The Okinawa-Churaumi Aquarium contains the third largest aquarium in the world and is one of the few places in the world where you can see whale sharks behind glass. Its dolphin shows, manta rays and countless other species of marine life make the Okinawa-Churaumi Aquarium the most spectacular aquarium in Japan.
The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium on the Japanese island of Okinawa is the third largest aquarium in the world behind the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta and the Dubai Aquarium in the Dubai Mall at the foot of the Burj Khalifa. It holds the world record for the largest saltwater aqu arium and is on our list of the top 10 sights of Japan.
The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is part of the Ocean Expo Park in Motobu. Set over 4 floors and spreading across 19,000 square metres, it is home to about 26,000 animals from over 740 species since its inception in November 2002. Being the biggest attraction in Okinawa, it brings in around 2 million visitors each year.
The name "Churaumi" was chosen via public voting and it aptly translates to "Beautiful Sea", a name that completely aligns with its mesmerizing interiors. With an overall water volume of 10,000 cubic metres across 77 aquarium tanks, three tanks stand out for their distinctiveness.
Upon experiencing the magnificence of Churaumi Aquarium, a relaxing stay at a nearby hotel can be the perfect end to the day. You can explore a plethora of hotel options near Okinawa at http://www.tokyo-hotels-stay.com/en/type/hotels-12/, offering a range of accommodations that cater to diverse preferences and budgets.
Largest aquarium tank in the world
The huge main pool "Kuroshio Sea" with a height of 10 metres and a capacity of 7,500,000 litres is the largest saltwater aquarium in the world and clearly the highlight of the Okinawa-Churaumi Aquarium. In addition to schools of smaller marine fish, the tank also contains marine giants such as the majestic manta rays and even the colossal whale sharks. The largest of them is over 7 metres long.
There are only 4 aquariums in the world where whale sharks can be seen, as keeping them in a species-appropriate manner is extremely difficult. In addition to the gigantic space requirements, they eat almost 10% of their own body weight per week. That is up to 250 kilograms of food for the largest giant. In 2007, the world's first baby manta ray was born in captivity at the Okinawa-Churaumi Aquarium.
The 60cm-thick acrylic glass panel through which visitors can view the fascinating underwater world is in the Guinness Book of Records due to its size of 8.5 by 22 metres. Incidentally, it is also earthquake-proof.
70 different coral species
In the coral pool, you can admire over 70 different coral species that can reproduce in the ideal environment for them. To create conditions that are as true to nature as possible, the water in the coral pool is changed every hour during the summer. The circulation repeatedly washes coral eggs into the sea, where they can spread. The water temperature in the deep-sea pool is only 5°C.
The waste heat generated by cooling the deep-sea pool is used in an environmentally friendly way to heat the 25°C coral pool. In the deep-sea pool, you can get acquainted with luminescent fish that you will probably never see in the wild.
Outdoor pools
There are also pools to visit outside, this is where the dolphin and seal shows are held. Sea turtles and manatees also live in the pools outside the building. Incidentally, the pools in the Okinawa-Churaumi Aquarium are fed with fresh seawater from the nearby ocean. Sophisticated filter systems with over 100 pumps are operated and no chemicals are used.
Tip: Don't miss the dolphin show, where the cute animals can also be touched, and the shark feeding. You can also touch starfish and shells in a shallow pool in the entrance area - an amazing experience!
A restaurant provides refreshments during the visit to the aquarium, and souvenirs of the fascinating creatures of the sea can be taken home in the museum shop.
Fin for Fuji
In 2002, the dolphin "Fuji", born in 1970, had to have most of her tail amputated after an accident. As a result, she could no longer move well and became very overweight.
Without further ado, the car tyre manufacturer Bridgestone made her a tail fin prosthesis out of silicone rubber for free, worth about 80,000 euros. Fuji quickly got used to her new fin and used it like her real one.
The fin was constantly developed further until Fuji died of liver damage in 2014.
Accommodation and hotels in Japan
Interesting articles for holidays in Japan:
The Top 10 Sights of Japan
Mount Fuji
Shinto Shrine in Itsukushima
Peace Monument in Hiroshima
Himeji Castle
Daibatsu ("Great Buddha") in Kamakura
Nikko National Park