Home to one of the world’s largest aquarium tanks in the world, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one aquarium you do not want to miss. Whether you are visiting or living in Okinawa, the Churaumi Aquarium will teach you everything you need to know about the ocean surrounding this beautiful island.  

• Website: https://churaumi.okinawa/  
• Google Pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FHNWSq731WqYj2TG9  

History of the Churaumi Aquarium

The Churaumi Aquarium is part of the Ocean Expo Park in Motobu, just west of Nago. The aquarium first opened in 1976 under the name Okinawa Expo Park Aquarium. It closed due to building deterioration in August 2002 but quickly reopened in November of the same year after the new building was constructed and renamed the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

The number of visitors to the aquarium increased nearly six times in the first year that the new building was open. If that doesn’t tell you the kind of improvements made, I’m not sure what will! 

Visiting the Churaumi Aquarium

Starting in the shallow tide pools, the Churaumi Aquarium tour begins by giving you a look at the creatures that call the shallows their home. If you’ve explored the natural beaches of Okinawa, you’ve surely experienced the tidal pools that form at low tide. The aquarium affords you an up close look at the creatures you could find in those tidal pools.  

Continuing through, you’ll find yourself viewing creatures from every depth of the ocean. You can check when you purchase your ticket when feeding times are and be sure to be at those tanks to view the feeding frenzy. You’ll observe the sea life go crazy for every last bit of food and it’s always a fun sight to see, especially for the little ones! 

As you move further through the aquarium, it’ll get darker as you venture deeper into the ocean leading you to what was once the largest aquarium tank in the world known as the Kuroshio Sea. The Kuroshio Sea tank is home to the creature that the aquarium is famous for, Jinta the whale shark, as well as multiple species of sharks, manta rays, tuna and all kinds of deep sea fish.  

There is an exhibit near the Kuroshio Sea tank that is designated to teach all about the efforts the aquarium is making to breed whale sharks and other shark species in captivity. The Churaumi Aquarium is one of the first public aquariums in the world that breeds large sharks and rays such as whale sharks and manta rays.  

After viewing the largest tank, you will filter into a more hands on exhibit that is great for the kids. They’ll get to touch things throughout the exhibit all they want and learn, with the help of their parents, more about the creatures living in the oceans around Okinawa. Just parents beware, this portion does lead you right into the gift shop so be prepared!  

Everything inside the facility is part of your paid entrance ticket. Once you leave the building there are still plenty of things to see, though. As mentioned earlier, the Churaumi Aquarium is located at the Ocean Expo Park. This is a free to enter park you can explore whenever you want. Just outside the aquarium there are three animal exhibits that are free to view. So if you don’t feel like purchasing a ticket to the aquarium on that particular day and just want to walk around you can still view the dolphins, sea turtles and florida manatees.  

Churaumi Aquariam pricing

The Churaumi Aquarium is reasonably priced at ¥2180 for adults, ¥1440 for high school students, ¥710 for junior high and elementary students and free for children under 6.

You also have the option of purchasing an annual pass. The price for the annual pass is ¥4360 for adults, ¥2880 for high school students and ¥1420 for junior high and elementary students. The annual pass is great if you plan to frequent the aquarium as it will pay for itself after two visits. The pass comes with several other benefits including discounts to other facilities in the Ocean Expo Park as well as discounts to shops within the aquarium facility.   

Churaumi Aquarium Food

The aquarium offers several food options if you need to fill some bellies while visiting. For a more formal dining experience you can visit the Inoh restaurant located on the fourth floor of the aquarium. Enjoy traditional Okinawan dishes with beautiful views of the East China Sea. Next to the Kuroshio Sea tank is the Ocean Blue Cafe. Enjoy some light refreshments while watching the giant ocean creatures cruise on by.

You have the option to reserve a front row seat, but if you are short of time, there is plenty of seating that does not require a reservation.

There are several other smaller cafes and food trucks dotted throughout the Ocean Expo Park property, as well as an all too familiar site of vending machines, so you will be sure to find something for everyone on your trip to the aquarium. 

Fun facts about the Churaumi Aquarium: 

• The Kuroshio Sea tank holds 1,981,000 US gallons of water.  

• The acrylic glass for the Kuroshio Sea tank measures two feet thick.   

• The world’s first birth of a manta ray in captivity was at the Churaumi Aquarium in 2007. 

• In August 2024, a female all black body manta ray kept in the Kuroshio tank gave birth. This was the first time in 11 years that a manta ray has given birth, and the first case of all black body manta ray births in the world. 

• There are 77 tanks containing 2,600,000 US gallons of water. 

• Water is pumped in from the ocean from a source about 350m offshore to all the salt water tanks in the aquarium. The pump runs 24 hours a day.  

• The aquarium has assisted in the discovery of multiple new species of crab, lobster, jellyfish and starfish in the waters of Okinawa since 2010. 

• In an effort to conserve rare shark species, the aquarium developed an artificial uterus apparatus. In a world first, a deep-sea slendertail lanternshark was successfully incubated and birthed in 2020. Later dying from failure to thrive, another attempt in 2023 yielded 6 pups, one that has been in a tank for viewing in the aquarium since its birth in early 2024. 

Looking for more? Check out these other popular articles on activities in Okinawa.