Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is one of the most famous and impressive aquariums in the world. It is located in Ocean Expo Park in Motobu on the Japanese island of Okinawa and was opened in 2002. The name Churaumi is composed of the Okinawan word chura (“beautiful”) and the Japanese word umi (“sea”) – meaning “beautiful sea”.

A special feature of the aquarium is its close connection to the ocean around Okinawa, which is known for its species-rich underwater world and coral reefs. The aquarium aims to showcase the diversity and beauty of life in the Kuroshio Sea – a warm ocean current in the western Pacific.

The centrepiece of the facility is the gigantic main tank, ‘Kuroshio Sea’, which is one of the largest in the world. It holds over 7 million litres of water and can be viewed through a huge acrylic glass front. Majestic whale sharks, manta rays and countless other fish species swim here. The aquarium is particularly well known for being one of the first in the world to successfully keep whale sharks in a tank and for researching them over many years.

In addition to the main tank, there are numerous other exhibition areas representing various marine habitats: colourful coral reefs, deep-sea environments and the habitats of rare marine animals such as dugongs and sea turtles. Visitors can thus gain a comprehensive insight into the different ecosystems of the region.

The aquarium also has scientific significance: it works closely with researchers to expand knowledge about marine animals, especially whale sharks and rays. In addition, great importance is attached to environmental education so that visitors develop a better understanding of ocean conservation.

Today, the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is considered one of Japan's most important attractions, drawing millions of visitors from around the world each year. It combines spectacular insights into the underwater world with the aim of raising awareness of marine conservation.