The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is the central attraction at Ocean Expo Park. Based on the theme“ Encounters with the Sea of Okinawa ”, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium showcases the rich nature of Okinawa's marine environment and strives to create a place where the People can get to know the diversity of marine life in the Kuroshio Sea around these southern islands.Because in the Okinawa dialect "chura" means "beautiful" and "umi" means "sea", the Churaumi Aquarium bears this name.
The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium was the first aquarium in the world that managed to raise and breed Manta Alfredi, one of the largest species of rays. They also managed to breed a number of whale sharks.
The highlight of the aquarium is a huge pool, which offers a perfect view through an acrylic window that is 8.2 meters high, 22.5 meters wide and 60 centimeters thick. There you can see whale sharks with a length of 8.8 m, manta rays and a variety of fish swimming.
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Two hours by car from Naha Airport, or three hours by express bus.