What other travelers are saying about Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
This is by far the most famous aquarium in Okinawa, and possibly one of the most famous aquariums in all of Japan. The main highlight — and true signature of this aquarium — is the massive whale shark, which is absolutely breathtaking to see up close. It alone makes the visit unforgettable.
Beyond the whale shark, there are many other impressive marine exhibits that showcase the rich ocean life of Okinawa. The overall scale and quality of the displays are outstanding.
In addition, the walk leading to the aquarium is also very enjoyable, surrounded by open space and beautiful scenery, which adds to the entire experience. It’s not just an aquarium visit, but a full, memorable outing that is highly recommended.
More about Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium from our blog
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, photography for personal use is allowed inside the aquarium. However, the use of flash and tripods is prohibited in certain areas to ensure the well-being of the animals and the comfort of other guests.
Yes, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has several dining options within its premises, offering a variety of meals and snacks. Options range from quick bites to sit-down restaurants that serve local Okinawan cuisine as well as international dishes.
Yes, the aquarium is designed to be accessible for visitors with disabilities, featuring ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms throughout the facility. Wheelchair rental is also available.
While direct interaction with marine animals is generally not permitted to ensure their safety and well-being, the aquarium offers educational programs and feeding demonstrations where visitors can learn about marine life and observe the animals up close.
You don’t realise how large this place is! We took about 2 hours of wandering through a huge selection of different size aquarium’s without stepping outside the building. The biggest aquarium is awesome! Amazing to be able to stand in front of a huge acrylic wall watching sharks and fish swim by. Worth the visit and these is loads of parking.
Wow! Public holiday the place was crowded with people. Sadly this attraction has alot of amazing fish and animals is boring pools of water, blue concrete bottoms. Sad place indeed. Left half was through! Never again, unless they were to change the aquarium layouts.
This aquarium is so much more than just an aquarium. It’s such a fun experience and there’s a whole section attached with more information about whale sharks and other animal species. We thought it was really cool that they offer a wall of information about species discovered by the aquarium with the year of the discovery! The dolphin show was really cool and fun, the manta rays and whale shark are huge and really puts into perspective just how small we are but how big of an impact we have on the ocean and marine life. We will definitely be coming back in the future!
A good visit if you have the time.
I was most impressed by the variety of species they have and, of course, the whale shark.
We went on a Friday and it was PACKED though we didn’t need to purchase tickets ahead of time. There was a lot of patience practised with waiting turns to see some of the exhibits. Would definitely get there first thing to avoid crowds.
Lots of bathrooms throughout and in October there were many food trucks at the exit.
