Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Visiting this aquarium was a great experience for our family. The displays were captivating, showcasing a diverse array of sea creatures in their natural habitats. Our kids were especially thrilled to see the majestic whale shark up close, there are various spots to get different views. The entire visit was educational and entertaining, making it a must-visit destination for families looking to explore the wonders of the ocean. Tip: At the end of the aquarium, just before you get to the souvenir shop there is a spot where you can get your picture taken and they print it for free with a calendar. You also have an option to buy a regular size print and a digitall copy. Of course, we always end up buying it because they're just too cute.

Beautiful Beautiful place for a weekend getaway with minimal entry charges. It's very calming and serene place to visit! It has the largest whale shark and beautiful jelly fishes. Even the Dolphin show is pretty cool!

Amazing, spectacular experience. The whole aquarium was so interesting with both live and preserved specimen of aquatic life, even deep sea specimens. So much heart and thought went into the design of the aquarium. Parking lots are plentiful in the multi-storey carpark and free. The entrance fee is not expensive and totally worth it.

There is an eatery next to the main tank where you can enjoy a beverage or some food as you watch the aquatic life swimming around.

Go and sit down earlier for the dolphin shows as the crowd will obscure your view if you arrive too close to the show time.

Overall a lovely experience. Would definitely come back again. The whale shark was the main grand attraction but I really enjoyed the manta rays and other beautiful sea critters.

Love coming to this aquarium! There is so much to do between the aquarium and outside exhibits. The dolphin show is always great and is included with the visit. During cherry blossom season they have a few trees in their garden area. The kids love the jungle gym and playgrounds as well. If you’re feeling up to and have the time I highly recommend checking out the planetarium and museum as well. If you’re local then I recommend getting the membership because after about 2-3 visits it pays for itself.

I love aquariums and zoo's and this place doesn't disappoint. Everything leading up to the whale shark is nice and easy to view even if it's a little busy. Plus the park where the aquarium is, is also very beautiful. You could spend the whole day there. Also buy your tickets at a nearby Lawson it's about 200 yen cheaper per ticket compared to buying it at the aquarium.

This huge aquarium is amazing. The whale shark in the big water tank has been stunning me and worth for all visitors to come to this aquarium. The various sea creatures and museums are available. Many students have come for field trips. It is good for parents and kids to spend all day together

A lot of parking areas are available.

What would you do if you are a fish? Ha, you may want to live in one of those luxury tanks at Churaumi. They are like 5-star resorts for fish. 🤣

A must see if you are in Okinawa. I've been to a few great aquariums in the US. Churaumi is easily in the top 3 if not the top.

They have many small displays of marine animals, which were nicely done. Descriptions are given in Japanese and English. They are very well done.

The most impressive is of course the big tank. It's massive and beamed with fish, with so many kinds that it boggles my mind. The star of the show is of course the shark whale. It's just majestic. I learned a lot from their exhibition dedicated to the research of this animal.

We arrived there at about 70 min before they closed. There were no lines and no crowd, so we saw pretty much everything except the film and feeding.

I wish we went a little earlier to have time to stroll along the beautiful water. The sunset here is gorgeous!

Love this aquarium, especially the Kuroshio tank. Better to have at least one full day here. Lots to see. I would not post too many photos so that you can enjoy more if you visit.

One of the best ocean parks that I have visited. Besides the regular sharks, whales, stingray, there is another venue for turtles and manatees. There is also a rare outdoor whale show. It has a huge park you can stroll leisurely.

Dont rush … Take your time and enjoy exploring this vast aquarium with captivating exhibits. The superb layout complements the crystal-clear waters of the nearby ocean.

Situated in the EXPO park, allocate at least half a day for a better experience, both indoor and outdoor.

Standing before the spectacular aquarium, gazing at the whale sharks, is deeply impressive.

This colossal 4-level aquarium boasts major exhibits: Kuroshio, Coral Sea, and the Shark Research Lab, creating an overwhelming and awe-inspiring atmosphere.

It's a must-visit destination in Okinawa!

An absolute beautiful and massive aquarium. The whale shark exhibit was a site to see. There are many more exhibits outside the aquarium by the ocean. Great place to take the family and they won’t be disappointed.

This is a popular aquarium even amongst Japanese. Have a wide variety of marine fishes in an aquarium setting. Entrance fee is about 2100 JPY. Better to reach there easy to get a parking slot at P7 carpark, nearest to the aquarium. I reached at 9am! Left only at 3pm. The aquarium participated in shark research and has an interesting section on it. Food choices there is limited and cost more. After you are finished with the aquarium, you should walk around the nearby Ocean Expo Park to explore the Okinawa Village.

The most amazing aquarium with multi-lingual exhibits. The main tank with “Jinta”, the beloved whale shark, is something to behold, I could sit and watch for hours. In fact, they have a cafe inside where you can pay ¥500 extra for a table against the glass, and for 45 minutes you can watch the tank up close while you eat your lunch! Strangely enough, most of the lunch options had fish in them… so I opted for the one non-fish dish. Not great food, but that’s not the point of the aquarium 😊 I wish I could go back more often!

okinawa churaumi aquarium is home for thousands species from the sea. one of them named Ginta, 28 years old captivated in tank shark whale.

many people want to see big tank feeding show. so we can see how they have interact each other when the officer feed them twice-three times a day. they also have dolphin show and turtles outside. near to food truck.

this place is huge and adorable. we cannot stop enjoying all the views. it is better if you come early, so you experience all without in hurry.

they also have all you can eat restaurant to be enjoyed with your family. you need to come here at least once in a life time.

Expansive aquarium located about 1.5 hours from Naha. Large variety of sea life to include the whale shark, dolphin show, manatee, turtle feeding. Large variety of souvenirs and aquarium-themed drinks in the vending machines. You can buy discounted aquarium tickets at the Lawson in Motobu (large signs advertising this in Japanese on the drive there).

There are free dolphin shows! (It's outside of the aquarium so you don't even have to pay to view it). Dolphin feeding costs 500 yen per bucket. It was an amazing experience. I would love to visit the aquarium again next time.

We visited on a rainy Sunday so it was really crowded but there was no wait time to enter the aquarium.

8 Feb 2024 (Thu) - This is one of the best attractions that I've been to in Okinawa. Spent approx 2000 JPY and at least 2 hours with my elderly parents, who surprisingly found this place interesting as well. Learned a lot about aquatic animals... It's money well spent, imo.

More importantly, they have whale show once every two hours. Currently, it's held at the dolphin lagoon and it's free!!!

If it's your first time to Okinawa, this is one of the best attraction to go.

This is an attraction not to miss in Okinawa.

It was the largest aquarium in the world till 2005 and home to one of the largest captive whale shark in the world.

Though it’s not as big as I expected but still very impressive in terms of number of species and presentation.

Plenty of parking in the Ocean Expo Park where the aquarium is located.

Great experience. There is so much information to take in, but all of it is presented in a fun way. One of the main rooms has a massive tank in there with a whale shark. It was like entering a whole different world. Offers a great view outside and even has a mini beach to take those Instagram photos. I would recommend it for parents, children, couples, and people travelling alone too.

Great showcase of local habitat with a vast collection of fishes! Was mind blown to see the huge whale shark in the aquarium. Very peaceful to see the gentle giant swimming from the comfort of the Amphitheatre seats!!