Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

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About Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Churaumi Aquarium is in the Ocean Expo Park, created on the site of the international ocean exhibition held in Okinawa in 1975. The current building opened in 2002 and stages the visit as a descent through the island’s sea: it starts at the tidal pools, passes the living coral reef cultivated outdoors under natural light, and reaches the open, deep waters of the Kuroshio current.

The centerpiece is the Kuroshio Tank, with 7,500 cubic meters of water and an acrylic panel more than 8 meters high. Whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, swim alongside manta rays and schools of tuna and other fish. In front of the tank there is a seating area and a café with a view of the glass. Feeding times are announced on the day.

Other galleries display sharks of various species, including deep-water sharks, bioluminescent fish and animals from the Okinawan sea floor. Outside the building, the park has outdoor tanks with sea turtles, dugongs and dolphins, with dolphin shows at several times (no extra charge), plus a beach, gardens and a planetarium.

The aquarium is the most visited attraction on the island and gets very crowded on weekends, during Japanese holidays and on rainy days. Arriving early or late in the afternoon, when tickets are often discounted, helps to see the tank calmly. Next to the park, the village of Bise preserves sandy lanes shaded by rows of fukugi trees planted as windbreaks, which can be explored on foot or by bicycle to the beach.