What this area is like
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium has a huge tank with whale sharks and manta rays. Nearby, Kouri Island is reached by a long bridge over turquoise water.
The aquarium is about two hours from Naha by car or expressway bus.
Choose your next step
Places to see in this area
Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
One of the world’s largest aquariums, where whale sharks and manta rays swim in the giant Kuroshio Sea tank.
- Access
- About 2 hours by car from Naha Airport via the expressway, or about 3 hours by highway bus to the Churaumi Aquarium stop.
- Hours
- 8:30–18:30 (last entry 17:30); open until 20:00 in peak season. Open every day.
- Fee
- Adults ¥2,180; high school ¥1,440; elementary and junior high ¥710.
- Address
- 424 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Kunigami District, Okinawa
The free dolphin show at Okichan Theater runs several times a day. Allow at least half a day for the aquarium and the surrounding park.
Nakijin Castle Ruins
Long, curving stone walls of a 14th-century castle on a hill above the sea, part of the Ryukyu World Heritage Sites.
- Access
- About 15 minutes by car from the aquarium; the entrance is across from the car park.
- Hours
- May–August 8:00–19:00; other months 8:00–18:00.
- Fee
- Adults ¥1,000; junior high and high school ¥500; elementary and younger free.
- Address
- 5101 Imadomari, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa
The site has many slopes; allow 1 to 1.5 hours and wear comfortable shoes. Cherry trees bloom here in late January.
How to plan your time here
- Drive north in the morning, see the aquarium, then Nakijin Castle in the afternoon. The Bise Fukugi tree-lined lanes are a short drive from the aquarium.
- A round trip from Naha is a long day. One night in Motobu or Nago makes it much easier.
Information checked 26 October 2026. Plans are JapaLens editorial suggestions, not on-site reviews. Hours and fees can change; check the official page before you go.