Sea otters May, right, and Kira
7:00 JST, November 9, 2024
TOBA, Mie – The Toba Municipal Government has added a private sea otter viewing to the list of gifts offered under the “furusato nozei” tax donation system.
Two sea otters, ‘May’ and ‘Kira’, are the most popular animals at the city’s Toba Aquarium. Private viewings of the sea otters are not usually available to the public, but tickets can now be obtained exclusively through the tax donation system.
The tax donation required to receive the gift is ¥100,000. Anyone who donates that amount can watch the sea otters in front of their aquarium for 90 minutes from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. before the aquarium opens. After the viewing, guests receive the same breakfast as the aquarium staff who work the night shift.
The gift can be used on Sundays between December 1 and February 9, except January 12. Each time slot is open to only one group of maximum two people per day. For donations of ¥200,000, admission can be requested for parties of up to four people, although consultation with the facility is required.
The program was jointly planned by the Toba Municipal Government, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, and the aquarium, which will celebrate the 70th anniversary of its opening next year.
