# Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa > Churaumi is Okinawa's great aquarium on the Motobu Peninsula, 85 km from Naha. Its pride is the Kuroshio Sea tank, 7,500 cubic metres, with whale sharks and manta rays. Entry is ¥2,180, or ¥710 for schoolchildren. It opens 8:30–18:30, last entry 17:30, with no closing days. From Naha it's about 2 hours by car or bus. Web page: https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/churaumi-aquarium - City: [Okinawa](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa), Japan - YesGo score: 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h 30 min - With kids: Fine with kids - Entry: ¥2,180; high school ¥1,440; schoolchildren ¥710 - Under 6: Free - Hours: 8:30–18:30, last entry 17:30 - Closed: None until 31.03.2027, except typhoons - Highlight: Whale sharks and mantas in the Kuroshio Sea - Getting there: 85 km from Naha, about 2 hours by car or bus - Coordinates: 26.69439, 127.87794 - Facts checked: 09.11.2026 ## Key facts - **7,500 m³** — volume of the Kuroshio Sea tank (source: en.wikipedia) - **Until 2005** — the world's largest aquarium tank (source: en.wikipedia) - **Whale sharks** — the big tank's star residents (source: en.wikipedia) - **'Beautiful sea'** — the meaning of 'churaumi' (source: en.wikipedia) - **¥2,180** — adult entry (source: churaumi.okinawa) - **4 floors** — from coral reef to the deep sea (source: churaumi.okinawa) - **85 km** — from Naha (source: travel guides) - **Free** — dolphin show at the neighbouring Okichan Theatre (source: travel guides) ## What is Churaumi Aquarium? **Churaumi Aquarium** — 'beautiful sea' in Okinawan — stands in **Ocean Expo Park** on the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa. It's one of the world's best-known aquariums: its main **Kuroshio Sea** tank, **7,500 cubic metres**, was the largest on the planet until 2005. It holds **whale sharks** — the biggest fish on Earth — and huge **manta rays**, and through glass several storeys high you feel as if you're standing on the ocean floor. The exhibits span four floors, leading from the shallows and coral reef to the Kuroshio Current and the deep sea. > **Whale shark feeding** Several times a day there's a feeding and short talk at the Kuroshio Sea tank — the whale sharks rise to the surface vertically, 'standing'. The programme schedule is on the aquarium's website and at the entrance. Arrive at the 8:30 opening: before the tour buses arrive, the glass is uncrowded. ## Tickets and hours According to the official site, entry is **¥2,180** for adults, ¥1,440 for high-schoolers and **¥710** for elementary and junior-high pupils; under-6s go free. Tickets are sold at the counter and online. The aquarium opens **8:30 to 18:30**, last entry 17:30; in summer and the Golden Week holidays hours are extended to 20:00–21:00. No closing days are planned until 31 March 2027 — it may close only for a typhoon. It's open at New Year too. ## What to see - **The Kuroshio Sea tank** — whale sharks and mantas. - **The coral reef** — living corals under open sky. - **The deep-sea hall** — glowing creatures of the depths. - **Sharks** — a hall of dangerous species. - **The dolphin show** at the Okichan Theatre — free. - **Emerald Beach** in the park nearby. ## How to get to Churaumi 1. **By car** — from Naha on the Okinawa Expressway, about 2 hours, 85 km. 2. **Bus** — express buses from Naha bus terminal and the airport, about 2–2.5 hours. 3. **Day tour** — often combined with Kouri Island and Cape Manzamo. 4. **From Kouri Island** — about 20 minutes by car. 5. **Parking** — free car parks at Ocean Expo Park. ## Churaumi or Kaiyukan in Osaka | | Churaumi | Kaiyukan | | --- | --- | --- | | Where | Northern Okinawa | Osaka's port | | Highlights | Whale sharks, mantas | A whale shark, a spiral descent | | Nearby | Beach, dolphins, tropical garden | A Ferris wheel | | Getting there | 2 hours from Naha | Metro | ## How long do you need? Allow **2–2.5 hours** for the aquarium itself, and **half a day** with Ocean Expo Park — the dolphin show, beach and tropical garden. With the journey from Naha, it's a **full-day trip**. It pairs well with neighbouring **Kouri Island** and its turquoise shallows, and **Cape Manzamo** on the way — many tours and rental cars follow this loop. At weekends and in summer the expressway can be congested, so set off early. At the free **Okichan Theatre** beside the aquarium, dolphins perform several times a day, and at **Emerald Beach** you can swim in season. The park's tropical botanical garden charges a small separate fee. ## Is Churaumi Aquarium worth visiting? Yes: whale sharks in a giant tank are one of Japan's most powerful experiences, for children and adults alike. The YesGo take: it's a long drive, and by day the main glass is crowded with groups. Come at opening or after 16:00, once the buses have left. If you have only a few days on Okinawa, combine the aquarium with Kouri Island so the trip north justifies four hours on the road. ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] A ticket — online or on the spot - [ ] Leave Naha early in the morning - [ ] Whale shark feeding times - [ ] The dolphin show — free - [ ] Kouri Island on the route ## Sea and beaches: compare and choose Waterside places rated by YesGo. - [Naminoue Shrine](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/naminoue-shrine) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · free - [Kouri Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kouri-island) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; tower ≈ ¥1,000 - [Cape Manzamo](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/cape-manzamo) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ ¥100 - [Churaumi Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/churaumi-aquarium) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥2,180 ## Northern Okinawa in a day Cape Manzamo on the way, Churaumi Aquarium at midday, and the turquoise shallows of Kouri Island towards evening. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Cape Manzamo](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/cape-manzamo) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · ≈ ¥100 2. [Churaumi Aquarium](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/churaumi-aquarium) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥2,180 3. [Kouri Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kouri-island) — YesGo score 26/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · free; tower ≈ ¥1,000 ## Good to know Churaumi is the aquarium on Okinawa, not Kaiyukan in Osaka. ## Tips - Arrive at the 8:30 opening. - Watch the whale shark feeding. - The dolphin show is free. - Leave Naha early. - Nearby: [Kouri Island](https://yesgo.io/japan/okinawa/kouri-island). ## Questions ### How much is entry to Churaumi? ¥2,180 for adults, ¥1,440 for high-schoolers, ¥710 for schoolchildren. ### What are the opening hours? 8:30–18:30, last entry 17:30; longer in summer. ### Is it ever closed? Not until 31 March 2027, except for typhoon closures. ### Where is it? In Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula, 85 km from Naha. ### How do I get there? By car or bus, about 2 hours from Naha. ### What animals are there? Whale sharks, manta rays, corals and deep-sea creatures. ### How long do you need? 2–2.5 hours; half a day with the park. ### What's nearby? The dolphin show, Emerald Beach and Kouri Island. ## How we checked Prices, hours and closing days are from the aquarium's official site. The tank volume, record and name are from Wikipedia. Access, the dolphin show and the beach are from guides. Time needed is the YesGo estimate. ## Sources - Aquarium official site (churaumi.okinawa) — prices, hours, extensions, closing days (checked 09.11.2026) - English Wikipedia: Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium — the Kuroshio Sea tank, the record, the name - Travel guides — access, dolphin show, beach (unofficial) - Wikidata Q1445750 — coordinates --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.