How to Enjoy Okinawa Children's Land, a Recommended Spot for Family Trips to Okinawa: A Real Review from a Repeat Visitor and Mom

Located in Okinawa City, about an hour's drive from Naha Airport, "Okinawa Children's Land" is a multi-purpose leisure facility centered around a zoo. It's one of my favorite spots, and I visit it with my family at least once a month.
You might be thinking, "Why come all the way to Okinawa just for a zoo?" But the zoo offers exhibits that give you a taste of Okinawa, and in addition to the zoo, there's the Wonder Museum with science exhibits and workshops, and the Children's Center where you can learn about nature and culture, so there are plenty of indoor facilities to enjoy. Best of all, despite the wide variety of ways to have fun, admission is free for those under 15!
This time, I'll introduce the charms of "Okinawa Children's Land" from the perspective of a current mother. If you're planning a family trip to Okinawa, please use this as a reference.

<Table of Contents>
1. How to enjoy Okinawa Children's Land
┗A thrilling experience! The "Animal Zone" where you can meet animals.
┗Having a blast in the "Park Zone"
2. Popular events at Kodomo no Kuni (Children's Land)
3. Baby room and stroller rental available.

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1. How to enjoy Okinawa Children's Land

Okinawa Children's Land is divided into an "Animal Zone" with animal exhibits and a "Park Zone" with an amusement park and water play area. A visit to the park takes about 2 to 4 hours, but since the park has a variety of facilities including an amusement park and a wonder museum in addition to the zoo, it is recommended to stay for half a day or more if you want to enjoy it at a leisurely pace.

Our family goes early in the morning to see the animals, eats the packed lunch we brought (there's a buffet restaurant and a parlor in the park), and then spends the afternoon playing at the Wonder Museum, so we always end up staying for more than half a day.

A thrilling experience! The "Animal Zone" where you can meet animals.

Once you pass through the gate, you'll find a park map, so first, decide on a route to take around the park!websiteIt's also recommended to check out "Kuwacchi Time." "Kuwacchi" means "feast" in the Okinawan dialect, and you can watch the zookeepers feeding the animals.

Our first destination was the Ryukyu Archipelago. Here, you can encounter rare creatures that live in the southwestern islands, including Okinawa.

The exhibition panels also include information about the names used in the Okinawan dialect.

▲The jokes are effective too▲

The Yakushima macaque is a subspecies of the Japanese macaque found on Yakushima Island, the northernmost point of the Ryukyu Archipelago. It is almost indistinguishable from the Japanese macaque, but it is slightly smaller, has longer, darker fur, and its fur is said to be coarser.

As we watched through the acrylic window, a monkey suddenly pressed its paw against the glass. It was like a truly moving encounter, and the children were incredibly excited.
By the way, the top of the monkey enclosure is covered with netting, and apparently the monkeys sometimes throw droppings at it, so be careful of what's above you (scary)!

▲A touching encounter?!▲

In the area named "The Labyrinth of the Satoyama," they mainly raise mammals such as raccoons and foxes, which do not inhabit Okinawa Island.

▲The entrance design is cute and reminiscent of Japanese folktales▲

▲Malayan sun bear playing in the water▲

Next, we headed to "Ashibinaa, the Herbivore Garden," where you can encounter large herbivores such as hippos, elephants, and giraffes. Ashibinaa means "playground" in the local dialect. In the reticulated giraffe enclosure, which was under renovation, the giraffes were using their long necks to munch on grass that was high up.

▲There are two Indian elephants with Okinawan-sounding names, "Ryujin" and "Ryuka."▲

▲Hippos stay in the water almost the entire time▲

Right next to the elephant area is "The Hunter's Lair." This area primarily houses animals that inhabit tropical and humid regions, and its exterior, reminiscent of crocodiles and ancient South American ruins, is eye-catching. The interior is also designed to resemble ancient ruins, making it a delightful place to simply walk around.

▲My favorite spot in this area is being able to observe the crocodiles from below!▲

▲A jaguar in a position you don't usually see it in. The unusual angle, looking up from below, is exciting!▲

Finally, we visited "Lion Field," the lions' home. Paths surround the enclosure, allowing visitors to observe the lions closely from both high and low vantage points.

The zoo area is large, and walking around it once will require quite a bit of walking, but there are covered rest areas and air-conditioned room-type rest spots scattered throughout, so you can look around comfortably while escaping the heat.

Having a blast in the "Park Zone"

The Park Zone is a different kind of area from the zoo (Animal Zone), offering plenty of fun activities and experiences for children.

The rides corner is something I always enjoy! You insert 100 yen and press a button with your foot to make them move. There are popular characters that kids love, so little ones are thrilled. In addition to miniature cars, there is a merry-go-round and a train, and during long weekends, traveling attractions also appear.

You can also feed the fish on the bridge.

Splash Park is a popular summer attraction! This is a brand new facility that officially opened on May 3rd, 2024. It features arch fountains, mist showers, and waterfalls, and the water is only 20cm deep at its deepest point, making it safe even for small children. Even if you only intend to see the animals, we recommend bringing towels and a change of clothes in case you want to play in the water.

On weekends and holidays, you can also enjoy fishing in the Fisherman's Deck area. Tilapia (an invasive species) have been released into the pond, and the fish you catch are used as food for the park's animals. The fishing set (fishing rod, bucket, and one slice of bread) is reasonably priced at 1 yen.

Finally, we headed to the Wonder Museum, arguably the main attraction of the park zone. This three-story building houses over 40 interactive exhibits combining elements of science, philosophy, and art, making it enjoyable for adults as well. There is no admission fee.

▲A huge sofa that makes people look tiny, making it a popular photo spot!▲

▲Children were engrossed in playing with the wooden mechanical play equipment.▲

As it's an indoor facility, it's perfect for rainy days or when you want to escape the heat. With air conditioning, you can spend a comfortable day there. Small restrooms for parents and children, a nursing room, and a baby room are also available, making it safe and convenient for those with young children. There are also plenty of regularly held workshops and special exhibitions, so you can stay cool and entertained all day long.

2. Popular events at Kodomo no Kuni (Children's Land)

Okinawa Children's Land also holds special events every year that are separate from its regular operating hours.

One such attraction is NIGHT ZOO. Open until 21 PM, mainly on weekends and holidays, the zoo is open at night. Nocturnal animals that sleep during the day become active, and you can feel their different breath and gaze. At the Water and Green Plaza, the "Night Water Show," a projection mapping show projected onto a giant water screen, is breathtaking. The food trucks and food areas also transform into nighttime versions, allowing you to enjoy a magical night with a bowl of Okinawa soba in hand.

If you're traveling during Golden Week, you should definitely visit Zoozium Festa (officially known as "Okinawa Children's Land Festival"). Held annually during Golden Week, it's an event that can be enjoyed all day long, from morning till night. The stage features kids' shows, Ryukyuan dance performances, and character shows that will have the crowds cheering, and there are plenty of hands-on activities such as workshops and badge making. At night, it combines with NIGHT ZOO, making it a place packed with entertainment day and night.

Every year from around December 20th to the 31st, the hugely popular "Christmas Fantasy" event takes place, illuminating the entire park with approximately 1.4 million lights. Photogenic spots such as Niagara Falls and Heartland are available, and the "Super Aurora Attraction," where sound, light, and fireworks synchronize, is a must-see. There are also snow shows, Eisa festivals, dinosaur battles, and a horror area, and the event culminates in a countdown and New Year's fireworks display on December 31st.

3. Baby room and stroller rental available.

Okinawa Children's Land has several clean baby rooms equipped with nursing rooms and diaper changing facilities, ensuring a comfortable experience for visitors.

▲It's also nice that there are signs indicating the distance to the nursing room.▲

Additionally, strollers are available for rent for 200 yen per use (limited number available). This makes it easy to move around the large park, reducing worries about carrying your child or getting tired from walking.

Furthermore, the barrier-free design allows for easy movement with strollers, and there are plenty of rest areas and air-conditioned restrooms. With its thoughtful design that takes families with children into consideration, moms and dads can relax and enjoy themselves too.