Well we finally made it to the new and improved Aquarium in Joetsu, “Umigatari” or “Tales of the Sea.” Architecturally you can see it is modern and very 21st century. A beauty to walk through, but the kids and I missed our old friend, the “old” Joetsu Aquarium. When I was preparing to come to Japan in 1990, I looked in the almanac for “Joetsu.” (There was no Google in the early ‘90’s, at least for personal consumption). At any rate, the only thing on the map near the town called Joetsu was the aquarium, which I must have visited at least once a year in my 28 years here. Today I missed the wading pools, the electric eels pulsating, the 2 sea turtles, the sea horses, the giant pirarucu from Brazil, the seals, the secret lunch corner, even the “retro” amusement corner with a sometimes- working water pistol game and a submarine “ride.” Well, out with the old, in with the new I guess. #joetsu #memories #notumigatari #umigatari (at 上越市立水族博物館 うみがたり)
