The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of Okinawa’s most popular tourist attractions
The aquarium is designed so that, as visitors make their way from the third-floor entrance down to the first-floor exit, they experience the sensation of diving deeper and deeper into the seas surrounding Okinawa—from the shallow coral reefs, to the offshore waters of the Kuroshio Current, and finally into the mysterious deep sea.
One of the aquarium’s constant highlights is the enormous “Kuroshio Sea” tank, which holds approximately 7,500 tons of water and measures 10 meters in depth. The acrylic viewing panels are an impressive 60 centimeters thick.
Swimming through this vast tank, which fills the entire field of vision, are migratory fish carried by the Kuroshio Current.
Gracefully gliding among them are the stars of the aquarium: the whale shark, the largest fish in the world, and the Reef Manta Ray.
Incidentally, in the Okinawan dialect, the whale shark is known as “Mizusaba.”
From coral cultivated over more than 20 years to mysterious deep-sea creatures, visitors can fully immerse themselves in the rich underwater world of Okinawa.
The specimen of the extremely rare giant squid is also not to be missed.
In addition, the area surrounding the aquarium features attractions such as the “Oki-chan Theater,” where dolphin shows are held, as well as the Manatee Pavilion and the Sea Turtle Pavilion. Admission to all of these facilities is free.