The institute serves as a Joint Education and Research Facility of Ochanomizu University. Our mission is to promote research and education on coastal organisms and environments, contribute to the advancement of academic knowledge, and deepen public understanding of natural sciences and environmental issues through field-based, front-end educational activities.

The institute is located at the southern tip of the Boso Peninsula in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture. Following the Pacific coast of mainland Japan influenced by the Kuroshio Current, the Boso Peninsula marks its northernmost extent. Although this region belongs to a temperate marine zone, it represents the northern distribution limit for many subtropical species. For example, kelp forests and coral reefs can be observed in close proximity. At the same time, submarine canyons extending from deep ocean trenches approach the coastline, making the waters from Sagami Bay to the mouth of Tokyo Bay—along with Suruga Bay—an exceptionally rich habitat for deep-sea organisms.

Research at the institute has traditionally focused on the development of marine invertebrates, while expanding to include locally important species such as sea lilies and reef-building corals.
Benefiting from its calm coastal setting facing Tateyama Bay, the institute functions as a Joint Usage/Education Center, utilizing the region’s characteristic shallow-water and deep-sea biota for educational purposes. It supports marine field courses conducted by numerous universities, primarily from the Tokyo metropolitan area, and organizes open marine training courses led by domestic and international researchers for students nationwide. The institute also accommodates educational use by elementary, junior high, and high schools.

The institute supplies sea urchins throughout the year as accessible experimental materials, facilitated by controlled manipulation of spawning timing and simple preservation techniques for eggs and sperm. Each year, these materials are used by more than 10,000 students from over 100 universities, high schools, and junior high schools nationwide.

Tateyama Marine Laboratory, Institute for Marine and Coastal Research, Ochanomizu University
Kou-yatsu 11, Tateyama, Chiba 294-0301, Japan
TEL +81-(0)470-29-0838 FAX +81-(0)470-20-9011
E-mail：wangan#cc.ocha.ac.jp (Replace # with @)
HP：https://www.cf.ocha.ac.jp/marine/index.html