[Travel Log] Too close for comfort and way too cute!! Ise Sea Paradise | Ise, Mie Prefecture

This time, I headed to Mie Prefecture!

I revisited the chocolate shop I wrote about last time and went to the Ise Sea Paradise for the first time!

You can find the recommended chocolate specialty shop here

I've been to Ise Jingu many times, but I had never been to the "Ise Sea Paradise" that is so close by.

I heard rumors that it's the closest distance in Japan, so I was excited.

On the other hand, I wondered for a split second if it might be stressful for the animals... in the back of my mind.

But! The world must be built on kindness.

Even while saying that, I shook hands with an otter. Oh my... how... how cute!

It was so cute that I only took videos. Tears. Those little hands gripping my finger were just too adorable.

Besides that, I was able to see the animals at a distance I definitely couldn't see elsewhere, and it was a first-time experience for me.

Inside, there were jellyfish and sharks that I love, and apparently Ise is famous for "seahorses."
Since it's the Year of the Horse, they were promoting how their faces look like horses.
It was being advertised~

My favorites are the crab carrying its luggage and the seahorse specimen below.
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Apparently, the crab lives by carrying its luggage (which is originally meant to hide itself) with its back legs.
Even though it was born a crab, it lives carrying luggage around just like a human.

If I were to be reincarnated, I'd want to be anything other than a human or this crab (I'm just saying random things).

There were also guinea pigs and penguins,
and even a betta fish like the one I used to keep, which really put my mind at ease.

It's not quite big enough to spend an entire day at,
so wouldn't it actually be perfect for a trip combined with Ise Jingu?

Even though I've been to Ise Jingu many times,
it was such a wonderful place that I found myself wishing I had come sooner.

I'd love to visit the Toba Aquarium next time I go to Ise.