Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium

Special Exhibition | August 4, 2026

The aquarium entrance is located on the fourth floor of the building. A pleasant sea breeze flows through the Uminchu Gate, a large semi-outdoor space covered by a large truss roof. Photo courtesy of Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park (Ocean Expo Park) and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
Beyond the Uminchu Gate lies a view of the emerald green sea and Ie Island. Photo courtesy of Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park (Ocean Expo Park) and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.
The aquarium's main attraction, the giant "Kuroshio Sea" tank, is home to the whale shark, the largest fish species in the world. Photo courtesy of Okinawa Commemorative National Government Park (Ocean Expo Park) and Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium.

A masterpiece of architecture that greatly expanded the possibilities of aquariums.

This aquarium is located within Ocean Expo Park on the Motobu Peninsula in northern Okinawa Island. The design was handled by Yukifusa Kokuba, an Okinawan architect who also designed the Naha City Hall and Hotel Moon Beach. Considering the park's landscape, the aquarium is built along the slope of a hill to ensure views of the sea. Furthermore, the roof is segmented and the eaves are kept low. Taking into account Okinawa's subtropical climate, a well-ventilated, semi-outdoor pergola is used above the entrance plaza to block the hot sun and rain. Deep eaves and staggered walls give the building shadows and character. The "Kuroshio Sea" tank, which aims to breed whale sharks and manta rays, is one of the world's largest, with a depth of 10m and a water volume of approximately 7,500 tons. In addition, a large acrylic panel measuring 22.5m wide, 8.2m high, and 60cm thick has been installed so that visitors can enjoy it. By creating a space where visitors can view the aquariums from various angles, the museum aims to convey the allure of the ocean to the fullest.

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium
・Architect : Yukifusa Kokuba
・Location : 424 Ishikawa, Motobu-cho, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture
・Use : Aquarium
・Completed : 2002

Text: Yoshinao Yamada