No more getting lost! 3 ways to get to Churaumi Aquarium by bus

Okinawa's classic tourist spot, Churaumi Aquarium! If you're traveling to Okinawa, it's definitely a place you should visit.
However, it's actually quite far from Naha, about two hours away.

For those who don't want to rent a car, or who don't want to drive long distances on unfamiliar roads, but still want to visit Churaumi Aquarium, don't worry!
Many buses run to Churaumi Aquarium from Naha and some resort hotels.

However, when we talk about buses, there are simply regular buses, but also bus tours, and the content of those tours varies greatly.
Here's a complete guide to all the buses that take you to Churaumi Aquarium.
Please use this as a reference when choosing a bus that suits your travel plans.

【table of contents】
1. To get to Churaumi Aquarium by bus, you can choose between a [bus only] or a [sightseeing bus tour].
2. When using the [bus only]
3. When using a sightseeing bus tour
4. Basic information about Churaumi Aquarium

1. To get to Churaumi Aquarium by bus, you can choose between a [bus only] or a [sightseeing bus tour].

1-1. Travel time and distance from various locations to Churaumi Aquarium

As you can see from the map, Churaumi Aquarium is located quite far north on Okinawa Island.

It takes about 2 hours from Naha City using the expressway.
If you're staying in Naha, the round trip and your visit to the aquarium alone will take up almost a full day.

	距離	Time
From Naha	92km	Approx. 2 hour
From Chatan	72km	about 1 hour 20 minutes
From Onna Village	44km	Approx. 1 hour
From Nago	21km	Approx.30 minutes

To get to Churaumi Aquarium by bus, you can either use a bus that goes directly to Churaumi Aquarium or join a sightseeing bus tour.

1-2. For those who want to enjoy the aquarium to the fullest: [Bus only]

Ocean Expo Park, home to the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, offers much more than just the aquarium itself. It boasts tourist facilities showcasing Okinawa's sea, plants, and history, as well as dolphin shows, feeding experiences, beautiful beaches, and even the Bise Fukugi Tree-lined Street, just a short walk away. There's so much to see and do that even a full day isn't enough.
If you have several places you want to visit at Ocean Expo Park, including the aquarium, it's best to use the bus service alone, as it allows you to freely decide how long you'll spend at each location.

There are two main types of bus travel: ① buses that use expressways and ② regular route buses. Details will be provided in section 2, "Using Buses Alone."

<Advantages of taking a local bus>
• There are many departure times available, so you can choose one that suits your itinerary.
- You can decide how long you want to stay at the aquarium.

<Disadvantages of taking a local bus>
- It is difficult to visit spots other than Ocean Expo Park.

1-3. If you want to enjoy other tourist destinations as well, consider a [sightseeing bus tour].

It feels a bit of a waste to spend an entire day just going to Churaumi Aquarium...
If you want to make the most of your day by efficiently visiting other tourist spots, a bus tour is highly recommended.

There are many tours that include stops at various locations such as Kouri Island and Nakijin Castle, so try to find a tour that suits your preferences.
Recommended sightseeing bus tours3. When using a sightseeing bus tourI will guide you at.

<Advantages of bus tours>
Many tours include aquarium admission tickets, making them more economical than buying them separately.
・It's efficient because you can visit various tourist spots all at once!

<Disadvantages of bus tours>
- The time and course are all fixed, leaving no room for flexibility.
- There is a time limit for staying at the aquarium.

2. When using the [bus only]

The buses mainly stop at Naha Airport, Naha city, and major resort hotels, and there are four types: ① Yanbaru Express Bus, ② Okinawa Airport Shuttle, ③ Okinawa Bus, Ryukyu Bus, and Naha Bus (jointly operated by the three companies), and ④ Airport Limousine Bus.

	One way fare	Round-trip fare (2 tickets)	Number
Yanbaru Express	¥2,000	¥3,800	11 round trips
Okinawa Airport	¥2,000	¥3,200	8 round trips
Jointly operated by three companies	¥2,000	¥3,000	8 round trips
Airport limousine bus	¥2,400	-	2 round trips

Other features besides fares and the number of services are as follows:
*The headings in red below are links to each company's website.

Yanbaru express bus
The Yanbaru Express operates both the first departure from Naha Airport and the last departure from Churaumi Aquarium. It's characterized by its frequent service, running from early morning until late at night. There are 26 bus stops along the route, and the journey from Naha Airport to Churaumi Aquarium takes 2 hours and 17 minutes.

Okinawa Airport
In addition to regular services, there is an express service with fewer stops. The express service takes 1 hour and 55 minutes from Naha Airport to Churaumi Aquarium. It has 13 stops, including stops at resort hotels north of Onna Village.

Jointly operated by three companies
In addition to the low round-trip fare, some buses are equipped with free Wi-Fi. There are 22 stops, which is slightly more than average, and the journey takes 2 hours and 13 minutes.

Airport limousine bus
Since it stops at numerous resort hotels, those departing from locations other than Naha (mainly resort hotels) should definitely check this information.

To get to the aquarium using a bus other than those mentioned above, you will have to transfer at Nago Bus Terminal, so first head to Nago Bus Terminal.

Bus transfer information isNaha Bus/Ryukyu Bus Transportation Bus Location SystemYes, you can.

3. When using a sightseeing bus tour

The Motobu Peninsula, where the Churaumi Aquarium is located, is a peaceful place.Yanbaru express busThe Shishima Line is a bus route that connects tourist spots around Churaumi Aquarium, such as Kouri Island, Sesoko Island, and Nakijin Castle Ruins, but the number of buses is limited, making it difficult to visit multiple locations.
If you want to visit other tourist spots besides Churaumi Aquarium and the Bise Fukugi Tree-lined Street, a bus tour is recommended.

3-1. Churaumi Aquarium Bus Tour

There are a total of five companies that sell bus tours to Churaumi Aquarium.
We will introduce each company that operates the bus tour.

● Rad Tourism

Tours departing from numerous hotels in Naha City and Onna Village.

There are many bus tours to Churaumi Aquarium departing from Naha, but there aren't many tours that depart from resort areas.
Rad Tourism is the only company that operates bus tours departing from hotels in Ginowan, Chatan, Onna, and Nago!

It's so convenient to have someone pick you up from your hotel, isn't it? You should definitely check it out.

[Bus tours operated by Rad Tourism]
*Prices shown are adult rates. Child rates are available separately.
・Click here for a list of bus tours offered by Rad Tourism.　From ¥ 6,300

【cancellation charge】
50% of the fee will be charged from 18 PM the day before until departure.
No contact after departure (100%)
URL:Rad Tourism Okinawa Branch Office
TEL：098-951-0012

Cerulean Blue

We offer a wide variety of meal-inclusive plans!
If you want a wide variety of tours, want to enjoy meals together, or are looking for a unique experience, Cerulean Blue is highly recommended.
In addition to the Churaumi Aquarium bus tour, there are a variety of other tours available to help you enjoy Okinawa.

However, the same cancellation fees as for regular day trips apply, so please be careful when making your reservation.

[Currently operating bus tours to Churaumi Aquarium]
・[Naha Departure / Northern Okinawa Sightseeing] ☆Churaumi Aquarium Ticket & Dinner Included★ Churaumi Island Full-Day Sightseeing Bus Tour (Course C) & Ryukyu Cuisine & Sanshin Live Performance at "Angama" or "Hateruma"8,600 - 9,180 JPY
・[Naha Departure / Northern Okinawa Sightseeing] ☆Churaumi Aquarium Ticket & Dinner Included★ Churaumi Island Full-Day Sightseeing Bus Tour (Course C) & Ryukyu Dance Performance at "Urashima" (Japanese-Ryukyu Kaiseki Cuisine)8,680 - 9,260 JPY
・[Naha Departure / Northern Okinawa Sightseeing] ☆ Churaumi Aquarium Ticket Included Churaumi Island Full-Day Sightseeing Bus Tour (Course C) & Teppanyaki Steak Dinner with "Sam's" Performance7,900 - 11,480 JPY
・Chura Island Full-Day Sightseeing Bus Tour, Course C￥5,100

【cancellation charge】
Cancellation fees are calculated from the day before the service date: 10 to 8 days prior... 20% of the fee / 7 to 2 days prior... 30% of the fee / The day before the service date... 50% of the fee / On the day of service... 100% of the fee
URL:Cerulean Blue
TEL：098-941-6828

Naha Bus Co., Ltd.

There are no cancellation fees until just before departure, so you can rest assured.

This bus company also operates regular route buses and runs several bus tours as part of its regular sightseeing bus service.
One of its key features is that there are no cancellation fees until just before departure. This is great news for those who want to reconsider their plans depending on the weather and other factors.

However, there are only a limited number of departure locations: Naha Bus Terminal and two other locations.

[Currently operating bus tours to Churaumi Aquarium]
・Kouri Island, Nakijin Castle Ruins, and Churaumi Aquarium Course [Course B / Naha Bus]¥7,000 (Aquarium admission ticket not included)

【cancellation charge】
Generally, no. However, you must contact us in advance.
URL:Naha Bus Co., Ltd.
TEL：098-868-3750

H.I.S. Okinawa Co., Ltd.

Let's take a day trip on a bus decorated with Pokémon designs.

A must-do for Okinawa trips! LeaLea's original bus tour covers 3 of the most popular tourist spots in one day.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium and Kouri Ocean Tower are giving away Flying Pikachu Project stickers! (Stickers are available while supplies last.)
However, the same cancellation fees as for regular day trips apply, so please be careful when making your reservation.

[Currently operating bus tours to Churaumi Aquarium]
・Flying Pikachu Project LEALEA 1-Day Sightseeing Tour "Chura Bus"　From ¥ 5,000

【cancellation charge】
参加日の、11営業日前17：00～8営業日前17：00まで・・・予約総額の20％／8営業日前17：00～2営業日前17：00まで・・・予約総額の30％／2営業日前17：00～1営業日前17：00まで・・・予約総額の50％／参加日の1時間前以降予約総額の100％

URL:H.I.S. Okinawa Co., Ltd.
TEL：098-863-3780

Jumbo Tours

A variety of places to stop by make for a rich and fulfilling experience.

The itinerary is packed with interesting places to visit, such as Manzamo Cape and Mihama American Village.

[Currently operating bus tours to Churaumi Aquarium]
・[1-Day Bus Tour / Departing from Naha City] Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Kouri Island, Manzamo, and Nago Pineapple Park Course <Course A>　From ¥ 6,000
・Departing from Prefectural Citizens' Plaza (in front of Okinawa Prefectural Government Office) at 8:15 AM / Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Manza Underwater Observation Boat, Kouri Island, and Mihama American Village Course　From ¥ 6,000

【cancellation charge】
**Please note that cancellation fees will apply for bookings made less than 7 days prior to your departure date.**
Cancellations made less than 7 days before the scheduled usage date will incur a cancellation fee.
7 to 2 days prior… 30% of the travel cost
The day before... 40% of the travel cost
Up to the departure time on the day of departure... 50% of the tour price
On the day of departure (after the scheduled departure time or no-show without prior notice)... 100% of the tour price
URL:Jumbo Tours
TEL：098-917-5575
~For reservations on the Churaumi Aquarium bus tour~

3-2. How to Choose a Bus Tour: Choosing by Place of Stops

While Churaumi Aquarium is a must-see, other places to visit are also important.

	Rad	SB	Naha	H	J①	J2
Nago Pineapple Park	●				●
Kouri Island	●	●	●	●	●	●
Sweets palace	●	●		●	●
Manzamo	●	●			●
American village		●				●
今帰仁城			●
Shurijo Castle Park				●
Other Information			#1			#2

SB = Cerulean Blue, H = HIS, J = Jumbo Tours
*1 Hotel Motobu Orion Lunch
*2 Manza Beach Hotel Submarine Jr. II

The stops for Rad Tourism and Cerulean Blue bus tours are the same for both companies, but the boarding/alighting locations and meal conditions differ.
Just like with stops, having pick-up and drop-off locations near your hotel is incredibly convenient.
The pick-up and drop-off locations vary depending on the tour, so please check those as well.

4. Basic information about Churaumi Aquarium

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Address: 424 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture (within Ocean Expo Park / North Gate Parking Lot is the closest parking lot)

TEL: 0980-48-3748

HP: https://churaumi.okinawa/

Business hours: 8:30 AM - 18:30 PM (Last entry: 17:30 PM)
Peak season hours: 8:30 AM - 19:00 PM (Last entry: 18:00 PM)
Holidays: The first Wednesday of December and the following day (Thursday)
Oki-chan Theater, Dolphin Lagoon, Manatee House, Sea Turtle House... 8:30 AM - 17:30 PM (until 19:00 PM during peak season)
Dolphin show…10:30 / 11:30 / 13:00 / 15:00 / 17:00

Remarks: <Fee>
Regular fee
Adults: 2,180 yen / Junior High School Students: 1,440 yen / Children (Elementary and Junior High School Students): 710 yen / Children under 6: Free
*Discount tickets can be purchased at the Churaumi Aquarium antenna shop "Umichurara" on Kokusai Street and at the Onna to Kyoda roadside station. (Cash only)

There are many articles introducing Ocean Expo Park and Churaumi Aquarium, so please be sure to check them out!