Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, which boasts the number one tourist attraction in Okinawa Prefecture, is actually located within the grounds of Ocean Expo Park. It has become an essential spot for any trip to Okinawa, but did you know that there's more to enjoy than just the aquarium? The park is packed with other attractions that would be a shame to miss if you only visited the aquarium!
This time, I'd like to introduce Ocean Expo Park, a place that can be enjoyed all year round. What kind of place is it, and what kind of activities can you do there? I'd like to explore the charms of Ocean Expo Park, including how to get there if you don't have a car!
1. What is Ocean Expo Park?
2. What can you find at Ocean Expo Park?
3. Attractions around Ocean Expo Park
4. Event Information
5. How to efficiently navigate the park
6. Access to Ocean Expo Park
XNUMX.in conclusion
Show all table of contents
1. What is Ocean Expo Park?
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
Okinawa Prefecture's number one tourist attraction, Ocean Expo Park, is located in Motobu Town, Kunigami District. It is a national park built on the site of the Okinawa International Ocean Exposition, which was held in 1975 and attracted much attention.
At the time, Okinawa lacked expressways and other infrastructure, but for the exposition, the Okinawa Expressway and general roads were expanded, and large resort hotels were opened all at once. The archipelago underwent a transformation project themed "The Sea - Its Desired Future."
As part of a major project, Ocean Expo Park brings together a variety of tourist attractions that showcase Okinawa from different perspectives, including the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, a planetarium, facilities where you can watch dolphin shows, a botanical garden, and Okinawa Folk Village where you can experience Okinawan culture. It has gained attention as one of Japan's Top 100 Urban Parks.
Among them, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has become so well-known that it's now an indispensable part of any trip to Okinawa. It became famous for its giant tanks where multiple whale sharks and manta rays swim.
Hotel Column near Ocean Expo Park
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Hotel Mahaina Wellness Resort Okinawa
Just a 5-minute drive from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium! A resort hotel where you can fully enjoy a tropical atmosphere.
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Hotel Yugaf Inn Okinawa
Just a 5-minute drive to the Kyoda Interchange, making it the perfect base for exploring the northern part of the island!
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Hotels near Churaumi Aquarium
A list of hotels within a 10-minute drive of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
2. What can you find at Ocean Expo Park?
Ocean Expo Park has six tourist attractions, including the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
Now, let's introduce the highlights and attractions of each location.
2-1. Tropical Dream Center
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
The Tropical Dream Center is a must-visit for flower lovers. It features over 2,000 orchid plants on display at all times, and three dreamlike greenhouses overflowing with subtropical flowers. Stepping inside feels like entering a jungle or a field of flowers—a truly fantastical world!
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo ParkPhoto courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
The greenhouse boasts a magnificent collection of orchids, including Phalaenopsis orchids distributed in the tropics of Southeast Asia, Vanda orchids found from Southeast Asia, India, China, Taiwan, and northern Australia, and Cattleya orchids distributed in the tropics of Central and South America.
Among them are rare varieties and some that you can't find in flower shops. How about taking a stroll along the flower-lined paths while taking photos of your favorite orchids in the spacious greenhouse?
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
Within the facility, there is a rest area called "Urizun" where you can relax while enjoying the view of the garden from the large windows. It's a free rest area, so you can spend some time relaxing there!
If you're feeling a little hungry, head to Tropical Fruit Cafe "Squall" for fruit pancakes or pineapple pork bowls!
The museum shop, Nangoku, located inside the stained-glass hall, sells original T-shirts, hand-dyed scarves, and seedlings of plants such as Iriomote orchids. They also offer nationwide shipping, so you can have them delivered to coincide with your return home and enjoy them there. Please feel free to use this service!
- Opening hours
- 夏期（3月～9月）8:30～19:00 通常期（10月～2月）8:30～17:30（入館締切はいずれも閉館30分前）
- Remarks
- Admission fee: Adults (high school students and older) 760 yen, Junior high school students and younger free.
2-2. Tropical and Subtropical Urban Greening Botanical Gardens
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
The tropical and subtropical urban greening botanical garden, which covers a total area of approximately 9 hectares, is divided into a plant specimen area and a plant management center, where plant exhibits and various hands-on experiences are offered.
There are plenty of things to see, including low-growing trees typical of tropical regions, banyan trees, coconut palms, and a maze-like display area of climbing plants. There's also a herb garden planted with mint, basil, and more!
At Banco Forest, you can enjoy picnics on the spacious lawn, participate in crafts using nuts and seeds, and experience nostalgic games like stilts and water guns, so please come and visit!
*The Plant Management Center is temporarily closed for building safety inspections.
- Remarks
- Register
2-3. Okinawa Folk Village and Omoro Botanical Garden
Okinawa Folk Village & Omoro Botanical Garden is a facility that recreates an old Okinawan settlement, allowing visitors to experience Okinawan culture. Traditional Okinawan houses line the streets, and the facility depicts a traditional Okinawan "village" with sacred sites and wells.
In 2022, new facilities such as "Yukui-dokoro Butai" and "Jinbun BOX" were added, allowing visitors to learn about Okinawan culture through tools such as sound and video.
- Opening hours
- 夏期（3月～9月）8:30～19:00 通常期（10月～2月）8:30～17:30
- Remarks
- Register
2-4. Marine Culture Museum Planetarium
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
The Ocean Culture Museum is a facility that introduces the history and culture of maritime peoples in the Pacific region, including Okinawa.
The museum is packed with attractions, including approximately 750 valuable exhibits, a floor map depicting the Pacific Ocean, and large-screen videos utilizing the walls.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
Furthermore, in the planetarium, you can see a starry sky with a maximum of 140 million stars.
The screen is filled with dazzling stars that seem to draw you in, and you can enjoy the world of the starry sky at your leisure while sitting in a reclining seat!
- Opening hours
- 夏期（3月～9月）8:30～19:00 通常期（10月～2月）8:30～17:30（入館締切はいずれも閉館30分前）
- Remarks
- Admission fee: Adults (high school students and older) 190 yen, Junior high school students and younger free.
2-5. Oki-chan Theater
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
At the Oki-chan Theater, you can watch a dolphin show featuring Oki-chan and her friends swimming in a large pool set up along the coast. The show showcases various tricks, including dancing and high jumps, demonstrating the dolphins' intelligence, making it a popular attraction.
The facility is divided into a show pool where dolphins perform dynamic jumps and a diver show pool where you can watch dolphins swim through glass, just like in an aquarium. This allows you to learn about their ecology while observing their natural abilities up close.
The facility currently houses bottlenose dolphins and false killer whales, and the Oki-chan Theater offers a charming spectacle. And best of all, admission is free!
Around the Oki-chan Theater, there are facilities where you can see marine life such as the Sea Turtle Museum, Manatee Museum, Dolphin Lagoon, and Churaumi Plaza, and you can also experience feeding dolphins and sea turtles (for a fee).
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
The show pool has rain and sun protection, so you can enjoy it comfortably even though you're outdoors. Dolphin shows are held five times a day, so be sure to go and meet Oki-chan, the idol of Ocean Expo Park!
- Opening hours
- 夏期（3月～9月）8:30～19:00 通常期（10月～2月）8:30～17:30。イルカショーは10:30、11:30、13:00、15:00、17:00
- Remarks
- 餌１セット500円。●イルカ給餌体験10:00、11:00、12:00、13:30、15:30（オキちゃんショップにてチケットを販売）●ウミガメ給餌体験11：00～、13：00～（ウミガメ館メインプールにて販売）
2-6. Emerald Beach
~A relaxing beach~
Emerald Beach, located within Ocean Expo Park, is divided into three sections: a relaxation beach, a play beach, and a scenic beach. It's one of the few beaches in Okinawa situated within a lagoon, and its excellent water quality has earned it recognition as one of the "88 Best Swimming Beaches" and "100 Best Beaches for Swimming."
~Beach with a view~
On clear, calm days, the vibrant blue of the sea changes its hues in countless ways, captivating all who see it. It's also an excellent swimming beach, with a pristine white sand beach covered in coral and shallow waters. Small fish swim around, making it a very popular beach for families with children.
With Iejima Island visible right in front of you, floating on the water feels like being on a secluded island – a truly magnificent location. Plus, lifeguards are stationed there during the swimming season, so you can enjoy the ocean with peace of mind!
There are also plenty of shops selling snacks and rental facilities available!
Life jackets and inflatable rings for children are available for rent, making it easy to enjoy! *Please note that snorkeling equipment is not available.
~Wild-growing Ipomoea nil~
And even if you don't swim at the beach, there's a promenade where you can take a walk right up to the blue ocean.
There are several sets of stairs leading down to the sandy beach, so feel free to go down as you please! You can also see wild morning glories and other plants growing in the blue sea.
- Opening hours
- 4月～9月8:30～19:00 通常期（10月）8:30～17:30
2-7. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, the biggest attraction at Ocean Expo Park, is famous for its massive tanks housing whale sharks and manta rays, a feat that was considered extremely difficult to achieve at the time. With over 300 million visitors annually, it is now the most visited aquarium in Japan, but its amazing features aren't limited to just whale sharks and manta rays.
This is the world's first large-scale coral breeding exhibit, designed to allow visitors to learn about coral ecology in an enjoyable way. Raising coral in aquariums is actually very difficult. Having overcome numerous challenges, they have brilliantly recreated the world of coral reefs that can usually only be seen through diving. It's clear why this is the best in Japan.
★Click here for more information about Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium★
・[We went with the kids!] How to enjoy 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
- Opening hours
- 8:30 AM - 18:30 PM (Last entry: 17:30 PM)
*During peak seasons (mainly Golden Week, summer holidays, and New Year's), the museum closes at 20:00 PM (last entry at 19:00 PM). Please check the website for specific dates.
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)
3. Attractions around Ocean Expo Park
3-1. The Fukugi Tree-lined Street of Bise
The Fukugi tree-lined street in Bise has recently become a popular tourist spot. Its unchanging scenery has made it a popular place for relaxation. Fukugi is an evergreen tree belonging to the Hypericaceae family, and its main origins are Taiwan and the Philippines.
In the Bise settlement, approximately 250 houses are still inhabited, and residents live surrounded by the greenery of Fukugi trees. Some of these trees can grow up to 20 meters tall, providing shade from the hot summer sun.
Originally, these trees served as windbreaks, protecting the settlement. However, the charming streetscape and the labyrinthine tunnel of greenery create a world completely different from the city, offering a truly extraordinary experience. A stroll along the tree-lined path will fill you with refreshing air and evoke a sense of nostalgia!
- Address
- 389 Bise, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture
3-2. Nakijin Castle Ruins
Nakijin Castle Ruins is one of the largest Ryukyu Kingdom castles in Okinawa Prefecture and is also known as Nakijin Gusuku.
In 1416, King Sho Hashi of Chuzan unified the three kingdoms. From then until 1665, it appears to have served as the residence of a governor dispatched by the Ryukyu Kingdom government.
Here, you can trace the history of this sacred land, which is also a World Heritage Site, and learn what happened in this place long ago. In Okinawa, there are many sacred sites called Utaki where gods are worshipped, but these are places that tourists are usually not allowed to approach.
Nakijin Castle Ruins is a wonderful place where you can visit the sacred site (utaki) where the guardian deity resides, and where the surrounding natural landscape is preserved. The stone walls, which stretch out like the Silk Road, are the oldest known stone masonry technique called "nozurazumi".
The historic Nakijin Castle Ruins can be explored in at least 40 minutes, or about 60 minutes with a free guide. We highly recommend a guided tour to gain a deeper understanding of the site.
- Address
- 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin Village, Kunigami District, Okinawa Prefecture
- TEL
- 0980-56-4400
- Opening hours
- Open from 8:00 to 18:00, however, from May to August the park closes at 19:00 (last entry is 30 minutes before closing).
- Remarks
- <Prices> Adults: 1,000 yen / Junior and Senior High School Students: 500 yen / Elementary School Students and younger: Free
3-3. Kouri Island
Kouri Island is an outlying island located in Nakijin Village. Thanks to the Kouri Bridge, it has recently gained attention as an easily accessible island by car.
The Kouri Ocean Tower, a complex that opened in 2013, has also become a popular tourist attraction, with views from its observation deck resembling a movie screen. Why not step onto the island with the now-famous "Heart Rock"?
★Click here if you want to learn more about Kouri Island★
・A perfect guide to Kouri Island, Okinawa, for couples!
3-4. Sesoko Island
Sesoko Island was once known as "the most beautiful remote island in Okinawa," and it remains a popular tourist destination even today. It boasts vast natural beaches, and the ever-changing beauty of the sea is truly breathtaking!
The settlement located inland features rows of Fukugi trees and charming houses with red tiled roofs, symbolic of the Ryukyu Islands, offering a truly Okinawan landscape. It's easily accessible as a day trip by car, so why not add it to your driving route?
★Click here for more information about Sesoko Island★
・Everything you need to know about Sesoko Island, the most beautiful remote island accessible by car from Naha!
4. Event Information
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
The Ocean Expo Park Summer Festival is one of the largest fireworks events in the prefecture, held annually in July.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
Approximately 1 fireworks are launched, and the event attracts many spectators every year.
Furthermore, before the fireworks display, there are plenty of attractions to enjoy, such as beach attractions and concerts.
The event has already been confirmed for this year, so why not plan a trip to Okinawa to coincide with this once-a-year event?
The fireworks display will take place for one hour, from 8 PM to 9 PM.
- Address
- Emerald Beach
- Remarks
- Held annually in mid-July.
5. How to efficiently navigate the park
As mentioned earlier, the total area of Ocean Expo Park is equivalent to about 15 Tokyo Domes.
Unless you have exceptional physical strength, traveling on foot would be extremely difficult.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
Therefore, to comfortably get around the park, I recommend this park sightseeing train.
A single ride costs 300 yen, but a one-day pass is 500 yen, which is definitely a better deal. (Free for children under elementary school age)
There are 13 bus stops within the park, covering everything from the tropical and subtropical urban greenery botanical garden to every corner of Emerald Beach.
The driver will give you a guided tour of Ocean Expo Park, so you won't get bored during the ride.
If you only plan to visit the aquarium and leave, there's no problem, but if you want to visit other facilities as well, it will be useful as a means of transportation.
*The course may change during events.
6. Access to Ocean Expo Park
6-1. If you are going by car
When traveling to Okinawa, many people probably choose to use a rental car for convenience.
Therefore, I would like to introduce how to get from Naha Airport by car.
[By Expressway] From Naha Airport, take Prefectural Road 231 and National Route 331 to get onto the Okinawa Expressway at "Tomigusuku-Nakachi IC". After passing Nishihara Junction, exit at "Kyoda IC", take National Routes 58 and 449 along the coast, and turn onto Prefectural Road 114 to arrive at Ocean Expo Park. The journey takes approximately 2 hours using the expressway and approximately 3 hours using only general roads.
*There are nine parking lots at Ocean Expo Park, but if your main purpose is to visit Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, the North Parking Lot (multi-story parking garage) is the closest.
6-2. If you are traveling by means other than car
Buses to Ocean Expo Park depart from Naha Airport and downtown Naha. Four bus companies operate the service. If departing from Naha Airport, the first bus departs at 6:35 AM, with 1-2 buses per hour. Around midday, buses run every 10 minutes, with many more services available. Advance reservations are possible for the Yanbaru Express Bus!
For more information on how to get to Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (Ocean Expo Park) by bus, please see the following article.
・No more getting lost! 3 ways to get to Churaumi Aquarium by bus
XNUMX.in conclusion
Okinawa Prefecture has numerous tourist attractions scattered throughout the area, so some people (like me) have had the frustrating experience of not being able to see as much as they wanted because there were too many places to visit, or conversely, because they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of spots and ended up not seeing much at all.
Ocean Expo Park alone has so much to offer that one day isn't enough, so it might be a good idea to stay near the park and spend about two days there.
It's a real shame that Okinawa Prefecture tends to be visited by tourists who only see a wide range of places superficially. I think you can create much deeper memories by visiting one place at a time and exploring it in depth!
Time flows slowly in Okinawa, so please take your time and enjoy sightseeing at your own pace.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Expo Park
~For reservations on the Churaumi Aquarium bus tour~
Please make your hotel reservation here.
Rakuten Travel
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Shirokuma Tours offers affordable Okinawa package tours. A wide variety of options are available, including tours to Ishigaki and Miyako Islands.
For local experiences and optional tours such as snorkeling and sightseeing bus tours, choose Tabi Plus One.
For diving in Okinawa, from license acquisition and fun dives to introductory experiences, choose Oceans Dive Tour.
