not in cages, but move around freely in front of you! Lots of children enjoy visiting this area.

You can feel a breeze each time the great white pelicans flap their wings above your head and ring-tailed lemurs slip right past you.... This is an experience you have probably never had before! It’s unbelievable! Such a unique experience as this is really thrilling.

But keep in mind that even though the animals are allowed to move about freely you are not allowed to touch them. The animals aren't accustomed to humans so they ignore them as though they were in their natural habitat. There also is no worry about being pecked by the birds, either.

Almost all of the items in this shop are NIFREL original goods. You can shop here even if you do not have an admission ticket to the aquarium. In addition to clothing, such as T-shirts, and sweets, there are also many daily necessities and stationery items favored by young women.

It has been visited by many since its opening, but these days it is relatively empty on weekday mornings and later in the evenings. I recommend going late in the evening as that is when the animals tend to become more active. You can also get reduced admission fee tickets after 5:00 p.m.

In addition to the aquarium there is also a zoo and an art museum. NIFREL is like moving art with its unique displays of animals where you can see many lovely attractions. Here await you pleasures not found at other zoos and aquariums which at times are enchanting and at other times exciting.

Please come and experience NIFREL, a new museum that will highlight the charms of living things and soften our sensibilities.

Text by:kurashisa

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