Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

In 1975, the Okinawa International Ocean Exposition was held in Motobu Town, Okinawa Prefecture, and after the exposition ended, the Ocean Expo Park (the Ocean Expo area of the Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park) was established as a national park on the former site in 1976.

Ocean Expo Park was planned as a park suited to Okinawa under the theme of “Sun, Flowers, and the Sea.” The original aquarium began as a facility representing the “sea” aspect of that theme, and it has long been loved by many as a popular attraction in Ocean Expo Park. However, due to aging facilities, it closed in August 2002, and in November of that year, the second-generation aquarium opened under the name “Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.” Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is certified as a registered museum.

■ Basic Policy of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
Under the concept of presenting Okinawa’s rich natural seas as they are, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium creates a place to encounter the diverse aquatic life of the Nansei Islands and the Kuroshio Current, with the theme of “Encountering the Sea of Okinawa.”
At the same time, while accurately responding to the needs of the times, it aims to be a high-quality aquarium that makes full use of its unique character and attracts visitors as an important base for forming a nationally and internationally appealing tourism and resort destination, with the theme of the “sea” symbolizing Okinawa’s attractive natural environment.

■ Attractions of Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
・A panoramic view of the world of Kuroshio fish through a giant acrylic panel
A huge tank where a wide variety of fish swim, including whale sharks up to 8.8 meters long and manta rays.
The massive acrylic panel that offers a breathtaking panoramic view of this spectacle is 8.2 meters high, 22.5 meters wide, and 60 cm thick.
Enjoy the excitement of feeling as if you could almost reach the sharks, rays, and other migratory fish of the Kuroshio Current.

・Continuing to renew the world long-term captive breeding record for whale sharks
At Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, whale sharks have been kept since March 1995, beginning with the aquarium’s predecessor, the “National Okinawa Memorial Park Aquarium,” and the world’s longest captive breeding record continues to be updated.
By keeping whale sharks in long-term captivity, the aquarium takes on the challenge of helping to uncover the many mysteries of their ecology and pursuing the world’s first such endeavor.

・The largest rays in the world! Multiple breeding of manta rays, with the world’s best captive breeding record
Nanyou manta rays glide gracefully through Okinawa’s beautiful seas.
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium was the first in the world to successfully keep and breed multiple Nanyou manta rays, the world’s largest species of ray.
Please enjoy the beautiful and magnificent 모습 of manta rays, made possible by a giant tank and a system that continuously supplies fresh seawater.

・Recreating Okinawa’s seas through large-scale coral breeding
At Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, seawater pumped up from the ocean is abundantly introduced into the tanks.
In the “Coral Sea” tank, which showcases the beautiful seas of Okinawa, the roof has been removed to allow plenty of natural light into the 300 m³ large tank where coral is displayed.
Most of the coral has been cultivated over more than 10 years.
Here, fish that live on coral reefs swim energetically around, also helping to remove seaweed and sea anemones that hinder coral growth.
Please enjoy the coral as it naturally thrives on the reef.

・Unknown ecology—recreating Okinawa’s deep sea!
The deep sea, as mysterious as outer space.
Did you know that many mysterious creatures live on the ocean floor surrounding Okinawa?
In this area, you can observe deep-sea creatures that live at depths of 200 to 700 meters.
In addition to rare species that are said to be extremely difficult to keep, such as tilefish, barracuda, and luminous shrimp, you can also enjoy a section that explains the deep-sea environment and the creatures living there through videos and panels.