Churaumi Aquarium and Motobu Bise North Okinawa Day Course

This is a one day plan on the Motobu Peninsula centered on the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, the highlight of northern Okinawa. You can enjoy giant whale sharks and the scenery of an old village in one trip. Because it is far from Naha, this course assumes you use a rental car.

Course Route

9:30 Arrive at Ocean Expo Park Roughly two hours one way from central Naha via the Kyoda interchange on the Okinawa Expressway. The aquarium sits inside Ocean Expo Park, and the park parking is free. The grounds are large and you walk from the lot to the aquarium entrance, so allow extra time. 10:00 Tour the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium (adults 2,180 yen) The whale sharks in the large Kuroshio Sea tank are stunning. The coral reef and deep sea displays are also worth seeing. Opening hours are usually 8:30 to 18:30 (extended in the busy season), and a visit takes around two hours. Nearby roadside stations and shops sometimes sell discount tickets, so buying in advance can save a little. 12:30 Lunch in the park and a view of the sea The free area dolphin show (Okichan Theater) and Emerald Beach are close by and pair well with the aquarium. Show times change by day, so check the park signs. 14:00 A break with Motobu local food Motobu town has many famous Okinawa soba shops. Soba places toward Yaedake are popular too, serving a light broth and firm noodles. 15:00 Walk the Bise fukugi tree lane About a ten minute drive from the aquarium. Stroll a lane of fukugi trees hundreds of years old. A walk takes about 30 minutes to an hour. You can also tour it by water buffalo cart for a fee. 16:00 Look out at the sea from Bisezaki A cape beyond the village. On clear days Ie Island rises clearly in front of you. 16:30 Finish Allow plenty of time on the way back to avoid the evening traffic.

Highlights

The main tank at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the largest in the world, where whale sharks and manta rays swim freely. The Bise fukugi lane is made of trees planted as windbreaks that form a tunnel, preserving a classic Okinawan landscape.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: The sea is at its finest from early summer through autumn. The aquarium is calmer right after opening or before the evening. The tree lane is cool in the shade and good for a midday break.
• Avoiding crowds: The parking lot and halls get busy during long holidays and summer vacation. Arrive early in the morning, or aim for later in the afternoon, to move around more easily.
• Time needed: About two hours for the aquarium and 30 minutes to an hour for the fukugi lane. Including the round trip from Naha, this is a full day course.
• Real nearby spots: Emerald Beach and the Tropical Dream Center inside Ocean Expo Park, plus Kouri Island and Nakijin Castle ruins a short drive away, all combine well.
• Budget sense: Aquarium entry is 2,180 yen for adults. On top of that come lunch, the rental car and expressway tolls, and the water buffalo cart if you use it.

Access and Tips

Since it is far from Naha, an early start gives peace of mind. The aquarium tends to be less crowded in the morning and before the evening, so shifting your timing helps if you want to avoid crowds. People still live in the Bise village, so remember to walk quietly.

A Quick Tip

Crowd levels inside change by the time of day, so you could reverse the order with the tree lane in the morning and the aquarium in the afternoon. The return expressway fills up in the evening, so aiming to leave around sunset helps you avoid the jams.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Every Wednesday is a "partial opening day": At Ocean Expo Park, every Wednesday is a partial opening day during a trial period running from July 1, Reiwa 8 (2026) to March 31, Reiwa 9. The aquarium, Dolphin Lagoon, Sea Turtle Pool, Manatee Pool, Chura-umi Plaza and Emerald Beach can be used, but the Churashima Botanical Garden (Tropical Dream Centre), the Oceanic Culture Museum, the Okinawa Native Village and Omoro Arboretum, and the Tropical and Subtropical Arboretum are closed, and the P1 South Gate and P8 car parks are also shut.
• Parking: All nine car parks in the park are free, with 1,880 spaces in total for ordinary cars (plus 89 for disabled visitors, 15 for motorcycles and 69 for large vehicles). On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays a temporary car park with 220 spaces opens on the Emerald Beach side. If you visit the aquarium after 18:00, you are directed to the P7 North Gate multi-storey car park (height limit 2.3 m).
• The dolphin facilities (Oki-chan Theatre, Dolphin Lagoon, Sea Turtle Pool and Manatee Pool): 8:30-17:30 (until 19:00 on days with extended opening hours). Watching the show at Oki-chan Theatre is free.
• Emerald Beach: In Reiwa 8 the swimming season runs from Wednesday April 1 to Saturday October 31, with swimming hours of 8:30-17:00 and no charge. The nearest car park is the P9 Emerald Gate multi-storey car park. Showers and beach volleyball equipment are free, and coin lockers cost 100 yen. The beach has a jellyfish protection net and is staffed by nurses and lifeguards, but snorkelling is not allowed.
• Worth combining with your visit: The Churashima Botanical Garden (Tropical Dream Centre) costs 760 yen for adults (senior high school age and above) and is free for junior high school students and younger, while the Oceanic Culture Museum costs 190 yen for adults and is free for junior high school students and younger. Both are open 8:30-17:30 (last entry 30 minutes before closing), and from July 1, 2026 the opening hours from March to September have changed.
• Inquiries: 0980-48-2741 (Ocean Expo Park Management Centre) / 0980-48-3748 (Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium)
• Official information: Ocean Expo Park official website (opening hours and closed days / admission fees / parking / notices) / Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium official website

* The above is a guide based on information published by each facility and local government. Times and prices are subject to change, so please check the official information before you set out.