Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

沖縄美ら海水族館（海洋博公園内）

Stand in front of a tank where whale sharks glide overhead

Hours

Normally 8:30am–6:30pm (last entry 5:30pm), longer in peak summer (until 9pm in Aug 2026). No regular closing days through Mar 2027; typhoons can close it

Tickets

Adults ¥2,180, high school ¥1,440, elementary/junior high ¥710, under 6 free (official site, checked Oct 2026). Buy at the gate or online

Address

424 Ishikawa, Motobu, inside Ocean Expo Park

You work your way down past the coral reef tanks and deep-sea displays, and then the wall in front of you turns into open blue: the Kuroshio Sea tank. A whale shark the length of a bus drifts across, manta rays flapping beneath it, and people just sit on the floor and stare up for a long time. Outside, the free dolphin show plays against the actual ocean, and Emerald Beach is in the same park, so the day goes fast.