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Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

4.6 (200)AquariumTourist AttractionPoint Of InterestEstablishment

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, located within the Ocean Expo Park in Okinawa, is one of the largest and most spectacular aquariums in the world. Renowned for its massive Kuroshio Tank, which holds 7,500 cubic meters of water, the aquarium offers visitors a stunning view of life beneath the waves, including manta rays and whale sharks, the largest fish species in the ocean.

The name "Churaumi" translates to "beautiful sea" in Okinawan, and the aquarium lives up to this name by showcasing the incredible biodiversity of the Pacific Ocean. As you wander through the aquarium, you'll journey through various marine environments, from deep sea to coral reefs, each meticulously recreated to offer a glimpse into the complex ecosystems of the underwater world.

What sets Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium apart is not just its scale or the variety of species displayed but also its commitment to marine research and conservation. The aquarium's breeding and research programs aim to increase public awareness and understanding of marine life and the importance of ocean conservation.

Hours:

Off-season: 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Peak season: 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM

August: 8:30 AM - 9:00 

Closed:

No closing days

Available:

Year-round

Minimum Age:

All ages

Fees:

Adults: 2,180yen

High school: 1,440yen

Children (Elementary/Junior high): 710yen

Under 6: Free


Hours
Monday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Thursday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Friday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Saturday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Phone
+81 980-48-3748
Website
churaumi.okinawa

The area

Address
424 Ishikawa, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0206, Japan

What other travelers are saying about Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Whale shark & manta rays in main tank are spectacular. First rate aquarium on spacious grounds. Indoor cafe alongside main whale shark viewing tank will let you reserve a tank side table for ¥500 surcharge per person ($3.39 when we visited) or you can choose your own table without the surcharge. Food at indoor cafe is cute but expensive and not too tasty. I recommend the food trucks outdoors over the indoor cafe. There are three outdoor tanks featuring manatees, sea turtles and dolphins, respectively. Beautiful views of the ocean and Ie island from the aquarium grounds, and also limited beach access (swimming is not allowed). The dolphin show was well done & fun. A limited number of people can line up after each show to pose with the dolphins — you can buy the photo on the spot.
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Joni Hiramoto
Mar 7, 2025
It was great place to go around with kids. However fish varieties are less compared to other aquarium in japan. We enjoyed from 10-2:30here including roaming around in the near by area. This activity can be coupled with somethings smaller if you wanna get most of your trip.
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Nita Nandrajog
Mar 3, 2025
Brilliant aquarium. For us, it is an even better experience than the ones in Osaka and Singapore. Thrilling exhibits with excellent detail. What we loved, easy parking and not far to walk to the entrance. Fair prices, everyone pays the same, no dual pricing. Thoughtful layout and exhibits. Super helpful and polite staff. The main tank is stunning with an amazing variety of ocean life. You can observe it from many angles, but the best was having our own table with an interrupted view in the cafe. For the cafe, you need to get a queue number, pay extra (500 Y) for a small table right next to the glass, and a 40-minute time limit on the table. We waited about 30 minutes to be seated, but it was well worth it. The coffee and cake were so so but reasonably priced. The view was unforgettable. The rays came really close and seemed interested in what we were eating! We particularly enjoyed watching the tuna starting to hunt and, of course, the majestic whale shark. We were there for about 3 hours and didn't see everything but will certainly return.
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Angus
Dec 23, 2024
A one of largest aquariums in the world. It has a vast amount of facilities and walkable places. Even food trucks are in the adjacent park. The interior of the aquarium was clean and neat, and provided both detailed English and Japanese. It was not like a typical aquarium where only visited to watch beautiful things. Since this facility is also an advanced research lab to study and conserve sea lives, You can really learn new things about marine lives. It's highly recommended to bring children if they're interested in this field. However, when I visited that place, the overall facility was overcrowded with visitors, so the experience itself was not so satisfactory, though.
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Garam Lee
Feb 7, 2025
I had high expectations for this aquarium as it’s so famous and well known. It definitely met my standards as a good aquarium. The biggest tank was breath taking, so big and the huge shark inside it was incredible. The cafe was very nice and you can choose to sit right by the tank. You do need to pay for this but it’s definitely worth it. Dolphin show was very good. The thing that makes me dock a star off the review is the extra things apart from the huge fish tank, it’s a very big area but there isnt so much to see apart from the main aquarium. Definitely a must visit if you’re in Okinawa though.
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Jude
Dec 28, 2024


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