What can you see at Churaumi Aquarium?

At Churaumi Aquarium, you can see over 25,000 different fish, including whale sharks, manta rays, and countless other fish.

What can you find at the Tropical Dream Center?

The Tropical Dream Center exhibits local plants, fruits, and flowers native to Okinawa. It also features a giant lotus floating in a pond and greenhouses with over 2,000 orchids.

What is unique about Bise Fukugi Tree Lane?

Bise Fukugi Tree Lane is an area where traditional homes of Okinawa remain unchanged. It is lined with Fukugi trees, planted to protect the homes from storms, and stretches for three kilometers.

What can you do in the Yanbaru region?

In the Yanbaru region, you can go on night tours to see Okinawa's native animals when they are most active. Local guides offer these tours, and you can arrange them through your hotel concierge.

What can you find at Hiji Otaki Falls?

Hiji Otaki Falls is located at the end of a 1.5-kilometer hiking trail. The trail is easy, with well-maintained stairs. The falls are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is 500 yen.

Tropical Adventure in Okinawa

Go Japan2 years ago

Discover the diversity of Okinawa's sea life and enjoy nature at a national park. See many varieties of fish at Churaumi Aquarium and venture into the green, subtropical forests of Yanbaru National Park.

Day 1

Churaumi Aquarium

Located in Ocean Expo Park, Churaumi is home to over 25,000 different fish. In its massive main tank, you can see whale sharks, manta rays, and countless other fish. The aquarium is open from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. and is busiest at midday. Be sure to set aside several hours to see everything.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

424 Ishikawa, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0206, Japan

Tropical Dream Center

Also located in Ocean Expo Park, the Tropical Dream Center exhibits many of the local plants, fruits, and flowers native to Okinawa. There is also a giant lotus floating in a pond as well as greenhouses featuring over 2,000 orchids. In the center of the grounds, there is a charming little tower offering views of the ocean.

Tropical Dream Center

424番地 Ishikawa, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0206, Japan

Bise Fukugi Tree Lane

Located just north of Churaumi Aquarium is an area where the traditional homes of Okinawa remain unchanged. Stroll among the Fukugi (Garcinia Trees), that were planted to protect the homes from storms. The trees line up along the road for three kilometers and are a site unique to Okinawa.

Bise-Fukugi Tree Road

389 Bise, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0207, Japan

Yanbaru

The Yanbaru region is home to many different animals. Local guides offer a variety of short night tours that will take you on an after-sunset hike when many of Okinawa's native animals are most active. Speak with your hotel concierge to help you arrange a hike. Most hikes run between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Yambaru National Park

Hentona, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1411, Japan

Day 2

Hiji Otaki Falls

Hiji Otaki Falls is at the end of a 1.5-kilometer hiking trail. The trail is quite easy, and the steep parts have well-maintained stairs. The trailhead has a parking lot and can be reached by bus or rental car. The trail is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and admission is 500 yen. Last entry is at 4 p.m.

Daiseki Rinzan Park

This park is in an area where the Ryukyu people would pray for prosperity, good harvests, and safe seas. It is rich with strange and unusual rock and tree formations thanks to protruding layers of limestone. The park is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with last entrance at 4:30 p.m. Admission is 1,200 yen.

Daisekirinzan

1241 Ginama, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1422, Japan

Day 3

Higashimura Fureai Hirugi Park

This park is located in a marsh where seawater and freshwater mix together. You can see a woodland mangrove unique to subtropical zones. Enjoy a walk along the promenade to view the mangroves, or if you're feeling a little more adventurous, you can view them from a canoe. NEO Park Okinawa, a 25-minute drive from Higshimura Fureai Park in the city of Nago, is a zoo featuring the animals of tropic and subtropic zones. Sections of the zoo recreate the Amazon jungle, the dry forests of Oceania and others. The park features freshwater ponds, tropical flowers, and many exotic animals.